Basic Information about the Country

Official Name:

Republic of Mozambique

National Day:

25 June 1975 (Independence Day)

Head of State:

Armando Emilio Guebuza

Political System:

Multiparty (1990 Constitution)

National Assembly:

250 seats (general elections 1994,1999, 2005)

Location:

Mozambique has a strategic location along the eastern coast of Southern Africa, and, is the gateway to 6 hinterland countries

Area:

799 390 km² (13 000 km² of inland waters)

Population:

15 740 000 (1997 Census), 18 000 (2000 Projection)

Climate:

From sub tropical to tropical (south to north)

Capital:

Maputo City

Provinces and Capitals:

Cabo Delgado (Pemba), Niassa (Lichinga), Nampula (Nampula), Tete (Tete), Zambezia (Quelimane), Manica (Chimoio), Sofala (Beira), Inhambane (Inhambane), Gaza (Xai-Xai), Maputo (Maputo) (status of a province)

Languages:

Portuguese (official)
13 main national languages (Emakhuwa, Xitsonga, Ciyao, Cisena, Cishona, Echuwabo, Cinyanja, Xironga, Shimaconde, Cinyungue, Cicopi, Bitonga, Kiswahili)
English (taught in secondary school)

Religions:

African traditional, Christian (Roman Catholic and Protestant), Moslem, Hindu

Natural resources:

Hydroelectric energy, gas, coal, minerals, timber, farming land

Main exports:

Prawns, cotton, cashew, sugar, tea, copra

Currency:

Metical (MT)

GDP per capita:

US$ 128 (1997)

GDP growth:

8% (1997)

Inflation rate:

5.9% (1997)