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Mozambique
Introduction
Background
In the first half of the second millennium A.D., northern Mozambican port towns were frequented by traders from Somalia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, and India. The Portuguese were able to wrest much of the coastal trade from Arab Muslims in the centuries after 1500 and to set up their own colonies. Portugal did not relinquish Mozambique until 1975. Large-scale emigration, economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil war hindered the country's development until the mid-1990s. The ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) party formally abandoned Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided for multiparty elections and a free market economy. A UN-negotiated peace agreement between FRELIMO and rebel Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) forces ended the fighting in 1992. In 2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANO stepped down after 18 years in office. His elected successor, Armando GUEBUZA, served two terms and then passed executive power to Filipe NYUSI in 2015. RENAMO’s residual armed forces intermittently engaged in a low-level insurgency after 2012, but a late December 2016 ceasefire eventually led to the two sides signing a comprehensive peace deal in August 2019. Elections in October 2019, challenged by Western observers and civil society as being problematic, resulted in resounding wins for NYUSI and FRELIMO across the country. Since October 2017, violent extremists - who an official ISIS media outlet recognized as ISIS's network in Mozambique for the first time in June 2019 - have been conducting attacks against civilians and security services in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.
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Geography
Location
Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates
18 15 S, 35 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area - comparative
slightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries
total: 4,783 km
border countries (6): Malawi 1498 km, South Africa 496 km, Eswatini 108 km, Tanzania 840 km, Zambia 439 km, Zimbabwe 1402 km
Coastline
2,470 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate
tropical to subtropical
Terrain
mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west
Elevation
mean elevation: 345 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m
Natural resources
coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite
Land use
agricultural land: 56.3% (2011 est.)
arable land: 6.4% (2011 est.)
permanent crops: 0.3% (2011 est.)
permanent pasture: 49.6% (2011 est.)
forest: 43.7% (2011 est.)
other: 0% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land
1,180 sq km (2012)
Population distribution
three large populations clusters are found along the southern coast between Maputo and Inhambane, in the central area between Beira and Chimoio along the Zambezi River, and in and around the northern cities of Nampula, Cidade de Nacala, and Pemba; the northwest and southwest are the least populated areas as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards
severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces
Environment - current issues
increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; soil erosion; deforestation; water pollution caused by artisanal mining; pollution of surface and coastal waters; wildlife preservation (elephant poaching for ivory)
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
the Zambezi River flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country
People and Society
Population
30,888,034 (July 2021 est.)
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected
country comparison to the world: 46Nationality
noun: Mozambican(s)
adjective: Mozambican
Ethnic groups
African 99% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Mestizo 0.8%, other (includes European, Indian, Pakistani, Chinese) .2% (2017 est.)
Languages
Makhuwa 26.1%, Portuguese (official) 16.6%, Tsonga 8.6%, Nyanja 8.1, Sena 7.1%, Lomwe 7.1%, Chuwabo 4.7%, Ndau 3.8%, Tswa 3.8%, other Mozambican languages 11.8%, other 0.5%, unspecified 1.8% (2017 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 27.2%, Muslim 18.9%, Zionist Christian 15.6%, Evangelical/Pentecostal 15.3%, Anglican 1.7%, other 4.8%, none 13.9%, unspecified 2.5% (2017 est.)
Demographic profile
Mozambique is a poor, sparsely populated country with high fertility and mortality rates and a rapidly growing youthful population – 45% of the population is younger than 15. Mozambique’s high poverty rate is sustained by natural disasters, disease, high population growth, low agricultural productivity, and the unequal distribution of wealth. The country’s birth rate is among the world’s highest, averaging around more than 5 children per woman (and higher in rural areas) for at least the last three decades. The sustained high level of fertility reflects gender inequality, low contraceptive use, early marriages and childbearing, and a lack of education, particularly among women. The high population growth rate is somewhat restrained by the country’s high HIV/AIDS and overall mortality rates. Mozambique ranks among the worst in the world for HIV/AIDS prevalence, HIV/AIDS deaths, and life expectancy at birth.
Mozambique is predominantly a country of emigration, but internal, rural-urban migration has begun to grow. Mozambicans, primarily from the country’s southern region, have been migrating to South Africa for work for more than a century. Additionally, approximately 1.7 million Mozambicans fled to Malawi, South Africa, and other neighboring countries between 1979 and 1992 to escape from civil war. Labor migrants have usually been men from rural areas whose crops have failed or who are unemployed and have headed to South Africa to work as miners; multiple generations of the same family often become miners. Since the abolition of apartheid in South Africa in 1991, other job opportunities have opened to Mozambicans, including in the informal and manufacturing sectors, but mining remains their main source of employment.
Age structure
0-14 years: 45.57% (male 6,950,800/female 6,766,373)
15-24 years: 19.91% (male 2,997,529/female 2,994,927)
25-54 years: 28.28% (male 3,949,085/female 4,564,031)
55-64 years: 3.31% (male 485,454/female 509,430)
65 years and over: 2.93% (male 430,797/female 449,771) (2020 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 88.4
youth dependency ratio: 83
elderly dependency ratio: 5.4
potential support ratio: 18.5 (2020 est.)
Median age
total: 17 years
male: 16.3 years
female: 17.6 years (2020 est.)
Net migration rate
-1.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164Population distribution
three large populations clusters are found along the southern coast between Maputo and Inhambane, in the central area between Beira and Chimoio along the Zambezi River, and in and around the northern cities of Nampula, Cidade de Nacala, and Pemba; the northwest and southwest are the least populated areas as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization
urban population: 37.1% of total population (2020)
rate of urbanization: 4.35% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population
1.706 million Matola, 1.11 million MAPUTO (capital), 848,000 Nampula (2020)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
18.9 years (2011 est.)
median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality rate
289 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39Infant mortality rate
total: 63.03 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 65.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 60.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 56.49 years
male: 55.09 years
female: 57.94 years (2021 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
27.1% (2015)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 93.2% of population
rural: 58.3% of population
total: 70.7% of population
unimproved: urban: 6.8% of population
rural: 41.7% of population
total: 29.3% of population (2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure
4.9% (2017)
Physicians density
0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 61.8% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 18.8% of population
total: 34.1% of population
unimproved: urban: 38.2% of population
rural: 81.2% of population
total: 65.9% of population (2017 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: very high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
animal contact diseases: rabies
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60.7%
male: 72.6%
female: 50.3% (2017)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2017)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 7.4%
male: 7.7%
female: 7.1% (2015 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique
conventional short form: Mozambique
local long form: Republica de Mocambique
local short form: Mocambique
former: Portuguese East Africa, People's Republic of Mozambique
etymology: named for the offshore island of Mozambique; the island was apparently named after Mussa al-BIK, an influential Arab slave trader who set himself up as sultan on the island in the 15th century
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Maputo
geographic coordinates: 25 57 S, 32 35 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: reputedly named after the Maputo River, which drains into Maputo Bay south of the city
Administrative divisions
10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city (cidade)*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de Maputo*, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
Independence
25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday
Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
Constitution
history: previous 1975, 1990; latest adopted 16 November 2004, effective 21 December 2004
amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one third of the Assembly of the Republic membership; passage of amendments affecting constitutional provisions, including the independence and sovereignty of the state, the republican form of government, basic rights and freedoms, and universal suffrage, requires at least a two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly and approval in a referendum; referenda not required for passage of other amendments; amended 2007, 2018
Legal system
mixed legal system of Portuguese civil law and customary law; note - in rural, apply where applicable predominantly Muslim villages with no formal legal system, Islamic law may be applied
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Mozambique
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Filipe Jacinto NYUSI (since 15 January 2015, re-elected 15 Oct 2019)
head of government: President Filipe Jacinto NYUSI (since 15 January 2015); Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho DO ROSARIO (since 17 January 2015; reconfirmed DO ROSARIO 17 January 2020)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president elected directly by absolute majority popular vote (in 2 rounds, if needed) for a 5-year term (eligible for 2 consecutive terms); election last held on 15 October 2019 (next to be held on 15 October 2024); prime minister appointed by the president (2019)
election results: Filipe NYUSI elected president in first round; percent of vote - Filipe NYUSI (FRELIMO) 73.0%, Ossufo MOMADE (RENAMO) 21.9%, Daviz SIMANGO (MDM) 5.1% (2019)
Legislative branch
description: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; 248 members elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote and 2 single members representing Mozambicans abroad directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms) (2019)
elections: last held on 15 October 2019 (next to be held on 15 October 2024) (2019)
election results: percent of vote by party - FRELIMO 71%, RENAMO 23%, MDM 4%; seats by party - FRELIMO 184, RENAMO 60, MDM 6; composition - men 151, women 99, percent of women 39.6% (2019)
Judicial branch
highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 5 judges); Constitutional Council (consists of 7 judges); note - the Higher Council of the Judiciary Magistracy is responsible for judiciary management and discipline
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by the president of the republic; vice president appointed by the president in consultation with the Higher Council of the Judiciary (CSMJ) and ratified by the Assembly of the Republic; other judges elected by the Assembly; judges serve 5-year renewable terms; Constitutional Council judges appointed - 1 by the president, 5 by the Assembly, and 1 by the CSMJ; judges serve 5-year nonrenewable terms
subordinate courts: Administrative Court (capital city only); provincial courts or Tribunais Judicias de Provincia; District Courts or Tribunais Judicias de Districto; customs courts; maritime courts; courts marshal; labor courts; community courts
Political parties and leaders
Democratic Movement of Mozambique (Movimento Democratico de Mocambique) or MDM [Daviz SIMANGO]
Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de Mocambique) or FRELIMO [Filipe NYUSI]
Mozambican National Resistance (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana) or RENAMO [Ossufo MOMADE]
Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique or Podemos [Helder Mendonca]
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, CPLP, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos DOS SANTOS (since 28 January 2016)
chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146
FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis W. HEARNE (since 22 February 2019)
telephone: [258] (21) 49 2797
embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Caixa Postal, 783, Maputo
mailing address: P.O. Box 783, Maputo
FAX: [258] (21) 49 0114
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open white book; green represents the riches of the land, white peace, black the African continent, yellow the country's minerals, and red the struggle for independence; the rifle symbolizes defense and vigilance, the hoe refers to the country's agriculture, the open book stresses the importance of education, and the star represents Marxism and internationalism
note: one of only two national flags featuring a firearm, the other is Guatemala
National symbol(s)
national colors: green, black, yellow, white, red
National anthem
name: "Patria Amada" (Lovely Fatherland)
lyrics/music: Salomao J. MANHICA/unknown
note: adopted 2002
Economy
Economic overview
At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorest countries. Socialist policies, economic mismanagement, and a brutal civil war from 1977 to 1992 further impoverished the country. In 1987, the government embarked on a series of macroeconomic reforms designed to stabilize the economy. These steps, combined with donor assistance and with political stability since the multi-party elections in 1994, propelled the country’s GDP, in purchasing power parity terms, from $4 billion in 1993 to about $37 billion in 2017. Fiscal reforms, including the introduction of a value-added tax and reform of the customs service, have improved the government's revenue collection abilities. In spite of these gains, about half the population remains below the poverty line and subsistence agriculture continues to employ the vast majority of the country's work force.
Mozambique's once substantial foreign debt was reduced through forgiveness and rescheduling under the IMF's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Enhanced HIPC initiatives. However, in 2016, information surfaced revealing that the Mozambican Government was responsible for over $2 billion in government-backed loans secured between 2012-14 by state-owned defense and security companies without parliamentary approval or national budget inclusion; this prompted the IMF and international donors to halt direct budget support to the Government of Mozambique. An international audit was performed on Mozambique’s debt in 2016-17, but debt restructuring and resumption of donor support have yet to occur.
Mozambique grew at an average annual rate of 6%-8% in the decade leading up to 2015, one of Africa's strongest performances, but the sizable external debt burden, donor withdrawal, elevated inflation, and currency depreciation contributed to slower growth in 2016-17.
Two major International consortiums, led by American companies ExxonMobil and Anadarko, are seeking approval to develop massive natural gas deposits off the coast of Cabo Delgado province, in what has the potential to become the largest infrastructure project in Africa. . The government predicts sales of liquefied natural gas from these projects could generate several billion dollars in revenues annually sometime after 2022.
Real GDP growth rate
3.11% (2018 est.)
3.7% (2017 est.)
4.07% (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.7% (2019 est.)
3.9% (2018 est.)
15.4% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: CCC (2019)
Moody's rating: Caa2 (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: CCC+ (2019)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$38.91 billion (2019 est.)
$38.042 billion (2018 est.)
$36.775 billion (2017 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 126GDP (official exchange rate)
$14.964 billion (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$1,281 (2019 est.)
$1,290 (2018 est.)
$1,284 (2017 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 223Gross national saving
16.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
-1.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
5% of GDP (2015 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 23.9% (2017 est.)
industry: 19.3% (2017 est.)
services: 56.8% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 69.7% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 27.2% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 21.7% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 13.9% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 38.3% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -70.6% (2017 est.)
Ease of Doing Business Index scores
69.3 (2020)
Agricultural products
sugar cane, cassava, maize, milk, bananas, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, rice, sorghum, potatoes
Industries
aluminum, petroleum products, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco, food, beverages
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 74.4%
industry: 3.9%
services: 21.7% (2015 est.)
Population below poverty line
46.1% (2015 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
54 (2014 est.)
47.3 (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 36.7% (2008)
Budget
revenues: 3.356 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 4.054 billion (2017 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Current account balance
-$3.025 billion (2019 est.)
-$4.499 billion (2018 est.)
Exports
$3.349 billion (2019 est.)
$3.874 billion (2018 est.)
$2.505 billion (2017 est.)
Exports - partners
India 28.1%, Netherlands 24.4%, South Africa 16.7% (2017)
Exports - commodities
aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulk electricity
Imports
$7.371 billion (2019 est.)
$7.614 billion (2018 est.)
$5.076 billion (2017 est.)
Imports - partners
South Africa 36.8%, China 7%, UAE 6.8%, India 6.2%, Portugal 4.4% (2017)
Imports - commodities
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal products, foodstuffs, textiles
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$3.361 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.081 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external
$10.91 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$10.48 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates
meticais (MZM) per US dollar -
74.12 (2020 est.)
63.885 (2019 est.)
61.625 (2018 est.)
39.983 (2014 est.)
31.367 (2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 35% (2019)
electrification - urban areas: 57% (2019)
electrification - rural areas: 22% (2019)
Electricity - installed generating capacity
2.626 million kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102Electricity - from fossil fuels
16% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
83% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12Electricity - from other renewable sources
1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161Refined petroleum products - consumption
26,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128Natural gas - proved reserves
2.832 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
11.12 million Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 61,575
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2019 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 13,992,090
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47.72 (2019 est.)
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: the mobile segment has shown strong growth; poor fixed-line infrastructure means most Internet access is through mobile accounts; DSL, cable broadband, WiMAX (broadband over long distances), 3G and some fiber broadband available; first LTE services launched in 2018; govt. implemented legislation to enforce the registration of SIM cards; submarine cables reduced the cost of bandwidth (2020)
domestic: extremely low fixed-line teledensity contrasts with rapid growth in the mobile-cellular network; operators provide coverage that includes all the main cities and key roads; fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and 48 per 100 mobile-cellular teledensity (2019)
international: country code - 258; landing points for the EASSy and SEACOM/ Tata TGN-Eurasia fiber-optic submarine cable systems linking numerous east African countries, the Middle East and Asia ; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean); TdM contracts for Itelsat for satellite broadband and bulk haul services (2020)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
Broadcast media
1 state-run TV station supplemented by private TV station; Portuguese state TV's African service, RTP Africa, and Brazilian-owned TV Miramar are available; state-run radio provides nearly 100% territorial coverage and broadcasts in multiple languages; a number of privately owned and community-operated stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019)
Internet users
total: 2,855,670
percent of population: 10% (July 2018 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 70,142
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2018 est.)
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 11
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 540,124 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 4.78 million mt-km (2018)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 21 (2017)
over 3,047 m: 1 (2017)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2017)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 (2017)
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2017)
under 914 m: 4 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 77 (2013)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 29 (2013)
under 914 m: 38 (2013)
Pipelines
972 km gas, 278 km refined products (2013)
Railways
total: 4,787 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 4,787 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)
Roadways
total: 31,083 km (2015)
paved: 7,365 km (2015)
unpaved: 23,718 km (2015)
Waterways
460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 85Merchant marine
total: 29
by type: general cargo 9, other 20 (2020)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Beira, Maputo, Nacala
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Armed Defense Forces of Mozambique (Forcas Armadas de Defesa de Mocambique, FADM): Mozambique Army, Mozambique Navy (Marinha de Guerra de Mocambique, MGM), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de Mocambique, FAM)
Ministry of Interior: National Police (PRM), the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC), Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR; police special forces), Border Security Force (2019)
note: the FADM and Ministry of Interior forces are referred to collectively as the Defense and Security Forces (DFS)
Military expenditures
0.99% of GDP (2018)
1.02% of GDP (2017)
1.03% of GDP (2016)
0.81% of GDP (2015)
1.02% of GDP (2014)
Military and security service personnel strengths
the Armed Defense Forces of Mozambique (FADM) are comprised of approximately 11,000 personnel (10,000 Army; 200 Navy; 1,000 Air Force) (2019 est.)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the FADM's inventory consists primarily of Soviet-era equipment, although in recent years it has received limited quantities of newer equipment, particularly aircraft and maritime patrol craft (mostly as aid/donations); India is the leading supplier since 2010 (2019)
Military service age and obligation
registration for military service is mandatory for all males and females at 18 years of age; 18-35 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary service; 2-year service obligation; women may serve as officers or enlisted (2019)
Military - note
the Mozambique Defense and Security Forces are facing a growing insurgency involving terrorist/militant groups with ties to the Islamic State in Central Africa in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, an area known for rich liquid natural gas deposits; insurgent attacks in the province began in 2017 and as of November 2020, the fighting had left an estimated 2,000 dead and 300-500,000 displaced; Mozambique has brought in private military companies to provide assistance to its security forces (2020)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Central Africa/Mozambique (2020)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 9,953 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 8,658 (Burundi) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2020)
IDPs: 369,220 (violence between the government and an opposition group, violence associated with extremists groups in 2018, political violence 2019) (2020)
Illicit drugs
southern African transit point for South Asian hashish and heroin, and South American cocaine probably destined for the European and South African markets; producer of cannabis (for local consumption) and methaqualone (for export to South Africa); corruption and poor regulatory capability make the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, but the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center