Natural hazards:northern mountains geologically unstable and subject toearthquakes; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting fromfarming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation);water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs;oil pollution of coastal waters
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, OzoneLayer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
Geography - note:strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
People Morocco
Population:31,689,265 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 33.2% (male 5,360,666; female 5,162,168)15-64 years: 62% (male 9,766,222; female 9,876,647)65 years and over: 4.8% (male 676,357; female 847,205) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 23 yearsmale: 22.5 yearsfemale: 23.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.64% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:23.26 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:5.78 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 44.87 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 40.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 48.76 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.04 yearsmale: 67.77 yearsfemale: 72.41 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.89 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:13,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Moroccan(s)adjective: Moroccan
Ethnic groups:Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
Religions:Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
Languages:Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language ofbusiness, government, and diplomacy
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 51.7%male: 64.1%female: 39.4% (2003 est.)
Government Morocco
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Moroccoconventional short form: Moroccolocal short form: Al Maghriblocal long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:Rabat
Administrative divisions:37 provinces and 2 wilayas*; Agadir, Al Hoceima, Azilal, BeniMellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, ElKelaa des Sraghna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira, Fes, Figuig, Guelmim,Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache,Marrakech, Meknes, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi,Settat, Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan, Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata,Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit; three additional provinces of Ad Dakhla (OuedEddahab), Boujdour, and Es Smara as well as parts of Tan-Tan andLaayoune fall within Moroccan-claimed Western Saharanote: as part of a 1997 decentralization/regionalization law passedby the legislature 16 new regions (provided below) were createdalthough full details and scope of the reorganization are limited :Casablanca, Chaouia-Ourdigha, Doukkala-Abda, Fes-Boulmane,Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara, Laayoune-Boujdour-SakiaEl Hamra, Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz, Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental,Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Souss-Massa-Draa,Tadla-Azilal, Tangier-Tetouan, Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate
Independence:2 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday:Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne), 30 July(1999)
Constitution:10 March 1972, revised 4 September 1992, amended (to createbicameral legislature) September 1996
Legal system:based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system;judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber ofSupreme Court
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)
Executive branch:chief of state: King MOHAMED VI (since 23 July 1999)head of government: Prime Minister Driss JETTOU (since 9 October2002)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointedby the monarch following legislative elections
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Chamber ofCounselors (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils,professional organizations, and labor syndicates for nine-yearterms; one-third of the members are renewed every three years) and alower house or Chamber of Representatives (325 seats; memberselected by popular vote for five-year terms)elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held 15 September 2000 (nextto be held NA 2003); Chamber of Representatives - last held 27September 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - NA; Chamber of Representatives - percent ofvote by party - NA%; seats by party - USFP 50, PI 48, PJD 42, RNI41, MP 27, MNP 18, UC 16, FFD 12, PND 12, PPS 11, UD 10, MDS 7, PSD6, Al Ahd 5, ADL 4, GSU 3, PML 3, PRD 3, FC 2, PDI 2, PED 2, CNI 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed on the recommendation of theSupreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:Action Party or PA [Muhammad EL IDRISSI]; Alliance of Liberties orADL [Ali BELHAJ]; Annahj Addimocrati or Annahj [Abdellah EL HARIF];Avant Garde Social Democratic Party or PADS [Ahmed BENJELLOUN];Citizen Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizen's Initiativesfor Development [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Constitutional Union or UC[Mohamed ABIED (interim)]; Democratic and Independence Party or PDI[Abdelwahed MAACH]; Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [MahmoudARCHANE]; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI];Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and DevelopmentParty or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Front of Democratic Forces or FFD[Thami EL KHYARI]; Istiqlal Party (Independence Party) or PI [AbbasEl FASSI]; Justice and Development Party (formerly theConstitutional and Democratic Popular Movement) or PJD [Abdelkrim ELKHATIB]; Moroccan Liberal Party or PML [Mohamed ZIANE]; NationalDemocratic Party or PND [Abdallah KADIRI]; National IttihadiCongress Party or CNI [Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA]; National PopularMovement or MNP [Mahjoubi AHERDANE]; National Rally of Independentsor RNI [Ahmed OSMAN]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP[Abdellah IBRAHIM]; Parti Al Ahd or Al Ahd [Najib EL OUAZZANI,chairman]; Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI];Party of Renewal and Equity or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR]; Party of theUnified Socialist Left or GSU [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]; PopularMovement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Reform and Development Party orPRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Social Center Party or PSC [LahcenMADIH]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [AbderrahmanEL-YOUSSOUFI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir AMAOUI]; GeneralUnion of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Abderrazzak AFILAL]; MoroccanEmployers Association or CGEM [Hassan CHAMI]; National Labor Unionof Morocco or UNMT [Abdelslam MAATI]; Union of Moroccan Workers orUMT [Mahjoub BENSEDDIK]
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, EBRD, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM,OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUARconsulate(s) general: New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 265-0161telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 through 7982chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ms. Margaret TUTWILER embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 90718 telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65 FAX: [212] (37) 76 56 61 consulate(s) general: Casablanca
Flag description:red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known asSolomon's seal in the center of the flag; green is the traditionalcolor of Islam
Economy Morocco
Economy - overview:Morocco faces the problems typical of developing countries -restraining government spending, reducing constraints on privateactivity and foreign trade, and achieving sustainable economicgrowth. Following structural adjustment programs supported by theIMF, World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham is now fullyconvertible for current account transactions, and reforms of thefinancial sector have been implemented. Droughts depressed activityin the key agricultural sector and contributed to a stagnant economyin 1999 and 2000. During that time, however, Morocco reported largeforeign exchange inflows from the sale of a mobile telephone licenseand partial privatization of the state-owned telecommunicationscompany. Favorable rainfall in 2001 led to a growth of 6.5%. Goodharvest conditions continued to support GDP growth in 2002.Formidable long-term challenges include: servicing the externaldebt; modernizing the industrial sector; preparing the economy forfreer trade with the EU and US; and improving education andattracting foreign investment to boost living standards and jobprospects for Morocco's youth.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $121.8 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 33% services: 52% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: 19% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 30.9% (1998-99)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:39.5 (1998-99)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:11 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 50%, services 35%, industry 15% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:19% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $13.8 billionexpenditures: $14.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.1billion (2001 est.)
Industries:phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leathergoods, textiles, construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:0.5% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:13.35 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 95.4% hydro: 4.6% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:14.61 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:2.2 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:167,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:900,000 bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:50 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:50 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:665.4 million cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock
Exports:$7.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:clothing, fish, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals,fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, fruits,vegetables
Exports - partners:France 26.5%, Spain 14.3%, UK 7.9%, Germany 5.8%, Italy 5.6%, US4.8% (2002)
Imports:$10.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment,wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics
Imports - partners:France 20.9%, Spain 12.6%, Italy 6.3%, Germany 5.5%, US 4.6%, UK4.1%, Saudi Arabia 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:$17.7 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$565.6 million (1995)
Currency:Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Currency code:MAD
Exchange rates:Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 11.02 (2002), 11.3 (2001), 10.63(2000), 9.8 (1999), 9.6 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Morocco
Telephones - main lines in use:1.391 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:116,645 (1998)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system with all important capabilities;however density is low with only 4.6 main lines available for each100 personsdomestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, andmicrowave radio relay links; Internet available but expensive;principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; nationalnetwork nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved ruralservice employs microwave radio relayinternational: 7 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay toGibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwaveradio relay to Algeria; participant in Medarabtel; fiber-optic cablelink from Agadir to Algeria and Tunisia (1998)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios:6.64 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:35 (plus 66 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:3.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ma
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):8 (2000)
Internet users:400,000 (2002)
Transportation Morocco
Railways: total: 1,907 km standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:total: 57,707 kmpaved: 32,547 km (including 481 km of expressways)unpaved: 25,160 km (2000)
Waterways:none
Pipelines:gas 695 km; oil 285 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Agadir, El Jadida, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar, Kenitra, Mohammedia,Nador, Rabat, Safi, Tangier; also Spanish-controlled Ceuta andMelilla
Merchant marine:total: 39 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 247,591 GRT/268,356 DWTships by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 7, container 6, petroleumtanker 2, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 7, short-seapassenger 2note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Germany 1, Hong Kong 1, Netherlands 2, Norway 2 (2002est.)
Airports:63 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 26 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 37 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 under 914 m: 11 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 14
Heliports: 1 (2002)
Military Morocco
Military branches:Royal Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie,Auxiliary Forces
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 8,595,797 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 5,411,846 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 351,671 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.4 billion (FY99/00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:4% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Morocco
Disputes - international:claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty remainsunresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect sinceSeptember 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed andparties thus far have rejected other proposals; Morocco protestsSpain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, andPenon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon de Alhucemas andIslas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; Morocco also rejectedSpain's unilateral designation of a median line from the CanaryIslands in 2002 to set limits to undersea resource exploration andrefugee interdiction; Morocco allowed Spanish fishermen to fishtemporarily off the coast of Western Sahara after an oil spillsoiled Spanish fishing grounds
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of hashish; trafficking increasing for bothdomestic and international drug markets; shipments of hashish mostlydirected to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from SouthAmerica destined for Western Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Mozambique
Introduction Mozambique
Background:Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close withindependence in 1975. Large-scale emigration by whites, economicdependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civilwar hindered the country's development. The ruling party formallyabandoned Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the following yearprovided for multiparty elections and a free market economy. AUN-negotiated peace agreement with rebel forces ended the fightingin 1992. Heavy flooding in both 1999 and 2000 severely hurt theeconomy. Political stability and sound economic policies haveencouraged recent foreign investment.
Geography Mozambique
Location:South-eastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, betweenSouth Africa and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates:18 15 S, 35 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 801,590 sq kmwater: 17,500 sq kmland: 784,090 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:total: 4,571 kmborder countries: Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km
Coastline:2,470 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical to subtropical
Terrain:mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus innorthwest, mountains in west
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m
Natural resources:coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite
Land use: arable land: 3.98% permanent crops: 0.29% other: 95.73% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:1,070 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods occur in centraland southern provinces
Environment - current issues: a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters; elephant poaching for ivory is a problem
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the Zambezi flows through the north-central and most fertile partof the country
People Mozambique
Population:17,479,266note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected; the 1997Mozambican census reported a population of 16,099,246 (July 2003est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 42.1% (male 3,634,173; female 3,725,396)15-64 years: 55.3% (male 4,712,891; female 4,945,123)65 years and over: 2.6% (male 189,778; female 271,905) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 19 yearsmale: 18.7 yearsfemale: 19.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.82% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:38.2 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:30.04 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 199 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 180.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 216.85 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 31.3 yearsmale: 30.98 yearsfemale: 31.63 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.87 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:13% 12.6 to 16.4%, estimates vary (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1.1 million (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:60,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Mozambican(s)adjective: Mozambican
Ethnic groups:indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Shangaan, Chokwe, Manyika, Sena,Makua, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians0.08%
Religions:indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Languages:Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 47.8%male: 63.5%female: 32.7% (2003 est.)
Government Mozambique
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Mozambiqueconventional short form: Mozambiquelocal short form: Mocambiqueformer: Portuguese East Africalocal long form: Republica de Mocambique
Government type:republic
Capital:Maputo
Administrative divisions:10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city*; CaboDelgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Maputo City*, Nampula,Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
Independence:25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
Constitution:30 November 1990
Legal system:based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6November 1986); note - before being popularly elected, CHISSANO waselected president by Frelimo's Central Committee on 4 November 1986(reelected by the Committee 30 July 1989)head of government: Prime Minister Pascoal MOCUMBI (since 17December 1994)cabinet: Cabinetelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 3-5 December 1999 (next to be held NA 2004);prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO reelected president;percent of vote - Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO 52.29%, Afonso DHLAKAMA47.71%
Legislative branch:unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on a secretballot to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 3-5 December 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)election results: percent of vote by party - Frelimo 48.54%,Renamo-UE 38.81%; seats by party - Frelimo 133, Renamo-UE 117note: Renamo-UE ran as a multiparty coalition; none of the otheropposition parties received the 5% required to win parliamentaryseats; in September 2000, Renamo-UE member Raul DOMINGOS wasexpelled from the party; he continues to hold his parliamentary seatas an independent
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (the court of final appeal; some of its professionaljudges are appointed by the president and some are elected by theAssembly); other courts include an Administrative Court, customscourts, maritime courts, courts marshal, labor courtsnote: although the constitution provides for the creation of aseparate Constitutional Court, one has never been established; inits absence the Supreme Court reviews constitutional cases
Political parties and leaders:Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao deMocambique) or Frelimo [Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO, president];Mozambique National Resistance-Electoral Union (Resistencia NacionalMocambicana-Uniao Eleitoral) or Renamo-UE [Afonso DHLAKAMA,president]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Institute for Peace and Democracy (Instituto para Paz e Democracia)or IPADE [Raul DOMINGOS, president]; Etica [Abdul CARIMO Issa,chairman]; Movement for Peace and Citizenship (Movimento para Paz eCidadania); Mozambican League of Human Rights (Liga Mocambicana dosDireitos Humanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTE, president]; Human Rights andDevelopment (Direitos Humanos e Desenvolvimento) or DHD [ArtemisiaFRANCO, secretary general]
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC,OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISET, UPU, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Armando PANGUENE FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245 telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146 chancery: 1990 M Street NW, Suite 570, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Sharon P. WILKINSONembassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputomailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputotelephone: [258] (1) 492797FAX: [258] (1) 490448
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow witha red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band isedged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointedstar bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on anopen white book
Economy Mozambique
Economy - overview:At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorestcountries. Socialist mismanagement and a brutal civil war from1977-92 exacerbated the situation. In 1987, the government embarkedon a series of macroeconomic reforms designed to stabilize theeconomy. These steps, combined with donor assistance and withpolitical stability since the multi-party elections in 1994, haveled to dramatic improvements in the country's growth rate. Inflationwas brought to single digits during the late 1990s although itreturned to double digits in 2000-02. Fiscal reforms, including theintroduction of a value-added tax and reform of the customs service,have improved the government's revenue collection abilities. Inspite of these gains, Mozambique remains dependent upon foreignassistance for much of its annual budget, and the majority of thepopulation remains below the poverty line. Subsistence agriculturecontinues to employ the vast majority of the country's workforce. Asubstantial trade imbalance persists although the opening of theMOZAL aluminum smelter, the country's largest foreign investmentproject to date has increased export earnings. Additional investmentprojects in titanium extraction and processing and garmentmanufacturing should further close the import/export gap.Mozambique's once substantial foreign debt has been reduced throughforgiveness and rescheduling under the IMF's Heavily Indebted PoorCountries (HIPC) and Enhanced HIPC initiatives, and is now at amanageable level.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $19.52 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 22% industry: 23% services: 55% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 70% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 31.7% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:39.6 (1996-97)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):15.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:9.2 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 81%, industry 6%, services 13% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:21% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $393.1 millionexpenditures: $1.025 billion, including capital expenditures of$479.4 million (2001 est.)
Industries:food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), aluminum,petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:3.4% (2000)
Electricity - production:7.193 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.9% hydro: 97.1% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:1.39 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:5.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:500 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:8,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:60 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:60 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:63.71 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn,coconuts, sisal, citrus and tropical fruits, potatoes, sunflowers;beef, poultry
Exports:$680 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulkelectricity
Exports - partners:Belgium 24.3%, South Africa 9.1%, Germany 6.2% (2002)
Imports:$1.18 billion c.i.f. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal products,foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:South Africa 27.5%, France 8.9%, US 7%, Australia 6.9%, Japan 6%,Malaysia 4% (2002)
Debt - external:$966 million (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$632.8 million (2001)
Currency:metical (MZM)
Currency code:MZM
Exchange rates:meticais per US dollar - 23,678 (2002), 20,703.6 (2001), 15,447.1(2000), 13,028.6 (1999), 12,110.2 (1998)note: effective October 2000, the exchange rate is determined as theweighted average of buying and selling exchange rates of alltransactions of commercial banks and stock exchanges with the public
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Mozambique
Telephones - main lines in use:90,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:287,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: fair system but not available generally(telephone density is only 16 telephones for each 1,000 persons)domestic: the system consists of open-wire lines and trunkconnection by microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatterinternational: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 AtlanticOcean and 3 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 13, FM 17, shortwave 11 (2001)
Radios:730,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2001)
Televisions:67,600 (2000)
Internet country code:.mz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):11 (2002)
Internet users:22,500 (2000)
Transportation Mozambique
Railways: total: 3,123 km narrow gauge: 2,983 km 1.067-m gauge; 140 km 0.762-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 30,400 km paved: 5,685 km unpaved: 24,715 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:3,750 km (navigable routes)
Pipelines:gas 189 km; refined products 292 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Beira, Inhambane, Maputo, Nacala, Pemba, Quelimane
Merchant marine:total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,125 GRT/7,024 DWTships by type: cargo 3note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Belgium 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:165 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 143 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 35 under 914 m: 91 (2002)
Military Mozambique
Military branches:Army, Naval Command, Air and Air Defense Forces, Special Forces,Militia
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 4,142,449 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,373,444 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$35.1 million (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1% (2000 est.)
Transnational Issues Mozambique
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:Southern African transit point for South Asian hashish, South Asianheroin, and South American cocaine probably destined for theEuropean and South African markets; producer of cannabis (for localconsumption) and methaqualone (for export to South Africa);corruption and poor regulatory capability makes the banking systemvulnerable to money laundering, but the lack of a well-developedfinancial infrastructure limits the country's utility as amoney-laundering center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Namibia
Introduction Namibia
Background:South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa duringWorld War I and administered it as a mandate until after World WarII, when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-WestAfrica People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a warof independence for the area that was soon named Namibia, but it wasnot until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration inaccordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Independencecame in 1990 following multi-party elections and the establishmentof a constitution. President NUJOMA is currently serving his thirdterm as president.
Geography Namibia
Location:Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angolaand South Africa
Geographic coordinates:22 00 S, 17 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 825,418 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 825,418 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Land boundaries:total: 3,936 kmborder countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa967 km, Zambia 233 km
Coastline:1,572 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Terrain:mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert ineast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Konigstein 2,606 m
Natural resources:diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc,salt, vanadium, natural gas, hydropower, fishnote: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
Land use:arable land: 0.99%permanent crops: 0%other: 99.01% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:70 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:prolonged periods of drought
Environment - current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:first country in the world to incorporate the protection of theenvironment into its constitution; some 14% of the land isprotected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip
People Namibia
Population:1,927,447note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 42.5% (male 414,559; female 404,346)15-64 years: 54% (male 517,469; female 522,549)65 years and over: 3.5% (male 30,038; female 38,486) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 18.3 yearsmale: 17.9 yearsfemale: 18.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.49% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:34.1 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:19.17 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 68.44 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 65.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 71.72 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 42.77 yearsmale: 44.27 yearsfemale: 41.22 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.71 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:22.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:230,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:13,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Namibian(s)adjective: Namibian
Ethnic groups:black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5%note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9%to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups are: Herero 7%, Damara7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%
Religions:Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs10% to 20%
Languages:English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of thepopulation and about 60% of the white population, German 32%,indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 84%male: 84.4%female: 83.7% (2003 est.)
Government Namibia
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Namibiaconventional short form: Namibiaformer: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa
Government type:republic
Capital:Windhoek
Administrative divisions:13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene,Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa
Independence:21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
National holiday:Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Constitution:ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990
Legal system:based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA (since 21 March1990)head of government: Prime Minister Theo-Ben GURIRAB (since 28 August2002)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the membersof the National Assemblyelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 30 November-1 December 1999 (next to be held NA2004)election results: Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA elected president; percentof vote - Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA 77%
Legislative branch:bicameral legislature consists of the National Council (26 seats;two members are chosen from each regional council to serve six-yearterms) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: National Council - elections for regional councils, todetermine members of the National Council, held 30 November-1December 1998 (next to be held by December 2004); National Assembly- last held 30 November-1 December 1999 (next to be held by December2004)note: the National Council is primarily an advisory bodyelection results: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA%;seats by party - SWAPO 21, DTA 4, UDF 1; National Assembly - percentof vote by party - SWAPO 76%, COD 10%, DTA 9%, UDF 3%, MAG 1%, other1%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 7, DTA 7, UDF 2, MAG 1,
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on therecommendation of the Judicial Service Commission)
Political parties and leaders:Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben ULENGA]; Democratic TurnhalleAlliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA, president]; MonitorAction Group or MAG [Kosie PRETORIUS]; South West Africa People'sOrganization or SWAPO [Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA]; United DemocraticFront or UDF [Justus GAROEB]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Leonard Nangolo IIPUMBU chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443 telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin J. McGUIRE embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek telephone: [264] (61) 221601 FAX: [264] (61) 229792
Flag description:a large blue triangle with a yellow sunburst fills the upper leftsection and an equal green triangle (solid) fills the lower rightsection; the triangles are separated by a red stripe that iscontrasted by two narrow white-edge borders
Economy Namibia
Economy - overview:The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processingof minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% of GDP. Richalluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source forgem-quality diamonds. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter ofnonfuel minerals in Africa, the world's fifth-largest producer ofuranium, and the producer of large quantities of lead, zinc, tin,silver, and tungsten. The mining sector employs only about 3% of thepopulation while about half of the population depends on subsistenceagriculture for its livelihood. Namibia normally imports about 50%of its cereal requirements; in drought years food shortages are amajor problem in rural areas. A high per capita GDP, relative to theregion, hides the great inequality of income distribution; nearlyone-third of Namibians had annual incomes of less than $1400 inconstant 1994 dollars, according to a 1993 study. The Namibianeconomy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollarpegged to the South African rand. Privatization of severalenterprises in coming years may stimulate long-run foreigninvestment.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $13.15 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $6,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11% industry: 28% services: 61% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:50% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):8% (2001)
Labor force:725,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 47%, industry 20%, services 33% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:35% (1998)
Budget:revenues: $883 millionexpenditures: $950 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1998)
Industries:meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamond,lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:26.95 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0% hydro: 0% other: 0% nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:603.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:578 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves:31.15 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish
Exports:$1.21 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processedfish, karakul skins
Exports - partners:EU 79%, US 4% (2001)
Imports:$1.38 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment,chemicals
Imports - partners:US 50%, EU 31% (2001)
Debt - external:$517 million (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA $160 million (2000 est.)
Currency:Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR)
Currency code:NAD; ZAR
Exchange rates:Namibian dollars per US dollar - 10.54 (2002), 8.61 (2001), 6.94(2000), 6.11 (1999), 5.53 (1998)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Namibia
Telephones - main lines in use:110,200 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:82,000 (2000 est.)
Telephone system:general assessment: good system; about 6 telephones for each 100personsdomestic: good urban services; fair rural service; microwave radiorelay links major towns; connections to other populated places areby open wire; 100% digitalinternational: fiber-optic cable to South Africa, microwave radiorelay link to Botswana, direct links to other neighboring countries;connected to Africa ONE and South African Far East (SAFE) submarinecables through South Africa; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat(2002)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:232,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:8 (plus about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:60,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.na
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:45,000 (2002)
Transportation Namibia
Railways: total: 2,382 km narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 66,467 km paved: 9,172 km unpaved: 57,285 km (2000)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Merchant marine:none (2002 est.)
Airports:135 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 21over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 13914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1142,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 22914 to 1,523 m: 71under 914 m: 19 (2002)
Military Namibia
Military branches:National Defense Force (Army, including Air Wing), Police
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 459,474 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 274,015 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$73.1 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Namibia
Disputes - international:commission established with Botswana to resolve small residualdisputes along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu marshlandsalong the Linyanti River; Botswana residents protest Namibia'splanned construction of the Okavango hydroelectric dam on PopaFalls; managed dispute with South Africa over the location of theboundary in the Orange River; dormant dispute remains whereBotswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe boundaries converge; Angolanrebels and refugees still reside in Namibia
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Nauru
Introduction Nauru
Background:Nauru's phosphate deposits began to be mined early in the 20thcentury by a German-British consortium; the island was occupied byAustralian forces in World War I. Nauru achieved independence in1968 and joined the UN in 1999. Nauru is the world's smallestindependent republic.
Geography Nauru
Location:Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the MarshallIslands
Geographic coordinates:0 32 S, 166 55 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 21 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 21 sq km
Area - comparative:about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:30 km