Geography ::Morocco
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and theMediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 446,550 sq km country comparison to the world: 57 land: 446,300 sq km
water: 250 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 2,017.9 km
border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km
Coastline:
1,835 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
Terrain:
northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m
highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 2%
other: 79% (2005)
Irrigated land:
14,450 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
29 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 12.6 cu km/yr (10%/3%/87%)
per capita: 400 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
People ::Morocco
Population:
31,627,428 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 38
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.7% (male 4,548,808/female 4,418,768)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 10,009,928/female 10,437,103)
65 years and over: 6% (male 851,190/female 1,019,377) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.5 years
male: 25.9 years
female: 27 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.077% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118
Birth rate:
19.4 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102
Death rate:
4.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 195
Net migration rate:
-3.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 192
Urbanization:
urban population: 56% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 28.61 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 76 male: 33.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.69 years country comparison to the world: 77 male: 72.63 years
female: 78.9 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.23 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 132
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
21,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
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 of business, government, and diplomacy
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 52.3%
male: 65.7%
female: 39.6% (2004 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 9 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
5.7% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 40
Government ::Morocco
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco
conventional short form: Morocco
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
local short form: Al Maghrib
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Rabat
geographic coordinates: 34 01 N, 6 49 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
15 regions; Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Doukkala-Abda,Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara,Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz,Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer,Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal, Tanger-Tetouan, Taza-AlHoceima-Taounate
note: Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara, the political status of which is considered undetermined by the US Government; portions of the regions Guelmim-Es Smara and Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra as claimed by Morocco lie within Western Sahara; Morocco also claims Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, another region that falls entirely within Western Sahara
Independence:
2 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday:
Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)
Constitution:
10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended September 1996
note: the amendment of September 1996 was to create a bicameral legislature
Legal system:
based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law systems; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King MOHAMMED VI (since 30 July 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Abbas EL FASSI (since 19 September 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch following legislative elections
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Chamber of Counselors (or upper house) (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates to serve nine-year terms; one-third of the members are elected every three years) and Chamber of Representatives (or lower house) (325 seats; 295 members elected by multi-seat constituencies and 30 from national lists of women; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held on 3 October 2009 (next to be held in 2012); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 7 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PI 52, PJD 46, MP 41, RNI 39, USFP 38, UC 27, PPS 17, FFD 9, MDS 9, Al Ahd 8, other 39
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 [Mohammed EL IDRISSI]; Al Ahd (The Covenant)Party [Najib EL OUAZZANI]; Alliance des Libert'es (Alliance ofLiberty) or ADL [Ali BELHAJ]; An-Nahj Ad-Dimocrati or An-Nahj[Abdellah EL HARIF]; Authenticity and Modernity Party or PAM[Mohamed Cheikh BIADILLAH, Secretary General]; Choura et Istiqlal(Consultation and Independence) Party or PCI [Abdelwahed MAACH];Citizens' Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizenship andDevelopment Initiative or ICD [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; ConstitutionalUnion Party or UC [Mohammed ABIED]; Democratic and Social Movementor MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE]; Democratic Forces Front or FFD [Touhami ELKHIARI]; Democratic Socialist Vanguard Party or PADS [AhmedBENJELLOUN]; Democratic Society Party or PSD [Zhor CHEKKAFI];Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and DevelopmentParty or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Istiqlal (Independence) Party or PI[Abbas EL FASSI]; Justice and Development Party or PJD [AbdelilahBENKIRANE]; Labor Party or PT [Abdelkrim BENATIK]; Moroccan LiberalParty or PML [Mohamed ZIANE]; National Democratic Party or PND[Abdallah KADIRI]; National Ittihadi Congress Party or CNI[Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA]; National Popular Movement or MNP [MahjoubiAHERDANE]; National Rally of Independents or RNI [Mustapha ELMANSOURI]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP [AbdellahIBRAHIM]; Popular Movement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Progress andSocialism Party or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI]; Reform and Development Partyor PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Renaissance and Virtue Party or PRV[Mohamed KHALIDI]; Renewal and Equity Party or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR];Social Center Party or PSC [Lahcen MADIH]; Socialist DemocraticParty or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces orUSFP [Abdelwahed RADI]; Unified Socialist Left Party or PGSU[Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]
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, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA,MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), ParisClub (associate), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS,UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR
chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel L. KAPLAN
embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat
mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 09718
telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65
consulate(s) general: Casablanca
Flag description:
red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and green are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf; the pentacle represents the five pillars of Islam and signifies the association between God and the nation; design dates to 1912
National anthem:
name: "Hymne Cherifien" (Hymn of the Sharif)
lyrics/music: Ali Squalli HOUSSAINI/Leo MORGAN
note: music adopted 1956, lyrics adopted 1970
Economy ::Morocco
Economy - overview:
Morocco's market economy benefits from the country's relatively low labor costs and proximity to Europe, which aid key areas of the economy such as agriculture, light manufacturing, tourism, and remittances. Morocco is also the world's largest exporter of phosphate, which has long provided a source of export earnings and economic stability. Economic policies pursued since 2003 by King MOHAMMED VI have brought macroeconomic stability to the country with generally low inflation, improved financial performance, and steady progress in developing the service and industrial sectors. In 2006, Morocco entered a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US, and in 2008 entered into an advanced status in its 2000 Association Agreement with the EU. However, poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment rates remain high. In response to these challenges, King MOHAMMED in 2005 launched a National Initiative for Human Development, a $2 billion program aimed at alleviating poverty and underdevelopment by expanding electricity to rural areas and replacing urban slums with public and subsidized housing, among other policies. Morocco's trade and budget deficits widened in 2010, and reducing govenment spending and adapting to sluggish economic growth in Europe will be challenges in 2011. Morocco's long-term challenges include improving education and job prospects for young Moroccans, closing the disparity in wealth between the rich and the poor, confronting corruption, and expanding and diversifying exports beyond phosphates and low-value-added products.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$153.8 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $147.6 billion (2009 est.)
$140.6 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$91.7 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 73 4.9% (2009 est.)
5.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,900 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147 $4,700 (2009 est.)
$4,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17.1%
industry: 31.6%
services: 51.4% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
11.63 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 43
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 44.6%
industry: 19.8%
services: 35.5% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 9.1% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
15% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 33.2% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40.9 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 39.5 (1999 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
30.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 17
Public debt:
58.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 56.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3.31% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 112 3.32% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
6.5% (31 December 2008)
Stock of narrow money:
$67.33 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 40 $64.58 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$108.7 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 51 $99.5 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$93.21 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 $91.83 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$62.91 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 46 $65.75 billion (31 December 2008)
$75.49 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, citrus fruits, grapes, vegetables, olives; livestock; wine
Industries:
phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
4.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76
Electricity - production:
19.78 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 71
Electricity - consumption:
20.78 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
3.429 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
4,053 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 97
Oil - consumption:
187,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 57
Oil - exports:
17,420 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 92
Oil - imports:
195,800 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 45
Oil - proved reserves:
100 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 70
Natural gas - production:
60 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 81
Natural gas - consumption:
560 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
Natural gas - imports:
500 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 59
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.501 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96
Current account balance:
-$7.922 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 174 -$4.958 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$14.49 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 $13.92 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing and textiles, electric components, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, citrus fruits, vegetables, fish
Exports - partners:
Spain 22.02%, France 20.22%, India 4.91%, Italy 4% (2009)
Imports:
$34.19 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $30.55 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics
Imports - partners:
France 16.95%, Spain 14.72%, China 7.1%, Italy 6.76%, Germany 6.28%,US 5.66%, Saudi Arabia 5.11% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$24.57 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 $23.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$22.69 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 $21.12 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$42.19 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 57 $40.72 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.047 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 $1.333 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - 8.3619 (2010), 8.0571 (2009), 7.526 (2008), 8.3563 (2007), 8.7722 (2006)
Communications ::Morocco
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.516 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 45
Telephones - mobile cellular:
25.311 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 35
Telephone system:
general assessment: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio relay; Internet available but expensive
domestic: fixed-line teledensity is roughly 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership approached 75 per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 212; landing point for the Atlas Offshore, Estepona-Tetouan, Euroafrica, Spain-Morocco, and SEA-ME-WE-3 fiber-optical telecommunications undersea cables that provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria; participant in Medarabtel; fiber-optic cable link from Agadir to Algeria and Tunisia (2009)
Broadcast media:
2 television broadcast networks with state-run Radio-Television Marocaine (RTM) operating one network and the state partially owning the other; foreign TV broadcasts are available via satellite dish; 3 radio broadcast networks with RTM operating one; the government-owned network includes 10 regional radio channels in addition to its national service (2007)
Internet country code:
.ma
Internet hosts:
277,793 (2010) country comparison to the world: 61
Internet users:
13.213 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 29
Transportation ::Morocco
Airports:
58 (2010) country comparison to the world: 81
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 32
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 26
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 8 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 830 km; oil 439 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 1,907 km country comparison to the world: 74 standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,022 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 57,625 km country comparison to the world: 79 paved: 35,664 km (includes 639 km of expressways)
unpaved: 21,961 km (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 30 country comparison to the world: 84 by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 2, container 7, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 6 (France 4, Germany 2)
registered in other countries: 5 (Gibraltar 4, Panama 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Casablanca, Jorf Lasfar, Mohammedia, Safi, Tangier
Military ::Morocco
Military branches:
Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army(includes Air Defense), Royal Moroccan Navy (includes Coast Guard,Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al MalakiyaMarakishiya; Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; service obligation - 18 months (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,167,760
females age 16-49: 8,599,418 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,960,026
females age 16-49: 7,307,491 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 300,262
female: 298,227 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
5% of GDP (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 16
Transnational Issues ::Morocco
Disputes - international:
claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon de Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; both countries claim Isla Perejil (Leila Island); discussions have not progressed on a comprehensive maritime delimitation, setting limits on resource exploration and refugee interdiction, since Morocco's 2002 rejection of Spain's unilateral designation of a median line from the Canary Islands; Morocco serves as one of the primary launching areas of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa
Illicit drugs:
one of the world's largest producers of illicit hashish; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; significant consumer of cannabis
page last updated on January 20, 2011
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@Mozambique (Africa)
Introduction ::Mozambique
Background:
Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close with independence in 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 1990's. 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 December 2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANO stepped down after 18 years in office. His elected successor, Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, promised to continue the sound economic policies that have encouraged foreign investment.
Geography ::Mozambique
Location:
Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between SouthAfrica and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 799,380 sq km country comparison to the world: 35 land: 786,380 sq km
water: 13,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 4,571 km
border countries: Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland 105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 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 extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m
Natural resources:
coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite
Land use:
arable land: 5.43%
permanent crops: 0.29%
other: 94.28% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,180 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
216 cu km (1992)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.63 cu km/yr (11%/2%/87%)
per capita: 32 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and 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, 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 flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country
People ::Mozambique
Population:
22,061,451 country comparison to the world: 52 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; the 1997 Mozambican census reported a population of 16,099,246 (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.3% (male 4,829,272/female 4,773,209)
15-64 years: 52.8% (male 5,605,227/female 5,842,679)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 257,119/female 361,772) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.5 years
male: 17.1 years
female: 17.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.797% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Birth rate:
37.8 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21
Death rate:
19.83 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 2
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 114
Urbanization:
urban population: 37% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.017 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 103.82 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 6 male: 106.53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 101.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 41.37 years country comparison to the world: 222 male: 42.05 years
female: 40.68 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.13 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
12.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 8
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.5 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 5
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
81,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 8
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Mozambican(s)
adjective: Mozambican
Ethnic groups:
African 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%
Religions:
Catholic 23.8%, Muslim 17.8%, Zionist Christian 17.5%, other 17.8%, none 23.1% (1997 census)
Languages:
Emakhuwa 26.1%, Xichangana 11.3%, Portuguese 8.8% (official; spoken by 27% of population as a second language), Elomwe 7.6%, Cisena 6.8%, Echuwabo 5.8%, other Mozambican languages 32%, other foreign languages 0.3%, unspecified 1.3% (1997 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47.8%
male: 63.5%
female: 32.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male: 9 years
female: 7 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 70
Government ::Mozambique
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
Government type:
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)
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:
30 November 1990
Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Armando GUEBUZA (since 2 February 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Aires Bonifacio ALI (since 16 January 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Armando GUEBUZA reelected president; percent of vote - Armando GUEBUZA 76.3%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 14.9%, Daviz SIMANGO 8.8%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 28 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - FRELIMO 74.7%, RENAMO 17.7%, MDM 3.9%, other 3.7%; seats by party - FRELIMO 191, RENAMO 51, MDM 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the court of final appeal; some of its professional judges are appointed by the president, and some are elected by the Assembly); other courts include an Administrative Court, Constitutional Court, customs courts, maritime courts, courts marshal, labor courts
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Movement of Mozambique (Movimento Democratico deMocambique) or MDM [Daviz SIMANGO]; Front for the Liberation ofMozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de Mocambique) or FRELIMO [ArmandoEmilio GUEBUZA]; Mozambique National Resistance (ResistenciaNacional Mocambicana) or RENAMO [Afonso DHLAKAMA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Mozambican League of Human Rights (Liga Mocambicana dos DireitosHumanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTE, president]
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM(observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Amelia Matos SUMBANA
chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie V. ROWE
embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo
mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo
telephone: [258] (21) 492797
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
National anthem:
name: "Patria Amada" (Lovely Fatherland)
lyrics/music: Salomao J. MANHICA/unknown
note: adopted 2002
Economy ::Mozambique
Economy - overview:
At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorest countries. Socialist mismanagement and a brutal civil war from 1977-92 exacerbated the situation. 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, have led to dramatic improvements in the country's growth rate. 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, Mozambique remains dependent upon foreign assistance for more than half of its annual budget, and the majority of the population remains below the poverty line. Subsistence agriculture continues to employ the vast majority of the country's work force and smallholder agricultural productivity and productivity growth is weak. A substantial trade imbalance persists although the opening of the Mozal aluminum smelter, the country's largest foreign investment project to date, has increased export earnings. At the end of 2007, and after years of negotiations, the government took over Portugal's majority share of the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectricity (HCB) company, a dam that was not transferred to Mozambique at independence because of the ensuing civil war and unpaid debts. More power is needed for additional investment projects in titanium extraction and processing and garment manufacturing that could further close the import/export gap. Mozambique's once substantial foreign debt has been reduced through forgiveness and rescheduling under the IMF's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Enhanced HIPC initiatives, and is now at a manageable level. In July 2007 the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) signed a Compact with Mozambique; the Compact entered into force in September 2008 and will continue for five years. Compact projects will focus on improving sanitation, roads, agriculture, and the business regulation environment in an effort to spur economic growth in the four northern provinces of the country. Mozambique grew at an average annual rate of 9% in the decade up to 2007, one of Africa's strongest performances. However, heavy reliance on aluminum, which accounts for about one-third of exports, subjects the economy to volatile international prices. The sharp decline in aluminum prices during the global economic crisis lowered GDP growth by several percentage points. Despite 8.3% GDP growth in 2010, the increasing cost of living prompted citizens to riot in September 2010, after bread price increases were announced. In an attempt to contain the cost of living, the government implemented subsidies, decreased taxes and tariffs, and instituted other fiscal measures.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$22.19 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $20.49 billion (2009 est.)
$19.28 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$10.21 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
8.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 6.3% (2009 est.)
6.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 218 $900 (2009 est.)
$900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 28.8%
industry: 26%
services: 45.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
9.87 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 50
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 81%
industry: 6%
services: 13% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
21% (1997 est.) country comparison to the world: 169
Population below poverty line:
70% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 39.2% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
47.3 (2002) country comparison to the world: 33 39.6 (1997)
Investment (gross fixed):
17.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118
Public debt:
40.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 33.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
13.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 217 3.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
9.95% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 48 9.95% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate: