Mozambique ( Republica de Mocambique) is a country in South-eastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania. Mozambique geographic coordinates 18 15 S, 35 00 E; area 784,090 sq km; area comparative slightly less than twice the size of California; land boundaries 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 exclusive economic zone:<; climate tropical to subtropical; terrain mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west; elevation extremes Monte Binga 2,436 m; natural resources coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite; land use 94.6% (2001); irrigated land 1,070 sq km (1998 est.); 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 none of the selected agreements; geography note the Zambezi flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country;

introduction

Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close with independence in 1975. Large-scale emigration by whites, economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil war hindered the country's development. 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 newly elected successor, Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, has promised to continue the sound economic policies that have encouraged foreign investment. government type republic; capital Maputo; 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; suffrage 18 years of age; universal;

people

Mozambique population 19,406,703 estimates for this country explici; age structure 2.8% (male 224,682/female 312,646) (2005 est.); median age 18.83 years (2005 est.); population growth rate 1.48% (2005 est.); birth rate 35.79 births/1,000 population (2005 est.); death rate 20.99 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.); net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.); sex ratio 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.); infant mortality rate 135.91 deaths/1,000 live births; life expectancy at birth 40.75 years (2005 est.); total fertility rate 4.7 children born/woman (2005 est.); hiv adult rate 12.2% (2003 est.); hiv people with aids 1.3 million (2003 est.); hiv deaths 110,000 (2003 est.); major infectious diseases water contact disea; nationality Mozambican; ethnic groups indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%; religions indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%; languages Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, numerous other indigenous languages, Portuguese (official; spoken by 27% of population as a second language); literacy 32.7% (2003 est.);

Regions

Cities