+258 is the dialing code for Mozambique.
Mozambique on the east coast of South Africa suffered the liberation war from Portugal and a bloody civil war before peace was concluded in 1992. Around one million people had lost their lives. The country has since enjoyed relatively good economic development and political stability. A large part of the residents are still living in great poverty. The Socialist Frelimo who took power in independence first ruled in a one-party state and later won in free elections.
- Abbreviationfinder: Brief profiles of Mozambique, including geography, history, politics, economics as well as common acronyms about this country.
Geography and climate
Mozambique is almost twice the size of Sweden and extends along the southern part of Africa’s east coast. There are several white sandy beaches along the country’s nearly 250 km long coast.
Along the coast runs a plain that extends southwards inland. Inside the plain, a hilly plateau landscape rises. In the western border areas highlands dominate between 1000 and 2000 meters in height. The landscape is largely made up of savannah, but the mountain regions are forested.
Of several rivers with outflows in the Indian Ocean, the largest are Zambezi and Limpopo. The huge Great Rift Valley tomb extends northwards into Mozambique and ends at the lower course of the Zambezi River.
Country Facts
Geography
| Cultivated land | 56.3 % |
| Land area | 799380 km 2 |
Population and health
| Population development | 2.45 ‰ |
| Urban population (Urbanization) | 32.2 % |
| Death rate | 12.1 per 1000 residents |
| Life expectancy: Women | 53.18 years |
| Life expectancy: Men | 52.18 years |
| Birth rate | 38.58 births per 1000 residents |
| HDI index | 0.416 |
| Population | 25303113 |
| Infant mortality | 70.21 deaths / 1000 births |
Population Graph Source: Countryaah.com
Energy
| Electricity, production | 15010 million kWh |
| Energy consumption per resident | 405.6 kg. oil per resident |
| Natural gas, production | 4309 million cubic meters |
Infrastructure
| Internet users | 5.5 per 100 residents |
| Mobile subscriptions | 75 per 100 residents |
| Passenger cars | 12 per 1000 residents |
Business and economics
| Unemployment | 17% of the workforce |
| GDP | 1200 per resident |
| Primary occupations | 81 % |
| Secondary profession | 6 % |
| Tertiary professions | 13 % |
Northern Mozambique has a warm and humid tropical climate, while in the south it is rainy and sunny. The country is periodically affected by drought.
During the rainy season from October to March, the average temperature is up to 30 degrees, with the exception of the cooler highlands in the country’s interior. The rest of the year is a dry period with just under 20 degrees in June and July.
The rainfall varies widely between different parts of the country, from an average of 400 mm per year in the southern part to just over 2,000 mm annually in the highland areas in the west. Around the capital Maputo farthest south, rapid weather changes with wind, rain and thunder are not uncommon.
Surface
799 380 km2 (2018)
Time
Swedish + 1 hour
Adjacent country (s)
Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Swaziland
Capital with number of residents
Maputo 1 100,000
Other major cities
Nampula 534 800, Beira 440 400, Chimoio 259 000, Nacala 221 300 (Estimated 2010)
Highest mountain
Binga (2436 m asl)
Important rivers
Zambezi, Limpopo, Ruvuma, Save
2015
August
The power struggle continues
Renamo continues to attack the national security forces in violation of the ceasefire (see September 2014). The dialogue with the government leads nowhere. Renamo refuses to be disarmed and demands to have the same influence over state companies as the Frelimo government party. For its part, the government is trying to weaken Renamo by attracting Renamo soldiers with offers of high positions in the national army and police.
July
New threats from Renamo after deadlock
In light of the deadlock in the talks about sharing power with the government, Renamo threatens to block the main road connecting northern and southern Mozambique. Renamo also threatens to evict government officials from the provinces in the north. In recent months, Renamo’s soldiers have increased the number of attacks against government forces, and the play can be seen as a way for Dhlakama to calm the armed branch of the movement.
June
Same-sex relationships are legalized
Parliament abolishes a law aimed at homosexuals. According to the law, it was criminal to carry “loads contrary to nature”. No one has been prosecuted in modern times for violating the law, but the change in the law means that it is now legally legal for same-sex relationships in Mozambique.
26 countries enter into new free trade agreement
Mozambique and 25 other countries agree on a new free trade agreement, the Tripartite Free Trade Area, which covers most of Africa between Egypt in the north and South Africa in the south. However, before the agreement can come into force, negotiations are required and the agreement is approved by the parliaments of the countries.
May
No to autonomy for provinces
Parliament approves Renamo’s legislative proposal for increased autonomy for some provinces (see March 2015).
April
The annual budget is presented
Finance Minister Adriano Maleiane presents the budget for 2015. The budget deficit is down compared to 2014. Foreign aid is also declining. The gap is covered by increased foreign loans. The largest item of expenditure is, like previous education, which receives 20 percent of the cake. In second place, health care comes with ten percent.
Large investments will create jobs
Parliament adopts a five-year plan under which 1.5 million new jobs will be created through investments in manufacturing and infrastructure. The investments will be financed through coal extraction and exploitation of the country’s natural gas resources. According to the plan, Mozambique will have growth of between 7 and 8 percent during the period and inflation should be below 10 percent. Foreign assessors describe the plan as over-optimistic.
March
Renamo wants to give provinces independence
Renamo is drafting a bill to give six mineral-rich provinces in northern and central Mozambique autonomy.
The President takes over as President of Frelimo
Ex-President Armando Guebuza hands over Frelimo’s presidency to new President Filipe Nyusi.
Further tensions after murder
New tensions arise between Frelimo and Renamo when one of the country’s most prominent lawyers is shot to death by unknown men in the capital. The lawyer who was an expert on constitutional issues had supported a proposal from Renamo to give the provinces greater autonomy. Renamo accuses the government of being behind the murder.
February
January
160 perish in floods
In January, Mozambique is affected by extensive flooding that requires around 160 lives and makes almost 160,000 people homeless.
Renamo boycott the presidential accession
Renamo boycott Parliament’s opening and installation of Filipe Nyusi as President on January 15. The new government is slimmed down to 13 ministers and the list contains only members of the Free State. Dhlakama does not recognize the government and threatens to establish a parallel government in the provinces where Renamo has a majority. After negotiations, Dhlakama and Nyusi agree to refer the issue of greater autonomy for the provinces to Parliament. Dhlakama says he is very pleased with the outcome of the talks and Renamo is raising his boycott of Parliament.