Presentation of Mozambique
After over fifteen years of civil war, Mozambique went in 1992 through a remarkable catching-up process with average annual growth at 8% (one of the best performances in Sub-Saharan Africa), sizeable foreign investment, generous external aid and highly alleviated debt. In 2004 President Chissano withdrew from power and was replaced by Armando Guebuza, candidate for the FRELIMO Party which has been in power since 1992.
Geographical and natural constraints and demography
Mozambique is a vast country (one and a half times the size of France) and stretches out along the Indian Ocean (over 2.800 km of coastline). Its capital is quite some distance in the south of the country. It is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters (floods, droughts, cyclones, etc.) due to its climate and maritime front where a number of rivers flow, including the Zambezi. The country enjoys numerous natural resources: water resources, vast potentially irrigable areas, huge hydropower potential (including the Cahora-Bassa dam which is the second largest dam in Africa), coal, gas and precious minerals.
The country within its continental environment
Mozambique has close political and economic relations with South Africa and South African direct investments contribute to its growth. On the regional level Mozambique is a founding member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). One of Mozambique’s particularities is that it belongs to both the Portuguese and English-speaking worlds. It is a member of the Commonwealth and has been an observer member of the International Francophony Organisation since September 2007.
Poverty indicators and social indicators
Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world: it ranks 172nd out of the 177 listed countries (GDP per capita stands at $US335).* However, the country already reduced its poverty rate from 69% in 1997 to 54% in 2003. The national AIDS prevalence rate stands at around 16%. The fight against poverty is therefore a priority.
* Human Development Report - UNDP – 2007/2008, 2005 data
Key indicators
| GDP (in billions US$) | 6.6 |
| GDP per capita (in US$) | 335 |
| Total population (in millions) …incl. urban (%) …incl. under age 15 (%) | 20.5 34.5 44.2 |
| Number of children per woman | 5.5 |
| Human development index | 0.384 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 42.8 |
| Infant mortality rate (/1000) | 100 |
| Population living below $2 a day (%) | 74.1 |
| Population with access to drinking water (%) | 43 |
| Literacy rate (%) | 38.7 |
| Primary enrolment rate (%) | 77 |
| HIV/AIDS prevalence rate (%) | 16.1 |
| Gini index | 47.3 |
| Total aid received (in millions US$) | 1 285.9 |
| Share of ODA in total GDP (%) | 19.4 |
| Share of debt in total GDP (%) | 1.4 |