Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest. The area was explored by Vasco da Gama in 1498 and colonized by Portugal in 1505. Mozambique became independent in 1975, to which it became the Republic of Mozambique shortly after, and was the scene of an intense civil war lasting from 1977 to 1992. The country was named Moçambique by the Portuguese after the Island of Mozambique, derived from Musa Al Big or Mossa Al Bique or Mussa Ben Mbiki, an Arab trader who first visited the island and later lived there.
| Capital(and largest city) | Maputo 14°55'N, 23°31'W | ||
| Official Languague | Portuguese | ||
| 2000 | 2005 | ||
| People | |||
| Population, total | 18.1 million | 20.5 million | |
| Population growth (annual %) | 3 | 2 | |
| Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | 45 | 43 | |
| Fertility rate, total (births per woman) | 6 | 5 | |
| Environment | |||
| Surface area (sq. km) | 799,380 | 799,380 | |
| Forest area (sq. km) | 195,120 | 192,620 | |
| Agricultural land (% of land area) | 61 | 62 | |
| Economy | |||
| GNI, Atlas method (current US$) | 4,1987 million | 5,986 million | |
| GNI per capita, Atlas method (current US$) | 230 | 290 | |
| GDP (current US$) | 4,248 million | 6,578 million | |
| GDP growth (annual %) | 1 | 8 | |
| Inflation, GDP deflator (annual %) | 12 | 9 | |
| Agriculture, value added (% of GDP) | 24 | 27 | |
| Industry, value added (% of GDP) | 25 | 25 | |
| States and market | |||
| Fixed line and mobile phone subscribers (per 1,000 people) | 0 | 7 | |
| Internet users (per 1,000 people) | 0 | 1 | |
| Roads, paved (% of total roads) | 19 | .. | |
| Global links | |||
| Merchandise trade (% of GDP) | 36 | 64 | |
| Net barter terms of trade (2000 - 100) | 100 | 114 | |
| Long-term debt (DOD, current U$S) | 7,248million | 4,507 million | |
| Present value of debt (% of GNI) | .. | 28.47 | |
| Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and income) | 20 | .. | |