tion
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.
Mozambique has seen very strong economic growth since the end of the
civil war largely due to post-conflict reconstruction.

Geography
Mozambique

Location:

Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South
Africa and Tanzania

Geographic coordinates:

18 15 S, 35 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 801,590 sq km
land: 784,090 sq km
water: 17,500 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

Populati