Sub Saharan Africa

Mozambique
Last Reviewed: 17 April 2012

Country information

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Map of The Republic of Mozambique

Area: 799,380 km²
Population: 23.5 million (2012 estimate)
Capital: Maputo (population 1.5 million 2012 estimate)
People: Indigenous ethnic groups and small minorities of European and Asian descent.
Languages: Portuguese (official), 16 African languages and respective dialects
Religion(s): Roman Catholic (30.3%), other Christian (including independent African churches 36%), Muslim (18%). Elements of indigenous religion are widespread.
Currency: Metical (MT) = 100 centavos. Exchange rate £1 = 43.2Mtn (April 2012)
Major political parties: Frente de Libertação de Moçambique (Frelimo), Resistência Nacional de Moçambique (Renamo), Movimento Democratica de Mocambique (MDM)
Head of State: President Armando Guebuza
Membership of international groupings/organisations: The Commonwealth; AU (African Union); SADC (Southern African Development Community); the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC); the Non-Aligned Movement; the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP); the Organisation of Portuguese-Speaking African Countries (PALOP); la Francophonie (as observer); and the Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC).