Mozambique is a country located on the east coast of Africa. It is bordered by the Mozambique Channel and the Indian
Ocean on the east, Tanzania on the north, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and South
Africa.
Formerly a Portuguese colony called Portuguese East Africa, it obtained its independence in 1975, and is now a republic. The capital is Maputo.
The country has a total area of 799,380 square kilometers, and is about twice the size of California.
Mozambique's population is 19,792,296, of whom 99 percent are black Africans who belong to a total of ten ethnic groups.
About 40 percent of the population are Christians, 18 percent are Muslims, and the remainder practice traditional religions.
The official language is Portuguese, but a number of indigenous languages are spoken. Swahili is widely spoken in the northern part of the country.
The economy of the country suffered during the extended civil war from 1975 to 1992, which was followed by a severe drought. Agriculture is one of the leading industries, though the country has extensive mineral resources. The Zambezi River flows through the north-central part of the country.
Mozambique remains one of the world’s poorest countries. Desertification, environmental pollution and excess mortality due to AIDS are continuing problems.
Web Sites
- CIA: The World Factbook
- The African Studies Center of the University of Pennsylvania
- Norwegian Council for Africa
Catalog
Search the library's catalog for Mozambique.
Databases
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