25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Religions
Catholic 23.8%, Muslim 17.8%, Zionist Christian 17.5%, other 17.8%, none 23.1% (1997 census)
Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)
Languages
Emakhuwa 26.1%, Xichangana 11.3%, Portuguese 8.8% (official; spoken by 27% of population as a second language), Elomwe 7.6%, Cisena 6.8%, Echuwabo 5.8%, other Mozambican languages 32%, other foreign languages 0.3%, unspecified 1.3% (1997 census)
Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle classes
meticais (MZM) per US dollar - 24.125 (2008 est.), 26.264 (2007), 25.4 (2006), 23,061 (2005), 22,581 (2004) note: in 2006 Mozambique revalued its currency, with 1000 old meticais equal to 1 new meticais
Jordanian dinars (JOD) per US dollar - 0.709 (2008 est.), 0.709 (2007), 0.709 (2006), 0.709 (2005), 0.709 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.800%
8.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania
Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
Area
799,380 km sq
89,342 km sq
Coastline
2,470 km
26 km
Climate
tropical to subtropical
mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
