Full country name: Republic of Mozambique
Area: 801,600 sq km
Population: 17 million
People: African (99%, including Shangaan, Chokwe, Manyika, Sena and Makua)
Language: Portugiese
Religion: Indigenous beliefs (50%), Christian (30%), Muslim (20%)
Government: republic
GDP: US$12.2 billion
GDP per capita: US$670
Annual Growth: 3%
Inflation: 22%
Major Industries: Food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, petroleum
Major Trading Partners: South Africa, Spain, US, UK, Portugal, France, Japan
Mozambique is located on the southeastern coast of Africa and is bordered by Tanzania to the North, South Africa and Swaziland to the South, Zimbabwe to the West and Zambia and Malawi to the northwest.

Mozambique is made up mainly of coastal lowlands, rising toward the west to a plateau ranging from 500 to 2,000 ft above sea level and on the western border to a higher plateau (6,000 to 8,000 ft), with mountains in the north reaching a height of over 8,000 ft. The highest mountains are Namuli (7,936 ft), Binga (7,992 ft) on the Zimbabwean border, and Serra Zuira (7,306 ft) in Sofala Province.

The most important rivers are the Zambezi flowing southeast across the centre of Mozambique into the Indian Ocean, the Limpopo in the south, the Save in the middle and the Lugfenda in the north. The most important lake is the navigable Lake Niassa. In the river valleys and deltas, the soil is rich and fertile, but southern and central Mozambique have poor and sandy soil, and parts of the interior are dry.

Warning
It has been estimated that more than one million land mines - laid by both sides during the war - remain unexploded in Mozambique. Some minefields have warning signs, but most are unmarked and often only get discovered when someone gets blown to bits. For this reason it is simply not safe to go wandering off into the bush anywhere without first seeking local advice - and even then your safety isn't guaranteed. Stay on roads and well-worn tracks where other people have obviously gone before.