Mozambique

SUMMARY

Mozambique has a total population of 17.656.153 and a population density of 22.08 inhabitants per square/ km (2001).

The malnutrition rates for children under three years old are as follow: 36% of stunting, 8% of wasting and 26% of under weight. The low birth weight rate is 12%. The national mean Body Mass Index (BMI) for women is 21.6 which reflects a normal situation.

Regarding micronutrient deficiency no national survey was done. Some surveys were done at the provincial level. Goiter is endemic in Niassa and Tete provinces with levels of total goiter above 50%. In some districts of Cabo Delgado and Manica provinces goiter seems to be a public health problem.Anaemia is a severe problem in the country, with more than 50% of children and women being anaemic. The levels of anaemia are also high for men, which reflects a high prevalence of parasites. According to a survey in four provinces all the communities surveyed are at risk of Vitamin A deficiency.

It is estimated that 64% of the population is food insecure. The prevalence being higher in the southern region (75%). During 1994 -1995 the food balance showed a deficit of around 490.000 tons of cereals. The national production only covered around 40% of the national caloric consumption. The cereal gross production is estimated around 1.163.000 tons and a human consumption of 1.135.000 tons. A food shortage is expected in some areas of the country where the production was insufficient, due to the floods (central and southern region) and drought. The average calorie availability/Adult Equivalent Unity (AEU)/ per day in the household is 2761 and a median is 2420 calories. This is below the reference needs of 3000 calories/AEU/Day. The main food energy sources are cereals, tubers and roots, and the diet is mainly cereals, tubers, vegetables, green leaves, beans, groundnuts, coconut and fish in the coastal areas.

It is estimated that between 49 and 62 % of the population have access to health facilities. The infant mortality and under five mortality rate are still very high: 135/1000 and 200/1000 live births respectively.

The literacy rate for males and females are 59.3 and 23.6 per cent respectively.

It is estimated that 2/3 of the population live in absolute poverty; the mean monthly consumption is 160.780,00 Mt per person, equivalent to 9.4 USD (IAF, 1998). The GDP from 1995-99 reached a high level, 10% per year, which represents an increase of 7.5% per year in real GDP per capita, in Meticais. In U.S. Dollar term, GDP per capita increased from about US $145 in 1995 to slightly over US $ 240 in 1999.The inflation rate decreased to a one digit number; from 50% in 1995/96 to 0.5-2% in 1998.