Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]
total: 65,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Broadcast media [time series]
1 state-run TV station supplemented by a private TV station; Portuguese state TV's African service, RTP Africa, and Brazilian-owned TV Miramar are available; state-run radio provides nearly 100% territorial coverage and broadcasts in multiple languages; a number of privately owned and community-operated stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019)
Internet country code [time series]
.mz
Internet users [time series]
percent of population: 20% (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 29,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total subscriptions: 17.1 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2024 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products [time series]
cassava, maize, sugarcane, tomatoes, beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas, coconuts, onions (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Budget [time series]
revenues: $6.243 billion (2024 est.) expenditures: $7.223 billion (2024 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Current account balance [time series]
-$2.498 billion (2024 est.) -$2.207 billion (2023 est.) -$6.367 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Debt - external [time series]
$8.274 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Economic overview [time series]
low-income East African economy; subsistence farming dominates labor force; return to growth led by agriculture and extractive industries; Islamist insurgency threatens natural gas projects in north; ongoing foreign debt restructuring and resolution under IMF Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative
Exchange rates [time series]
meticais (MZM) per US dollar - 63.905 (2024 est.) 63.886 (2023 est.) 63.851 (2022 est.) 65.465 (2021 est.) 69.465 (2020 est.)
Exports [time series]
$9.358 billion (2024 est.) $9.405 billion (2023 est.) $9.409 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities [time series]
coal, natural gas, aluminum, gold, precious stones (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exports - partners [time series]
India 18%, China 13%, South Africa 9%, UAE 6%, Thailand 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$22.417 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 69% (2024 est.) government consumption: 17.1% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24.1% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 42.7% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -52.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 26.3% (2024 est.) industry: 24.6% (2024 est.) services: 38.4% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income [time series]
50.3 (2019 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 1.7% (2019 est.) highest 10%: 41.1% (2019 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Imports [time series]
$10.488 billion (2024 est.) $11.18 billion (2023 est.) $15.932 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities [time series]
refined petroleum, chromium ore, iron alloys, iron ore, palm oil (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - partners [time series]
South Africa 34%, China 14%, India 13%, UAE 6%, Singapore 3% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
2.9% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Industries [time series]
aluminum, petroleum products, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco, food, beverages
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
4.1% (2024 est.) 7.1% (2023 est.) 10.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Labor force [time series]
15.173 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Population below poverty line [time series]
62.8% (2019 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Public debt [time series]
76.6% of GDP (2022 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) [time series]
$51.786 billion (2024 est.) $50.844 billion (2023 est.) $48.222 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP growth rate [time series]
1.9% (2024 est.) 5.4% (2023 est.) 4.4% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP per capita [time series]
$1,500 (2024 est.) $1,500 (2023 est.) $1,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Remittances [time series]
1.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.9% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$3.843 billion (2024 est.) $3.637 billion (2023 est.) $2.939 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
22.7% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Unemployment rate [time series]
3.6% (2024 est.) 3.6% (2023 est.) 3.6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 7.4% (2024 est.) male: 7.5% (2024 est.) female: 7.2% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Energy
production: 10.583 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 13,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 10.658 million metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 900 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 1.792 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Electricity [time series]
installed generating capacity: 2.86 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 12.983 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 11.483 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 8.287 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 3.38 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity access [time series]
electrification - total population: 33.2% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 79.4% electrification - rural areas: 5%
Electricity generation sources [time series]
fossil fuels: 16.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 82.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita [time series]
5.789 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Natural gas [time series]
production: 8.873 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 1.625 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 7.09 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 2.832 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Petroleum [time series]
refined petroleum consumption: 42,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment
Carbon dioxide emissions [time series]
9.549 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: -68,287 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 6.244 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 3.373 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Climate [time series]
tropical to subtropical
Environmental issues [time series]
increased population migration to urban and coastal areas; desertification; soil erosion; deforestation; water pollution from artisanal mining; pollution of surface and coastal waters; wildlife preservation (elephant poaching for ivory)
International environmental agreements [time series]
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 52.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 7.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 45.1% (2023 est.) forest: 41.7% (2023 est.) other: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Methane emissions [time series]
energy: 320.1 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 169.5 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 117.5 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 101.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Particulate matter emissions [time series]
17.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources [time series]
217.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal [time series]
municipal: 372 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 25 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 1.076 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 38.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling [time series]
municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.5 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Geography
total : 799,380 sq km land: 786,380 sq km water: 13,000 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
slightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California
Climate [time series]
tropical to subtropical
Coastline [time series]
2,470 km
Elevation [time series]
highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 345 m
Geographic coordinates [time series]
18 15 S, 35 00 E
Geography - note [time series]
the Zambezi River flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country
Irrigated land [time series]
1,180 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 4,783 km border countries (6): Malawi 1498 km; South Africa 496 km; Eswatini 108 km; Tanzania 840 km; Zambia 439 km; Zimbabwe 1,402 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 52.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 7.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 45.1% (2023 est.) forest: 41.7% (2023 est.) other: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Location [time series]
Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania
Major lakes (area sq km) [time series]
fresh water lake(s): Lake Malawi (shared with Malawi and Tanzania) - 22,490
Major rivers (by length in km) [time series]
Rio Zambeze (Zambezi) river mouth (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe) - 2,740 km; Rio Limpopo river mouth (shared with South Africa [s], Botswana, and Zimbabwe) - 1,800 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) [time series]
Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Map references [time series]
Africa
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces
Natural resources [time series]
coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite
Population distribution [time series]
three large population clusters are found along the southern coast between Maputo and Inhambane, in the central area between Beira and Chimoio along the Zambezi River, and in and around the northern cities of Nampula, Cidade de Nacala, and Pemba; the northwest and southwest are the least populated areas, as shown in this population distribution map
Terrain [time series]
mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
10 provinces ( provincias , singular - provincia ), 1 city ( cidade )*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de Maputo*, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
Capital [time series]
name: Maputo geographic coordinates: 25 57 S, 32 35 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after the Maputo River, which drains into Maputo Bay south of the city; the river is said to be named after the son of Muagobe, a local chief in the 18th century
Citizenship [time series]
citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Mozambique dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Constitution [time series]
history: previous 1975, 1990; latest adopted 16 November 2004, effective 21 December 2004 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one third of the Assembly of the Republic membership; passage of amendments affecting constitutional provisions, including the independence and sovereignty of the state, the republican form of government, basic rights and freedoms, and universal suffrage, requires at least a two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly and approval in a referendum; referenda not required for passage of other amendments
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique conventional short form: Mozambique local long form: Republica de Mocambique local short form: Mocambique former: Portuguese East Africa, People's Republic of Mozambique etymology: named for an offshore island; the island was named after Mussa bin BIQUE (or Mussa Ibn MALIK), an influential Arab slave trader who set himself up as sultan on the island in the 15th century
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg d Affaires Abigail L. DRESSEL (since 11 August 2025) embassy: Avenida Marginal 5467, Maputo mailing address: 2330 Maputo Place, Washington DC 20521-2330 telephone: [258] (84) 095-8000 email address and website: MaputaConsular@state.gov https://mz.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Alfredo Fabi o NUVUNGA (since 19 April 2023) chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 293-7147 FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245 email address and website: washington.dc@embamoc.gov.mz https://usa.embamoc.gov.mz/
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Daniel Francisco CHAPO (since 15 January 2025) head of government: Prime Minister Maria Benvinda Delfina LEVI (since 17 January 2025) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president election/appointment process: president elected directly by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for 2 consecutive terms); prime minister appointed by the president most recent election date: 9 October 2024 election results: 2024 : Daniel CHAPO elected president in first round; percent of vote - Daniel CHAPO (FRELIMO) 65.2%, Ven ncio MONDLANE (PODEMOS) 24.2%, Ossufo MOMADE (RENAMO) 6.6% expected date of next election: October 2029
description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow, with a red isosceles triangle based on the left side; the black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a five-pointed yellow star with a crossed black-and-white rifle and hoe, on top of an open white book meaning: green stands for the riches of the land, white for peace, black for the African continent, yellow for the country's minerals, and red for the fight for independence; the rifle stands for defense and vigilance, the hoe for agriculture, the open book for the importance of education, and the star for Marxism and internationalism note: one of two national flags featuring a firearm; the other is Guatemala
Government type [time series]
presidential republic
Independence [time series]
25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
International law organization participation [time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
International organization participation [time series]
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, CPLP, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, Union Latina, UPU, WCO, WFP, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch [time series]
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 5 judges); Constitutional Council (consists of 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by the president of the republic; vice president appointed by the president in consultation with the Higher Council of the Judiciary (CSMJ) and ratified by the Assembly of the Republic; other judges elected by the Assembly; judges serve 5-year renewable terms; Constitutional Council judges appointed - 1 by the president, 5 by the Assembly, and 1 by the CSMJ; judges serve 5-year nonrenewable terms subordinate courts: Administrative Court (capital city only); provincial courts or Tribunais Judicias de Provincia; District Courts or Tribunais Judicias de Districto; customs courts; maritime courts; courts marshal; labor courts; community courts
Legal system [time series]
mixed system of Portuguese civil law and customary law
Legislative branch [time series]
legislature name: Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 250 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 10/9/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) (171); Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique (PODEMOS) (43); Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO) (28); Other (8) percentage of women in chamber: 38.3% expected date of next election: October 2029
National anthem(s) [time series]
title: P tria Amada (Lovely Fatherland) lyrics/music: Salom o J. MANHICA/unkown history: adopted 2002; the new anthem reflects the new multi-party political system
National color(s) [time series]
green, black, yellow, white, red
National heritage [time series]
total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Island of Mozambique
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
National symbol(s) [time series]
rifle, hoe, and book
Political parties [time series]
Democratic Movement of Mozambique (Movimento Democratico de Mocambique) or MDM Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de Mocambique) or FRELIMO Mozambican National Resistance (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana) or RENAMO
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
In the first half of the second millennium A.D., northern Mozambican port towns were frequented by traders from Somalia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, and India. The Portuguese were able to wrest much of the coastal trade from Arab Muslims in the centuries after 1500, and they set up their own colonies. Portugal did not relinquish Mozambique until 1975. Large-scale emigration, economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil war hindered the country's development until the mid-1990s. The ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) party formally abandoned Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided for multiparty elections and a free-market economy. A UN-negotiated peace agreement between FRELIMO and rebel Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) forces ended the fighting in 1992. In 2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANO stepped down after 18 years in office. His elected successor, Armando GUEBUZA, served two terms and then passed executive power to Filipe NYUSI in 2015. RENAMO s residual armed forces intermittently engaged in a low-level insurgency after 2012, but a 2016 cease-fire eventually led to the two sides signing a comprehensive peace deal in 2019. Since 2017, violent extremists -- who an official ISIS media outlet recognized as ISIS's network in Mozambique for the first time in 2019 -- have been conducting attacks against civilians and security services in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. In 2021, Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community deployed forces to support Mozambique s efforts to counter the extremist group.
Military and Security
Military - note [time series]
the FADM is responsible for external security, cooperating with police on internal security, and responding to natural disasters and other emergencies; the primary focus of the FADM is countering an insurgency in the northern province of Cabo Delgado by militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham terrorist group (ISIS-Mozambique; known locally as Ahl al-Sunna wal-Jama a); since 2017, the conflict has claimed an estimated 6,000 lives and displaced an estimated one million persons; at Mozambique's request, Rwanda and several southern African countries under the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) deployed forces to Mozambique to combat the insurgency in 2021; the SADC forces departed in 2024; as of 2025, Rwanda continued to provide approximately 3,000 military and police personnel to assist Mozambican Defense and Security Forces, along with several hundred Tanzanian troops; the EU has also provided training assistance (2025)
Military and security forces [time series]
Armed Forces for the Defense of Mozambique (Forcas Armadas de Defesa de Mocambique, FADM): Army, Mozambique Navy, Mozambique Air Force Ministry of Interior: Mozambique National Police (PRM; includes the Rapid Intervention Unit, UIR), the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC), Border Security Force; other security forces include the Presidential Guard and the Force for the Protection of High-Level Individuals (2025) note 1: the FADM and other security forces are referred to collectively as the Mozambican Defense and Security Forces (FDS) note 2: the PRM, SERNIC, and the UIR are responsible for law enforcement and internal security; the Border Security Force is responsible for protecting the country s international borders and for carrying out police duties within 24 miles of borders note 3: in 2023, the Mozambique Government legalized local militias that have been assisting security forces operating in Cabo Delgado against Islamic militants since 2020; this Local Force is comprised of ex-combatants and other civilians and receives training, uniforms, weapons, and logistical support from the FADM
Military and security service personnel strengths [time series]
estimated 12,000 active FADM (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions [time series]
the FADM's inventory consists primarily of Soviet-era armaments, although in recent years it has received some secondhand equipment from a number of countries, including India, South Africa, and the UAE, mostly as donations (2025)
Military expenditures [time series]
2% of GDP (2024 est.) 2% of GDP (2023 est.) 2% of GDP (2022 est.) 2% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military service age and obligation [time series]
registration for military service is mandatory for all men and women at 18 years of age; 18-35 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; initial 60-month service obligation (2025)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 44.7% (male 7,548,247/female 7,350,012) 15-64 years: 52.4% (male 8,428,457/female 9,061,065) 65 years and over: 2.9% (2024 est.) (male 473,030/female 490,143)
Alcohol consumption per capita [time series]
total: 1.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 1.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
36.07 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Child marriage [time series]
women married by age 15: 16.8% (2015) women married by age 18: 52.9% (2015) men married by age 18: 9.7% (2015)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
15.4% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49) [time series]
64.8% (2023 est.)
Death rate [time series]
9.34 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 89.2 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 83.7 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 18.3 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 87.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 48.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 63.2% of population (2022 est.) urban: 12.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 51.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 36.8% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure [time series]
6% of GDP (2022 est.) 20.4% national budget (2021 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
African 99% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Mestizo 0.8%, other (includes European, Indian, Pakistani, Chinese) 0.2% (2017 est.)
Gross reproduction rate [time series]
2.26 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure [time series]
9.1% of GDP (2021) 8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Hospital bed density [time series]
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 56.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 60.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 56.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Languages [time series]
Makhuwa 26.1%, Portuguese (official) 16.6%, Tsonga 8.6%, Nyanja 8.1, Sena 7.1%, Lomwe 7.1%, Chuwabo 4.7%, Ndau 3.8%, Tswa 3.8%, other Mozambican languages 11.8%, other 0.5%, unspecified 1.8% (2017 est.)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 58.3 years (2024 est.) male: 57.1 years female: 59.6 years
Literacy [time series]
total population: 61.7% (2022 est.) male: 74.1% (2022 est.) female: 50.9% (2022 est.)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
1.852 million Matola, 1.163 million MAPUTO (capital), 969,000 Nampula (2023)
Maternal mortality ratio [time series]
82 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Median age [time series]
total: 17.4 years (2025 est.) male: 16.7 years female: 17.9 years
Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]
19.2 years (2011 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49
Nationality [time series]
noun: Mozambican(s) adjective: Mozambican
Net migration rate [time series]
-1.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
7.2% (2016)
Physician density [time series]
0.18 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Population [time series]
total: 34,206,144 (2025 est.) male: 16,880,529 female: 17,325,615
Population distribution [time series]
three large population clusters are found along the southern coast between Maputo and Inhambane, in the central area between Beira and Chimoio along the Zambezi River, and in and around the northern cities of Nampula, Cidade de Nacala, and Pemba; the northwest and southwest are the least populated areas, as shown in this population distribution map
Population growth rate [time series]
2.53% (2025 est.)
Religions [time series]
Catholic 27.3%, Islam 19.1%, Pentecostal 16.7%, Saio/Zione 16.3%, no religion 13.5%, other 4.3%, Anglican 1.7%, unknown 1.2% (2017 est.)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 71.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 24.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 42.4% of population (2022 est.) urban: 28.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 75.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 57.6% of population (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 10 years (2017 est.) male: 11 years (2017 est.) female: 10 years (2017 est.)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Tobacco use [time series]
total: 14.3% (2020 est.) male: 23% (2020 est.) female: 5.6% (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
4.58 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 38.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s) [time series]
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Mozambique (ISIS-M) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]
refugees: 24,250 (2024 est.) IDPs: 718,154 (2024 est.)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
92 (2025)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]
C9
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 36 (2023) by type: general cargo 9, other 27
total ports: 11 (2024) large: 0 medium: 2 small: 5 very small: 4 ports with oil terminals: 3 key ports: Beira, Chinde, Inhambane, Maputo, Mocambique, Pebane, Porto Belo
Railways [time series]
total: 4,787 km (2014) narrow gauge: 4,787 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge