2024 Edition Primary

Background

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.

Area

land

786,380 sq km

total

799,380 sq km

water

13,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California

Climate

tropical to subtropical

Coastline

2,470 km

Elevation

highest point

Monte Binga 2,436 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

345 m

Geographic coordinates

18 15 S, 35 00 E

Geography - note

the Zambezi River flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country

Irrigated land

1,180 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

Malawi 1498 km; South Africa 496 km; Eswatini 108 km; Tanzania 840 km; Zambia 439 km; Zimbabwe 1,402 km

total

4,783 km

Land use

agricultural land

56.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 6.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 49.6% (2018 est.)

forest

43.7% (2018 est.)

other

0% (2018 est.)

Location

Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s)

Lake Malawi (shared with Malawi and Tanzania) - 22,490

Major rivers (by length in km)

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 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces

Natural resources

coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite

Population distribution

three large populations 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

mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west

Age structure

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

beer

1.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

1.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

36.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

14.6% (2019/20)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

27.1% (2015)

Current health expenditure

7.6% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

63.7% (2023 est.)

Death rate

9.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Demographic profile

Mozambique is a poor, sparsely populated country with high fertility and mortality rates and a rapidly growing youthful population – 45% of the population is younger than 15, as of 2020. Mozambique’s high poverty rate is sustained by natural disasters, disease, high population growth, low agricultural productivity, and the unequal distribution of wealth. The country’s birth rate is among the world’s highest, averaging around  5 children per woman (and higher in rural areas) for at least the last three decades. The sustained high level of fertility reflects gender inequality, low contraceptive use, early marriages and childbearing, and a lack of education, particularly among women. The high population growth rate is somewhat restrained by the country’s high HIV/AIDS and overall mortality rates. Mozambique ranks among the worst in the world for HIV/AIDS prevalence, HIV/AIDS deaths, and life expectancy at birth, as of 2022. Mozambique is predominantly a country of emigration, but internal, rural-urban migration has begun to grow. Mozambicans, primarily from the country’s southern region, have been migrating to South Africa for work for more than a century. Additionally, approximately 1.7 million Mozambicans fled to Malawi, South Africa, and other neighboring countries between 1979 and 1992 to escape from civil war. Labor migrants have usually been men from rural areas whose crops have failed or who are unemployed and have headed to South Africa to work as miners; multiple generations of the same family often become miners. Since the abolition of apartheid in South Africa in 1991, other job opportunities have opened to Mozambicans, including in the informal and manufacturing sectors, but mining remains their main source of employment.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

4.8

potential support ratio

20.8 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

86.1

youth dependency ratio

81.3

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 61.5% of population

improved: total

total: 73.3% of population

improved: urban

urban: 93.4% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 38.5% of population

unimproved: total

total: 26.7% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 6.6% of population

Education expenditures

6.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

African 99% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Mestizo 0.8%, other (includes European, Indian, Pakistani, Chinese) 0.2% (2017 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

2.29 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

56.2 deaths/1,000 live births

male

60.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total

58.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

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

female

59.6 years

male

57.1 years

total population

58.3 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

53.8% (2021)

male

74.1%

total population

63.4%

Major urban areas - population

1.852 million Matola, 1.163 million MAPUTO (capital), 969,000 Nampula (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

127 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

17.9 years

male

16.7 years

total

17.3 years (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.2 years (2011 est.)

note

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

Nationality

adjective

Mozambican

noun

Mozambican(s)

Net migration rate

-1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

7.2% (2016)

Physician density

0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

female

16,901,220 (2024 est.)

male

16,449,734

total

33,350,954

Population distribution

three large populations 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

2.54% (2024 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 27.2%, Muslim 18.9%, Zionist Christian 15.6%, Evangelical/Pentecostal 15.3%, Anglican 1.7%, other 4.8%, none 13.9%, unspecified 2.5% (2017 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 24.7% of population

improved: total

total: 42.2% of population

improved: urban

urban: 71.9% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 75.3% of population

unimproved: total

total: 57.8% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 28.1% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

9 years (2017)

male

10 years

total

10 years

Sex ratio

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

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

5.6% (2020 est.)

male

23% (2020 est.)

total

14.3% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.66 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

4.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

38.8% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city (cidade)*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de Maputo*, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia

Capital

etymology

reputedly named after the Maputo River, which drains into Maputo Bay south of the city

geographic coordinates

25 57 S, 32 35 E

name

Maputo

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

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

amendments

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; amended 2007, 2018

history

previous 1975, 1990; latest adopted 16 November 2004, effective 21 December 2004

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Mozambique

conventional short form

Mozambique

etymology

named for the offshore island of Mozambique; the island was apparently named after Mussa al-BIK, an influential Arab slave trader who set himself up as sultan on the island in the 15th century

former

Portuguese East Africa, People's Republic of Mozambique

local long form

Republica de Mocambique

local short form

Mocambique

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Peter Hendrick VROOMAN (since 3 March 2022)

email address and website

MaputaConsular@state.govhttps://mz.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Avenida Marginal 5467, Maputo

mailing address

2330 Maputo Place, Washington DC  20521-2330

telephone

[258] (84) 095-8000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Alfredo Fabião NUVUNGA (since 19 April 2023)

email address and website

washington.dc@embamoc.gov.mzhttps://usa.embamoc.gov.mz/

FAX

[1] (202) 835-0245

telephone

[1] (202) 293-7147

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Filipe Jacinto NYUSI (since 15 January 2015)

election results

2019: Filipe NYUSI reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Filipe NYUSI (FRELIMO) 73.0%, Ossufo MOMADE (RENAMO) 21.9%, Daviz SIMANGO (MDM) 5.1%2014:  Filipe NYUSI elected president in first round; percent of vote - Filipe NYUSI (FRELIMO) 57.0%, Afonso DHLAKAMA (RENAMO) 36.6%, Daviz SIMANGO (MDM) 6.4%

elections/appointments

president elected directly by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for 2 consecutive terms); election last held on 15 October 2019 (next to be held on 9 October 2024); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Adriano MALEIANE (since 3 March 2022)

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open white book; green represents the riches of the land, white peace, black the African continent, yellow the country's minerals, and red the struggle for independence; the rifle symbolizes defense and vigilance, the hoe refers to the country's agriculture, the open book stresses the importance of education, and the star represents Marxism and internationalism

note

note: one of only two national flags featuring a firearm, the other is Guatemala

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

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

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 5 judges); Constitutional Council (consists of 7 judges); note - the Higher Council of the Judiciary Magistracy is responsible for judiciary management and discipline

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

mixed legal system of Portuguese civil law and customary law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; 248 members elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote and 2 members representing Mozambicans abroad directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - FRELIMO 71%, RENAMO 23%, MDM 4%; seats by party - FRELIMO 184, RENAMO 60, MDM 6; composition - men 142, women 108, percentage women 43.2%

elections

last held on 15 October 2019 (next to be held on 9 October 2024)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Salomao J. MANHICA/unknown

name

"Patria Amada" (Lovely Fatherland)

note

note: adopted 2002

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Island of Mozambique

total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 June (1975)

National symbol(s)

national colors: green, black, yellow, white, red

Political parties

Democratic Movement of Mozambique (Movimento Democratico de Mocambique) or MDMLiberation Front of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de Mocambique) or FRELIMOMozambican National Resistance (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana) or RENAMO

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

cassava, sugarcane, maize, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, bananas, onions, rice, coconuts (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Budget

expenditures

$4.91 billion (2022 est.)

note

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

revenues

$5.388 billion (2022 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

CCC (2019)

Moody's rating

Caa2 (2019)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

CCC+ (2019)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

-$3.436 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$6.88 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$2.426 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview

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

Currency

meticais (MZM) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

62.548 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

69.465 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

65.465 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

63.851 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

63.886 (2023 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$6.526 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$9.409 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$9.289 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

coal, aluminum, coke, natural gas, gold (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

India 22%, South Africa 9%, South Korea 8%, Italy 7%, China 6% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

52.5% (2022 est.)

government consumption

16.7% (2022 est.)

household consumption

75.2% (2022 est.)

imports of goods and services

-83% (2022 est.)

investment in fixed capital

38.6% (2022 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

26.7% (2022 est.)

industry

22.8% (2022 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

40.6% (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$20.625 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019

50.5 (2019 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

41.2% (2019 est.)

lowest 10%

1.6% (2019 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

Imports 2021

$10.534 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$15.932 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$11.18 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

ships, refined petroleum, iron alloys, chromium ore, refined copper (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

South Africa 23%, South Korea 20%, China 12%, India 10%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 5% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

10.43% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

aluminum, petroleum products, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco, food, beverages

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

6.41% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

10.28% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

7.13% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

15.191 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

46.1% (2014 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2022

78.62% of GDP (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$46.206 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$48.22 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$50.631 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

2.38% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.36% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

5% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$1,400 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$1,500 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$1,500 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

4.57% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

1.34% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

3.22% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$3.781 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$2.939 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$3.515 billion (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

23.25% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

3.98% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

3.62% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

3.54% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

7.3% (2023 est.)

male

7.9% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

7.6% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

59,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

2.796 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

5.568 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

8.423 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

consumption

11,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

9.413 million metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

9,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

production

9.015 million metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves

1.792 billion metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

13.09 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

11.096 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports

8.219 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

2.77 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

3.052 billion kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

5%

electrification - total population

33.2% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

79.4%

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

17.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

81.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

0.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

5.426 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

1.347 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

exports

3.963 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

production

5.338 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves

2.832 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

40,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

0.2 (2020 est.)

total

70,000 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

1 state-run TV station supplemented by 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

.mz

Internet users

percent of population

17% (2021 est.)

total

5.44 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and nearly 43 per 100 mobile-cellular teledensity (2021)

general assessment

one of the first countries in the region to embark upon telecom reform and to open the sector to competition; the mobile segment in particular has shown strong growth; additional competition followed in late 2020; a new licensing regime ensured that by mid-2019 all operators had been provided with universal licenses, enabling them to offer all types of telephony and data services; mobile, fixed-line and broadband penetration rates remain far below the average for the region; in recent years the government has enforced the registration of SIM cards, but with varying success; at the end of 2016 almost five million unregistered SIM cards were deactivated but poor monitoring meant that the process was revisited in mid-2019 and again in late 2020; the high cost of international bandwidth had long hampered internet use, though the landing of two international submarine cables (SEACOM and EASSy) has reduced the cost of bandwidth and so led to drastic reductions in broadband retail prices as well as a significant jump in available bandwidth; there is some cross-platform competition, with DSL, cable, fibre, WiMAX, and mobile broadband options available, though fixed broadband options can be limited to urban areas; improvements can be expected from the ongoing rollout of a national fiber backbone networks and of upgrades to mobile infrastructure (2022)

international

country code - 258; landing points for the EASSy and SEACOM/ Tata TGN-Eurasia fiber-optic submarine cable systems linking numerous east African countries, the Middle East and Asia ; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean); TdM contracts for Itelsat for satellite broadband and bulk haul services (2020)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

total subscriptions

29,000 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

42 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

13.871 million (2022 est.)

Airports

92 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

C9

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 9, other 27

total

36 (2023)

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

4.78 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

540,124 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

11

number of registered air carriers

2 (2020)

Pipelines

972 km gas, 278 km refined products (2013)

Ports

key ports

Beira, Chinde, Inhambane, Maputo, Mocambique, Pebane, Porto Belo

medium

2

ports with oil terminals

3

small

5

total ports

11 (2024)

very small

4

Railways

narrow gauge

4,787 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

total

4,787 km (2014)

Roadways

paved

5,958 km

total

30,562 km

unpaved

24,604 km (2018)

Waterways

460 km (2010) (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake)

Military - note

the FADM is responsible for external security, cooperating with police on internal security, and responding to natural disasters and other emergencies; the current primary focus of the FADM is countering an insurgency driven by militants with ties to the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) terrorist group in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, an area known for rich liquid natural gas deposits; insurgent attacks in the province began in 2017, and the fighting has left an estimated 6,000 dead and 1 million displaced; several countries from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the EU, as well as Rwanda and the US have provided various forms of military assistance to the FADM; the SADC countries and Rwanda have sent more than 3,000 military and security personnel, while some EU member states and the US have provided training assistance; in the first half of 2024, the SADC began withdrawing personnel, although the insurgency remained active (2024)

Military and security forces

Armed Forces for the Defense of Mozambique (Forcas Armadas de Defesa de Mocambique, FADM): Mozambique Army (Ramo do Exercito), Mozambique Navy (Marinha de Guerra de Mocambique, MGM), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de Mocambique, FAM)Ministry of Interior: Mozambique National Police (PRM), the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC), Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR; police special forces), Border Security Force; other security forces include the Presidential Guard and the Force for the Protection of High-Level Individuals (2024)

note

note 1: the FADM and other security forces are referred to collectively as the Defense and Security Forces (DFS)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 bordersnote 3: the Presidential Guard provides security for the president, and the Force for the Protection of High-level Individuals provides security for senior-level officials at the national and provincial levelsnote 4: 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

information limited and varied; estimated 12,000 active personnel (11,000 Army and about 1,000 Air Force and Navy) (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the FADM's inventory consists primarily of Russian and Soviet-era equipment, although in recent years it has received limited quantities of more modern equipment from a variety of countries, mostly as aid/donations (2024)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2019

1.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military service age and obligation

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; 24-month service obligation (note - in 2023, the Mozambique Government said it intended to raise the length of service from two to five years) (2023)

Illicit drugs

a transit country for large shipments of heroin and methamphetamine originating from Afghanistan to primarily South Africa  

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

850,599 (north Mozambique, violence between the government and an opposition group, violence associated with extremists groups in 2018, political violence 2019) (2023)

refugees (country of origin)

10,655 (Burundi) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2023); 9,340 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2024)

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Mozambique (ISIS-M)

note

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

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

7.94 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

16.26 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

16.45 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

tropical to subtropical

Environment - current issues

increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; soil erosion; deforestation; water pollution caused by artisanal mining; pollution of surface and coastal waters; wildlife preservation (elephant poaching for ivory)

Environment - international agreements

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

Food insecurity

severe localized food insecurity

due to shortfall in insecurity in northern areas and extreme weather events - food insecurity estimates for 2023 are not yet available, but the landing of cyclone Freddy in February 2023 is expected to have caused disruptions to livelihoods and resulted in crop damage, aggravating food insecurity of the affected population (2023)

Land use

agricultural land

56.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 6.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 49.6% (2018 est.)

forest

43.7% (2018 est.)

other

0% (2018 est.)

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s)

Lake Malawi (shared with Malawi and Tanzania) - 22,490

Major rivers (by length in km)

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 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)

Revenue from coal

4.17% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

6.46% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

217.1 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

1.08 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

30 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

370 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

4.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

38.8% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

2.5 million tons (2014 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

25,000 tons (2014 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

1% (2014 est.)