Mozambique Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Maputo

Population

34,206,144 (2025 est.)

Area

799,380 sq km

Location

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

🧭 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.

🗺️ Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

18 15 S, 35 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area — total

799,380 sq km

Area — land

786,380 sq km

Area — water

13,000 sq km

Area - comparative

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

Land boundaries — total

4,783 km

Land boundaries — border countries

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

Coastline

2,470 km

Maritime claims — territorial sea

12 nm

Maritime claims — exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Climate

Tropical to subtropical

Terrain

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

Elevation — highest point

Monte Binga 2,436 m

Elevation — lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Elevation — mean elevation

345 m

Natural resources

Coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite

Land use — agricultural land

52.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 7.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 45.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

41.7% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

5.5% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

1,180 sq km (2012)

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 km note: [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)

Population distribution

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

Natural hazards

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

Geography - note

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

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

34,206,144 (2025 est.)

Population — male

16,880,529

Population — female

17,325,615

Nationality — noun

Mozambican(s)

Nationality — adjective

Mozambican

Ethnic groups

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

Religions

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.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

44.7% (male 7,548,247/female 7,350,012)

Age structure — 15-64 years

52.4% (male 8,428,457/female 9,061,065)

Age structure — 65 years and over

2.9% (2024 est.) (male 473,030/female 490,143)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

89.2 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

83.7 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

5.5 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

18.3 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

17.4 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

16.7 years

Median age — female

17.9 years

Population growth rate

2.53% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

36.07 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

9.34 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-1.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

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

Urbanization — urban population

38.8% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

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

Major urban areas - population

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

Sex ratio — at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

0.93 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.97 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

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

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.2 years (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

82 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

56.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

60.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

56.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

58.3 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

57.1 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

59.6 years

Total fertility rate

4.58 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

2.26 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 87.3% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 48.3% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 63.2% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 12.7% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 51.7% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 36.8% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

9.1% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

8% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.18 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 71.8% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 24.3% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 42.4% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 28.2% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 75.7% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 57.6% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

7.2% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

1.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

1.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

14.3% (2020 est.)

Tobacco use — male

23% (2020 est.)

Tobacco use — female

5.6% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

15.4% (2022 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

64.8% (2023 est.)

Child marriage — women married by age 15

16.8% (2015)

Child marriage — women married by age 18

52.9% (2015)

Child marriage — men married by age 18

9.7% (2015)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

20.4% national budget (2021 est.)

Literacy — total population

61.7% (2022 est.)

Literacy — male

74.1% (2022 est.)

Literacy — female

50.9% (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

10 years (2017 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

11 years (2017 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

10 years (2017 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

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 — 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

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

None of the selected agreements

Climate

Tropical to subtropical

Land use — agricultural land

52.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 7.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 45.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

41.7% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

5.5% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

38.8% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

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

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

9.549 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

-68,287 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

6.244 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from consumed natural gas

3.373 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

17.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Methane emissions — energy

320.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Methane emissions — agriculture

169.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — waste

117.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — other

101.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

2.5 million tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

5.2% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

372 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

25 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

1.076 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

217.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Republic of Mozambique

Country name — conventional short form

Mozambique

Country name — local long form

Republica de Mocambique

Country name — local short form

Mocambique

Country name — former

Portuguese East Africa, People's Republic of Mozambique

Country name — 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

Government type

Presidential republic

Capital — name

Maputo

Capital — geographic coordinates

25 57 S, 32 35 E

Capital — time difference

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

Capital — 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

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

Mixed system of Portuguese civil law and customary law

Constitution — history

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

Constitution — 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

International law organization participation

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

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

At least one parent must be a citizen of Mozambique

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

No

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

President Daniel Francisco CHAPO (since 15 January 2025)

Executive branch — head of government

Prime Minister Maria Benvinda Delfina LEVI (since 17 January 2025)

Executive branch — cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

Executive branch — 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

Executive branch — most recent election date

9 October 2024

Executive branch — election results

2024: Daniel CHAPO elected president in first round; percent of vote - Daniel CHAPO (FRELIMO) 65.2%, Venâncio MONDLANE (PODEMOS) 24.2%, Ossufo MOMADE (RENAMO) 6.6%

Executive branch — expected date of next election

October 2029

Legislative branch — legislature name

Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Unicameral

Legislative branch — number of seats

250 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch — electoral system

Proportional representation

Legislative branch — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch — most recent election date

10/9/2024

Legislative branch — 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)

Legislative branch — percentage of women in chamber

38.3%

Legislative branch — expected date of next election

October 2029

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 5 judges); Constitutional Council (consists of 7 judges)

Judicial branch — 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

Judicial branch — 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

Political parties

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

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Alfredo Fabião NUVUNGA (since 19 April 2023)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 293-7147

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 835-0245

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Washington.dc@embamoc.gov.mz https://usa.embamoc.gov.mz/

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Abigail L. DRESSEL (since 11 August 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

Avenida Marginal 5467, Maputo

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

2330 Maputo Place, Washington DC 20521-2330

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[258] (84) 095-8000

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

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

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

Independence

25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 June (1975)

Flag

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

National symbol(s)

Rifle, hoe, and book

National color(s)

Green, black, yellow, white, red

National anthem(s) — title

“Pátria Amada” (Lovely Fatherland)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Salomão J. MANHICA/unkown

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 2002; the new anthem reflects the new multi-party political system

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural)

National heritage — selected World Heritage Site locales

Island of Mozambique

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$51.786 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$50.844 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$48.222 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

1.9% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

5.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.4% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$1,500 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$1,500 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$1,500 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$22.417 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

4.1% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

7.1% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

10.3% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

26.3% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

24.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

38.4% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

69% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

17.1% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

24.1% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

0% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

42.7% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-52.9% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

Cassava, maize, sugarcane, tomatoes, beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas, coconuts, onions (2023)

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

2.9% (2024 est.)

Labor force

15.173 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

3.6% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

3.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

3.6% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

7.4% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

7.5% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

7.2% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

62.8% (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019

50.3 (2019 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

1.7% (2019 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

41.1% (2019 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2024

1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

0.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

Budget — revenues

$6.243 billion (2024 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$7.223 billion (2024 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2022

76.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

22.7% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2024

-$2.498 billion (2024 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

-$2.207 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

-$6.367 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2024

$9.358 billion (2024 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$9.405 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$9.409 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

India 18%, China 13%, South Africa 9%, UAE 6%, Thailand 4% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Coal, natural gas, aluminum, gold, precious stones (2023)

Imports — Imports 2024

$10.488 billion (2024 est.)

Imports — Imports 2023

$11.18 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$15.932 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

South Africa 34%, China 14%, India 13%, UAE 6%, Singapore 3% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Refined petroleum, chromium ore, iron alloys, iron ore, palm oil (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$3.843 billion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$3.637 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$2.939 billion (2022 est.)

Debt - external — Debt - external 2023

$8.274 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Meticais (MZM) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

63.905 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

63.886 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

63.851 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

65.465 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

69.465 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

33.2% (2022 est.)

Electricity access — electrification - urban areas

79.4%

Electricity access — electrification - rural areas

5%

Electricity — installed generating capacity

2.86 million kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

12.983 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — exports

11.483 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — imports

8.287 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

3.38 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

16.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

82.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — biomass and waste

0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — production

10.583 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — consumption

13,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — exports

10.658 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

900 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — proven reserves

1.792 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

42,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas — production

8.873 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — consumption

1.625 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — exports

7.09 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — proven reserves

2.832 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

5.789 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

29,000 (2022 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

17.1 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

50 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

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

.mz

Internet users — percent of population

20% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

65,000 (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

C9

Airports

92 (2025)

Railways — total

4,787 km (2014)

Railways — narrow gauge

4,787 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

Merchant marine — total

36 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

General cargo 9, other 27

Ports — total ports

11 (2024)

Ports — large

0

Ports — medium

2

Ports — small

5

Ports — very small

4

Ports — ports with oil terminals

3

Ports — key ports

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

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

Military and security forces

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)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Estimated 12,000 active FADM (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

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 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; initial 60-month service obligation (2025)

Military - note

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)

🚨 Terrorism⬆️ Top

Terrorist group(s)

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

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

24,250 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — IDPs

718,154 (2024 est.)