Form of Government: Republic
Area: 799 380 sq km
Population: 30 832 244 inhab. (estimate 2021)
Density: 38.57 inhab./sq km
Coordinates: lat. 10° - 27° S; long. 30° - 41° E
Capital: Maputo (capital) 1 101 771 inhab. (2018); Maputo 2 112 474 inhab. (2017), urban agglomeration
Currency: new metical, plural meticais (100 centavos)
Human development index: 0.456 (rank: 181)
President: Filipe Nyusi (FRELIMO), elected 15 October 2014, reconfirmed 15 October 2019
Prime Minister: Carlos Agostinho do Rosário (FRELIMO), since 17 January 2015
Assembly of the Republic: seats based on the elections of 15 October 2019: FRELIMO (Mozambique Liberation Front), 184; RENAMO (Mozambique National Resistance, conservative), 60; MDM (Mozambique Democratic Movement), 6
Internet: www.ine.gov.mz (Instituto Nacional de Estatística)
Member of AU, Commonwealth, OIC, SADC, UN, WTO
Mozambique

International license plate code MOC
International dialling code 00258
Travel vaccinations requirement yellow fever (required only if traveling from a country with risk of transmission); malaria prophylaxis (recommended)
Electricity (Voltage) 220
Driving side left
Internet code .mz
GMT +2
DST not applied
Annual average temperature (°C) Maputo 23
Average temperature in January/July (°C) Maputo 26/19.5
Daily sunshine hours in June/December (average) Maputo 8/7
Annual average precipitation (mm) Maputo 861
Days of rainfall (annual average) Maputo 67

Attacks by Islamic integralist militia have intensified since 2020, especially in the Cabo Delgado province, where the city of Pemba was occupied in March and April 2021. The use of foreign mercenaries to oppose them contributed to the violence against civilians.
Geography.
Mozambique is bordered to the north by Tanzania, to the south and south-west by South Africa and Eswatini and to the west by Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. It lies on the Indian Ocean to the east and on Lake Nyasa to the north-west. The main rivers are the Zambezi, the Limpopo, the Save and the Rovuma. There is a tropical forest in the northern part of the country and elsewhere savannah and steppe-like areas predominate. Temperatures are high throughout the year.
Government
After 500 years of Portuguese domination, Mozambique became independent on 25 June 1975. The country was subject to a FRELIMO (Mozambique Liberation Front) one-party regime until 30 November 1990, when the new Constitution acknowledged the existence of a multi-party system. The 4 October 1992 Rome Agreement put an end to the guerrilla warfare waged by the RENAMO (Mozambique National Resistance), that had lasted for 16 years, although the movement has occasionally taken up arms. In 2004, after almost 20 years as head of state, President J. Chissano decided not to stand for re-election. Since 2017, the north-eastern part of the country has been subject to attacks by an Islamic fundamentalist group, which exploits ethnic conflicts and resentment against the government. The President of the Republic is elected by direct suffrage for a term of five years, as is the Parliament (250 members). On the basis of the 2004 Constitution, a State Council and 10 provincial assemblies have been set up.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Air force | 8.9 | % | 2015 |
Army | 89.3 | % | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Crimes | 75.5 | per 100 000 pop. | 2017 |
Homicides | 12.4 | per 100 000 pop. | 2012 |
Administrative division
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Maputo | 1 101 771 | inhab. | 2018 |
Matola | 1 032 197 | inhab. | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Maputo | 2 112 474 | inhab. | 2017 |
Population
Population by age and gender (% - 2020) | ||||||||
| ||||||||
MALE | AGE | FEMALE |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Birth rate | 37.166 | ‰ | 2019 |
Death rate | 8.208 | ‰ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
black | 99$ | % | 2017 |
mestizo | 0.8 | % | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 27.2 | % | 2017 |
Muslim | 18.9 | % | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION |
---|
Bantu |
Portuguese (official) |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
0-14 years | 45.6 | % | 2020 |
15-29 years | 27.3 | % | 2020 |
Economy
The country’s economy is still affected by the effects of the crisis that began in 2016 following the discovery of hidden debts, canceled in 2020 by the Constitutional Court, which caused investors to withdraw and international financing to decline. This was exacerbated by the severe damage caused by cyclones in 2019 e in 2021, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21. The country continues to be influenced by the flow of raw resources, particularly aluminium. The main commercial crops are sugar cane, tobacco, cotton, peanuts and bananas. Valuable woods include mahogany, red ebony and cedar. Among the mining resources, natural gas is particularly important (extracted in the province of Inhambane and exported to South Africa via a 900 km gas pipeline); the large field off the shore of Cabo Delgado is being exploited. Coal (in Moatize, near Tete), gold (in the Manica Province), bentonite (in Boane), graphite, titanium and bauxite (in Moriangane) are also mined. Hydro-electric power is particularly significant thanks to the large Cahora-Bassa plant on the River Zambezi. Industry is concentrated in Maputo (aluminium foundry also using bauxite from Australia, agricultural products, food processing and textiles). Cement, beer and sugar are also produced; in many areas cashew nuts are grown.
Tourism. The main destinations are the beaches and the large national parks, including the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, shared with both South Africa and Zimbabwe.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Agricultural prod. index (2004-06=100) | 148.87 | index | 2016 |
Agricultural prod. index (2014-16=100) | 124.77 | index | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Active population | 13 309 807 | units | 2020 |
Active population, Females | 52$ | % | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Unemployment rate | 3.4 | % | 2020 |
Unemployment rate, Females | 55.6 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenses | 287 200 | M LCU | 2019 |
Revenues | 276 400 | M LCU | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 70.3 | % | 2019 |
industry | 8.4 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 29.316 | % | 2019 |
industry | 25.745 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Currency in circulation | 68.702 | BN LCU | 2020 |
International reserves | 4 091.458 | M US$ | 2020 |
Agriculture
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
arable land | 7.566 | % | 2018 |
forests | 47.336 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cereals, total | 2 782.012 | 1000 t | 2019 |
maize | 2 085 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cassava | 3 987.446 | 1000 t | 2019 |
potatoes | 297.812 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
onions, dry | 233.298 | 1000 t | 2019 |
squashes | 1.075 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, dry | 65.635 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
castor oil seed | 85.089 | 1000 t | 2019 |
groundnuts | 80$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coconuts | 232.771 | 1000 t | 2019 |
copra | 46$ | 1000 t | 2006 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coffee | 0.827 | 1000 t | 2019 |
tea | 34.205 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sugar cane | 4 106.873 | 1000 t | 2019 |
tobacco | 102.752 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
seed cotton | 52.993 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
jute | 3.717 | 1000 t | 2014 |
sisal | 0.623 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fruits, total | 1 098.214 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cashew nuts | 107.147 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
citrus fruits | 79.662 | 1000 t | 2019 |
grapefruits | 9.214 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bananas | 724.966 | 1000 t | 2019 |
mangoes | 29.681 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
maize | 2 619.612 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
millet | 28.416 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cassava | 695.802 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
potatoes | 18.95 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
onions, dry | 8.941 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
pumpkins and squashes | 0.613 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, dry | 115.121 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
castor oil seed | 224.007 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
groundnuts | 400 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coconuts | 100.985 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coffee | 0.863 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
tea | 45.129 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sugar cane | 59.059 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
tobacco | 85.792 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
seed cotton | 105.688 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
jute | 6.964 | 1000 ha | 2014 |
sisal | 2.017 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cashew nuts | 130.053 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
citrus fruits | 7.928 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
grapefruits | 3.164 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bananas | 87.784 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
mangoes | 5.258 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
Forests-Livestock-Fishing
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
timber | 18 708 000 | m³ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cattle | 2 086.941 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
cattle and buffaloes | 2 086.941 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
pigs | 1 635.049 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sheep | 88.471 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
goats | 3 742.364 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
asses | 49.831 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
asses and mules | 49.831 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
birds | 35 060 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
honey | 0.614 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
eggs | 50$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
hides and skins | 2.334 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
crustaceans and molluscs | 30 241 | t | 2019 |
freshwater fishes | 119 888 | t | 2019 |
Minerals
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coal | 13 893.3 | 1000 t | 2020 |
coal, total | 13 893.3 | 1000 t | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bauxite | 4.6 | 1000 t | 2019 |
beryllium | 0.015 | 1000 t | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bentonite | 84$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
graphite | 120 | 1000 t | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
limestone | 728.4 | 1000 t | 2016 |
marble | 230 | 1000 m³ | 2013 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
gold | 507 | kg | 2018 |
precious stones - kg | 157 463 | kg | 2016 |
Energy
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- hydro | 13 781.79 | M kWh | 2018 |
- thermal | 2 571.84 | M kWh | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- hydro | 2 200 | 1000 kW | 2019 |
- thermal | 413 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
total net generation | 16 417.09 | M kWh | 2018 |
total installed capacity | 2 642 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
Industry
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
aluminium | 565 | 1000 t | 2019 |
lead | 3$ | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
soap | 38.3 | 1000 t | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
footwear | 82 530 | pairs | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beer of barley | 340 | 1000 t | 2018 |
coconut oil | 30.2 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cigarettes - t | 2.25 | 1000 t | 2015 |
tobacco | 53.1 | t | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
other paper | 2$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
paper | 2$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cement | 2 400 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
chemicals production | 34$ | M US$ | 2004 |
food, beverages and tobacco production | 411 | M US$ | 2004 |
Trade
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fuels | 46.56 | % of goods exports | 2018 |
ores and metals | 31.515 | % of goods exports | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Netherlands | 1 182 | M US$ | 2010 |
South Africa | 467.2 | M US$ | 2010 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
South Africa | 1 227 | M US$ | 2010 |
Netherlands | 642.9 | M US$ | 2010 |
Tourism
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenditures | 99$ | M US$ | 2019 |
Number of arrivals | 2 019 000 | units | 2019 |
Social and welfare
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expected years of schooling | 9.974 | years | 2017 |
Graduates | 24 205 | units | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Students, primary level | 6 563 376 | units | 2018 |
Students, secondary level | 1 216 214 | units | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Hospital beds | 0.8 | per 1000 pop. | 2018 |
Physicians | 0.09 | per 1000 pop. | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
HIV | 12.4 | % of adults | 2019 |
HIV, total | 5.9 | % | 2001 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Museums | 16$ | units | 2018 |
Museums, visitors | 142 246 | units | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Research and development spending | 0.313 | % of GDP | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking | 4.9 | % | 2019 |
Access to electricity | 29.616 | % | 2019 |