Capital

Mosambik

name: Maputo

geographic coordinates: 25 57 S, 32 35 E

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

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

Citizenship

Mosambik

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

Legal system

Mosambik

mixed legal system of Portuguese civil law and customary law

Suffrage

Mosambik

18 years of age; universal

Area

Mosambik

total: 799,380 sq km

land: 786,380 sq km

water: 13,000 sq km

Land use

Mosambik

agricultural land: 56.3% (2018 est.)

arable land: 6.4% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 49.6% (2018 est.)

forest: 43.7% (2018 est.)

other: 0% (2018 est.)

Location

Mosambik

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

Age structure

Mosambik

0-14 years: 45% (male 7,413,197/female 7,217,953)

15-64 years: 52.1% (male 8,153,175/female 8,787,792)

65 years and over: 2.9% (2023 est.) (male 461,904/female 479,784)

Birth rate

Mosambik

36.9 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Mosambik

9.9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Mosambik

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

Mosambik

total population: 57.7 years (2023 est.)

male: 56.4 years

female: 59 years

Major urban areas - population

Mosambik

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

Median age

Mosambik

total: 17.2 years (2023 est.)

male: 16.6 years

female: 17.8 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

Mosambik

19.2 years (2011 est.)

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

Net migration rate

Mosambik

-1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Mosambik

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

Mosambik

2.55% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Mosambik

4.74 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Mosambik

urban population: 38.8% of total population (2023)

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

Education expenditures

Mosambik

6.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Mosambik

total: 10 years

male: 10 years

female: 9 years (2017)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Mosambik

-5.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Mosambik

-0.42% (2019 est.)

Labor force

Mosambik

14.137 million (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

Mosambik

46.1% (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

Mosambik

3.98% (2021 est.)

3.81% (2020 est.)

3.47% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Mosambik

102.88% of GDP (2020 est.)

79.51% of GDP (2019 est.)

82.3% of GDP (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Mosambik

5.69% (2021 est.)

3.14% (2020 est.)

2.78% (2019 est.)

Exports

Mosambik

$6.404 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$4.37 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$5.6 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports - partners

Mosambik

South Africa 16%, India 13%, China 12%, Italy 7%, United Arab Emirates 5%, Germany 5% (2019)

Imports

Mosambik

$10.392 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$8.63 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$9.503 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - partners

Mosambik

South Africa 31%, India 18%, China 17% (2019)

Airports

Mosambik

98 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Mosambik

total: 70,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.2 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Mosambik

total: 5.44 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 17% (2021 est.)

Railways

Mosambik

total: 4,787 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 4,787 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

Roadways

Mosambik

total: 31,083 km (2015)

paved: 7,365 km (2015)

unpaved: 23,718 km (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

Mosambik

total subscriptions: 59,682 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2021 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular

Mosambik

total subscriptions: 13,686,234 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (2021 est.)

Waterways

Mosambik

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

Disputes - international

Mosambik

Mozambique-Eswatini: none identified

Mozambique-Malawi:  the two countries have held exercises to reaffirm boundaries a number of times

Mozambique-South Africa: South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration

Mozambique-Tanzania: none identified

Mozambique-Zambia: none identified

Mozambique-Zimbabwe: none identified