Introduction
Background
Mozambique ended almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony when it gained independence in 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.
Geography
Area
total : 799,380 sq km
land: 786,380 sq km
water: 13,000 sq km
Climate
tropical to subtropical
Natural resources
coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite
People and Society
Population
total: 33,350,954
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
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.)
Population growth rate
2.54% (2024 est.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Maputo
Executive branch
chief of state: President Filipe Jacinto NYUSI (since 15 January 2015)
head of government: Prime Minister Adriano MALEIANE (since 3 March 2022)
Legislative branch
summary: unicameral Assembly of the Republic (250 seats)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Alfredo Fabião NUVUNGA (since 19 April 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter Hendrick VROOMAN (since 3 March 2022)
Economy
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)
$50.631 billion (2023 est.)
$48.22 billion (2022 est.)
$46.206 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$1,500 (2023 est.)
$1,500 (2022 est.)
$1,400 (2021 est.)
Exports
$9.289 billion (2023 est.)
$9.409 billion (2022 est.)
$6.526 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners
India 22%, South Africa 9%, South Korea 8%, Italy 7%, China 6% (2022)
Exports - commodities
coal, aluminum, coke, natural gas, gold (2022)
Imports
$11.18 billion (2023 est.)
$15.932 billion (2022 est.)
$10.534 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners
South Africa 23%, South Korea 20%, China 12%, India 10%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 5% (2022)
Imports - commodities
ships, refined petroleum, iron alloys, chromium ore, refined copper (2022)
Page last updated: Tuesday, October 08, 2024
