Mozambique

<p>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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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.</p>

Land

786,380 sq km

Total

799,380 sq km

Water

13,000 sq km

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

tropical to subtropical

2,470 km

Africa

Highest point

Monte Binga 2,436 m

Lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Mean elevation

345 m

18 15 S, 35 00 E

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

1,180 sq km (2012)

Border countries

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

number of neighbors

6

Total

4,783 km

Agricultural land

52.8% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 7.2% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.5% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 45.1% (2023 est.)

arable land

7.18%

Forest

41.7% (2023 est.)

Other

5.5% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

0.51%

No

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

Fresh water lake(s)

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

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<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Indian Ocean drainage

Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/xCLcY9fzU6x4Pueu5

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/195273

Africa

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

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

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

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

Eastern Africa

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

UTC+02:00

number of time zones

1

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)

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.)

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

Men married by age 18

9.7% (2015)

Women married by age 15

16.8% (2015)

Women married by age 18

52.9% (2015)

36.7%

15.4% (2022 est.)

64.8% (2023 est.)

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

adult female

178 per 1,000

adult male

315 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

5.5 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

18.3 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

89.2 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

83.7 (2025 est.)

improved total

27.54%

Improved: rural

rural: 48.3% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 63.2% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 87.3% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 51.7% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 36.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 12.7% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

20.4% national budget (2021 est.)

6 % of GDP

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

2.26 (2025 est.)

9 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

9.1% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

8% of national budget (2022 est.)

4.9%

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

Female

56.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

60.1 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

25 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

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

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.)

languages

Portuguese

number of languages

1

Female

59.6 years

Male

57.1 years

Total population

58.3 years (2024 est.)

Female

50.9% (2022 est.)

Male

74.1% (2022 est.)

Total population

61.7% (2022 est.)

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

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

Female

17.9 years

Male

16.7 years

Total

17.4 years (2025 est.)

19.2 years (2011 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

Adjective

Mozambican

Noun

Mozambican(s)

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

7.2% (2016)

0.18 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Female

17,325,615

Male

16,880,529

Total

34,206,144 (2025 est.)

2.53% (2025 est.)

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.)

improved total

33.94%

Improved: rural

rural: 24.3% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 42.4% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 71.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 75.7% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 57.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 28.2% of population (2022 est.)

Female

10 years (2017 est.)

Male

11 years (2017 est.)

Total

10 years (2017 est.)

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.)

Female

5.6% (2020 est.)

Male

23% (2020 est.)

Total

14.3% (2020 est.)

4.58 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

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

Urban population

38.8% of total population (2023)

measles

65%

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

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

Geographic coordinates

25 57 S, 32 35 E

Name

Maputo

Time difference

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

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

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/mz.svg

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

History

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

alternative spellings

MZ, Republic of Mozambique, República de Moçambique

Conventional long form

Republic of Mozambique

Conventional short form

Mozambique

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

FIFA code

MOZ

Former

Portuguese East Africa, People's Republic of Mozambique

Local long form

Republica de Mocambique

local long form (por)

República de Moçambique

Local short form

Mocambique

Chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Abigail L. DRESSEL (since 11 August 2025)

Email address and website

<br>MaputaConsular@state.gov<br><br>https://mz.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

Avenida Marginal 5467, Maputo

Mailing address

2330 Maputo Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-2330

Telephone

[258] (84) 095-8000

Chancery

1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

Chief of mission

Ambassador Alfredo Fabi&atilde;o NUVUNGA (since 19 April 2023)

Email address and website

<br>washington.dc@embamoc.gov.mz<br><br>https://usa.embamoc.gov.mz/

FAX

[1] (202) 835-0245

Telephone

[1] (202) 293-7147

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

Chief of state

President Daniel Francisco CHAPO (since 15 January 2025)

Election results

<em><br>2024</em>: 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%

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

Expected date of next election

October 2029

Head of government

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

Most recent election date

9 October 2024

<strong>description:</strong> 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<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> 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

note

<strong>note:</strong> one of two national flags featuring a firearm; the other is Guatemala

The flag of Mozambique is composed of three equal horizontal bands of teal, black with white top and bottom edges, and yellow. A red isosceles triangle spanning about two-fifth the width of the field is superimposed on the hoist side with its base on the hoist end. This triangle bears a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open white book which is superimposed on a five-pointed yellow star.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/mz.svg

presidential republic

25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

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

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,&nbsp; UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, Union Latina, UPU, WCO, WFP, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Highest court(s)

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

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

mixed system of Portuguese civil law and customary law

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

October 2029

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica)

Most recent election date

10/9/2024

Number of seats

250 (all directly elected)

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)

Percentage of women in chamber

38.3%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

5 years

green, black, yellow, white, red

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Island of Mozambique

Total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural)

Independence Day, 25 June (1975)

rifle, hoe, and book

Democratic Movement of Mozambique (Movimento Democratico de Mocambique) or MDM<br>Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de Mocambique) or FRELIMO<br>Mozambican National Resistance (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana) or RENAMO

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

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

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Expenditures

$7.223 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> 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

$6.243 billion (2024 est.)

code

MZN

name

Mozambican metical (MZN) [MT]

$-2,493,130,139

Current account balance 2022

-$6.367 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$2.207 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

-$2.498 billion (2024 est.)

Note

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

$69.77 billion

Debt - external 2023

$8.274 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

Currency

meticais (MZM) per US dollar -

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.)

Exchange rates 2024

63.905 (2024 est.)

$9.74 billion

Exports 2022

$9.409 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$9.405 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$9.358 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$3.51 billion

Exports of goods and services

42.7% (2024 est.)

Government consumption

17.1% (2024 est.)

Household consumption

69% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-52.9% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

24.1% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories

0% (2024 est.)

Note

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

Agriculture

26.3% (2024 est.)

Industry

24.6% (2024 est.)

Note

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

Services

38.4% (2024 est.)

$22.417 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$657

54 (2014)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019

50.3 (2019 est.)

Note

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

$20.23 billion

$550

18 % of GDP

Highest 10%

41.1% (2019 est.)

Lowest 10%

1.7% (2019 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$12.02 billion

Imports 2022

$15.932 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$11.18 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$10.488 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

2.9% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

4.08%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

10.3% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

7.1% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

4.1% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

15.173 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

15.66 million persons

agriculture

73.01%

industry

6.44%

services

20.55%

62.8% (2019 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

72 % of GDP

Note

<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2022

76.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

$59.06 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$48.222 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$50.844 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$51.786 billion (2024 est.)

2.15%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.4% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

5.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

1.9% (2024 est.)

$1,705

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$1,500 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$1,500 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$1,500 (2024 est.)

$266.91 million

Note

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

Remittances 2022

0.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

$3.84 billion

Note

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$2.939 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$3.637 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$3.843 billion (2024 est.)

25 % of GDP

22 % of GDP

22.7% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

6.63%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

3.6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

3.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

3.6% (2024 est.)

Female

7.2% (2024 est.)

Male

7.5% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

7.4% (2024 est.)

Consumption

13,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports

10.658 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

900 metric tons (2023 est.)

Production

10.583 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

1.792 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

12.983 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

398 kWh

Exports

11.483 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

8.287 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

2.86 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

3.38 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - rural areas

5%

Electrification - total population

33.2% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas

79.4%

Biomass and waste

0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

16.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

82.69%

Hydroelectricity

82.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

82.72%

Solar

0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

359 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

5.789 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Consumption

1.625 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Exports

7.09 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Production

8.873 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

2.832 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

42,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

76.9%

per 100 inhabitants

0 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

Total

65,000 (2022 est.)

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)

.mz

Percent of population

20% (2023 est.)

####

+258

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

Total subscriptions

29,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100

46 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

50 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

17.1 million (2024 est.)

passengers carried

680,108 passengers

registered carrier departures

12,839 departures

92 (2025)

C9

Left

By type

general cargo 9, other 27

Total

36 (2023)

Key ports

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

Large

0

Medium

2

Ports with oil terminals

3

Small

5

Total ports

11 (2024)

Very small

4

Narrow gauge

4,787 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

Total

4,787 km (2014)

MOC

armored vehicles

tanks

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&lsquo;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)

Armed Forces for the Defense of Mozambique (Forcas Armadas de Defesa de Mocambique, FADM): Army, Mozambique Navy, Mozambique Air Force <br><br>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)

active duty personnel

11,000

note

<strong>note 1: </strong>the FADM and other security forces are referred to collectively as the Mozambican Defense and Security Forces (FDS)<br><strong><br>note 2:</strong> 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 borders<br><br><strong>note 3:</strong> 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

percent of total labor force

0.08 %

estimated 12,000 active FADM (2025)

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)

2 % of GDP

current USD

$450,448,587

Military Expenditures 2020

1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

2% of GDP (2024 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

6.13 %

percent of GDP

1.99 % of GDP

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)

PowerIndex score

1.9769

IDPs

718,154 (2024 est.)

Refugees

24,250 (2024 est.)

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

note

<strong>note:</strong> 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

From coal and metallurgical coke

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

From consumed natural gas

3.373 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

6.244 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

9.549 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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)

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

Agriculture

169.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Energy

320.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Other

101.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste

117.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)

17.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

18 % of total land area

1 % of total

217.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

1 % of internal resources

Agricultural

1.076 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

25 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

372 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

2.5 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

5.2% (2022 est.)