World Context: Mozambique

Source and mapping status

This page maps the site registry entry “Mozambique” to the supplied dataset entity “Mozambique.” Mapping status: exact-name. The source is a frozen 2025 snapshot; dates embedded in individual fields remain controlling.

• Source entity count: 1.
• Selected public fields present: 19.
• Independent corroboration in this page: none.

Place and environment

Location: Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania Area: total : 799,380 sq km; land: 786,380 sq km; water: 13,000 sq km Climate: tropical to subtropical Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west Natural hazards: severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces 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)

Population, settlement, and language context

Population: total: 34,206,144 (2025 est.); male: 16,880,529; female: 17,325,615 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); rate of urbanization: 4.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 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.)

Public and legal context

Capital: name: Maputo; geographic coordinates: 25 57 S, 32 35 E; time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); 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 Government type: presidential republic Legal system: mixed system of Portuguese civil law and customary law

Economy and connectivity context

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 Industries: aluminum, petroleum products, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco, food, beverages Electricity access: electrification - total population: 33.2% (2022 est.); electrification - urban areas: 79.4%; electrification - rural areas: 5% Internet users: percent of population: 20% (2023 est.) Airports: 92 (2025) Ports: total ports: 11 (2024); large: 0; medium: 2; small: 5; very small: 4; ports with oil terminals: 3; key ports: Beira, Chinde, Inhambane, Maputo, Mocambique, Pebane, Porto Belo

Interpretation and freshness boundary

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