Mozambique profile

Demography and Health

Mozambique has a population of about 34.6 million in 2024, indicating a relatively young and growing demographic profile. The country exhibits a high birth rate of 37.5 births per 1,000 people (2023), suggesting a large youth cohort that could yield a demographic dividend if health, education, and economic opportunities improve. The crude death rate stands around 7.0 per 1,000, and life expectancy at birth is 63.6 years (2023), pointing to ongoing health challenges that may be addressed through broader access to quality care, vaccines, and preventive services. The mortality rate for children under five is high at 61.7 per 1,000 live births (2023), signaling substantial child health needs and the importance of improving nutrition, maternal health, and primary care. Nutrition remains a constraint, with 24.8% of the population undernourished in 2022, underscoring vulnerability to food insecurity and stunting among young children. Health system capacity is limited: physicians per 1,000 people are 0.082 (2022) and hospital beds are 0.73 per 1,000 people (2021), highlighting constrained access to medical care, especially in rural areas. Current health expenditure is 8.78% of GDP (2022), while domestic general government health expenditure per capita in current international dollars (PPP) is about $40.4 (2022), indicating modest public investment in health relative to some peers. Internet penetration remains low at 19.8% of the population (2023), which can hinder health information dissemination and digital health initiatives. Mozambique’s energy profile shows a high share of renewables (76.9% of total final energy consumption in 2021), which can support health facilities’ electricity needs if paired with reliable infrastructure. Together, these indicators reveal a health and demographic landscape characterized by a large, youthful population with significant needs in maternal and child health, nutrition, and access to medical services, requiring sustained investment in health workforce, facilities, and preventive programs to harness the potential of the demographic dividend.

Economy

Mozambique’s economy faces the dual challenge of low income and exposure to external shocks. GDP per capita is about $647 in 2024 (current US$), while GDP per capita at purchasing-power parity (PPP) is around $1,700, reflecting substantial purchasing power differences and household poverty. The economy is open but remains import-dependent: imports of goods and services represent about 52.9% of GDP in 2024, and exports account for 42.7% of GDP, indicating a trade deficit that relies on external financing and capital inflows. Inflation stands at 4.08% in 2024, suggesting price stability but potential vulnerability to external price movements. Labor market conditions show unemployment at 6.79% in 2022, with likely higher underemployment in informal sectors. Foreign direct investment (FDI) net inflows are sizable, at 15.7% of GDP in 2024, signaling strong external interest—often linked to natural resources, infrastructure, and services. The current account balance is negative, at −11.1% of GDP in 2024, implying persistent current account deficits financed by capital inflows. Net migration in 2024 is negative (−38,940), indicating outflows that may affect domestic labor supply and skills retention. Mozambique’s population of about 34.6 million (2024) forms a sizable domestic market and labor force, but translating this potential into sustained growth depends on upgrading productivity, human capital, and institutional capacity. The presence of residents filing patent applications (30 in 2021) and limited high-technology exports (about $16.6 million in 2023) suggest that the economy remains relatively commodity- and infrastructure-led, with room to diversify through innovation, services, and higher-value manufacturing.

Trade and Investment

Mozambique displays a fairly open trade profile but with a reliance on imports. Exports of goods and services are about 42.7% of GDP in 2024, while imports are about 52.9% of GDP, signaling a trade balance that leans toward import demand for capital goods and consumer products. The inflation rate of 4.08% in 2024 supports predictable price signals for trade, though external shocks to energy or commodity markets could quickly alter import costs. Foreign direct investment net inflows are high at 15.7% of GDP in 2024, reflecting strong international investor interest—potentially channeled into natural resources, infrastructure, and services. However, the modest scale of knowledge-intensive outputs, with residents filing 30 patent applications in 2021 and high-technology exports totaling roughly $16.6 million in 2023, points to a need for policy measures that promote R&D, technology transfer, and linkages between domestic firms and global value chains. The combination of robust FDI and a deficit in advanced technology capabilities suggests opportunities to attract investment that accelerates productivity gains, provided the investment climate is improved and governance and infrastructure are strengthened. Overall, Mozambique sits at a crossroads where trade openness and external capital can support growth, but sustained progress requires upgrading competitiveness, diversification, and domestic capacity building.

Governance and Institutions

Mozambique faces significant governance challenges, as reflected in several lagging indicators. Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism scores are negative (−1.27 in 2023, rank 174), while Regulatory Quality (−0.709, rank 149), Rule of Law (−1.03, rank 165), Control of Corruption (−0.828, rank 151), and Government Effectiveness (−0.717, rank 145) all register below marginal performance. These figures point to a governance environment with notable risks and inefficiencies that can hinder policy implementation, deter investment, and hamper public service delivery. Weak governance can complicate project procurement, contract enforcement, and anti-corruption efforts, thereby affecting infrastructure delivery, health improvements, and business confidence. Addressing these governance constraints would require strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing transparency and accountability, improving regulatory clarity, and building judicial independence. For a country relying on foreign capital and international support, enhancing governance is essential to ensure that resources are allocated efficiently and that reforms translate into tangible improvements in health, education, infrastructure, and the business climate. A more predictable and stable policy environment would also help convert FDI into durable productivity gains and broader-based growth.

Infrastructure and Technology

Mozambique’s infrastructure and technology metrics highlight significant needs alongside some positive energy attributes. Health infrastructure is limited, with 0.73 hospital beds per 1,000 people (2021) and 0.082 physicians per 1,000 people (2022), indicating substantial gaps in access to care and the distribution of health workers. Digital connectivity remains relatively modest, with 19.8% of the population using the internet in 2023, underscoring a digital divide that can constrain e-services, online education, and digital health initiatives. In contrast, Mozambique’s energy profile features a high share of renewables, at 76.9% of total final energy consumption (2021), signaling strong potential for clean electricity generation and resilience if backed by investment in generation capacity and grid reliability. The technology and innovation landscape shows limited activity: resident patent applications total 30 (2021) and high-technology exports are about $16.6 million in 2023, suggesting that R&D and advanced manufacturing are still small relative to peers. Public health expenditure per capita in PPP terms is about $40.4 (2022), indicating some public financing for health, but the scale may be insufficient to close gaps in care delivery, workforce, and infrastructure without complementary private investment and international support. Overall, Mozambique has a renewable energy advantage and a foundation for technology-enabled growth, but requires substantial investments in health, digital connectivity, and knowledge-based industries to raise productivity and competitiveness.

Environment and Sustainability

Mozambique faces a mix of environmental challenges and opportunities aligned with its development trajectory. The country reports a high level of undernourishment at 24.8% in 2022, pointing to ongoing food security concerns that interact with climate risk, agricultural productivity, and rural livelihoods. Water resources are stressed, with the level of water stress (freshwater withdrawal relative to available resources) at 1.75 in 2021, signaling vulnerability to droughts and competition for water among agriculture, industry, and households. Greenhouse gas emissions per capita, excluding land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF), are around 1.01 t CO2e per capita in 2023, indicating relatively low per-person emissions typical of lower-income economies but not exempt from climate responsibilities. Mozambique’s renewable energy share provides a degree of decarbonization potential, which, if coupled with reliable infrastructure and inclusive access, can support sustainable growth while reducing vulnerability to fossil fuel price shocks. The environmental context calls for integrated policy action to enhance climate resilience in agriculture and water management, expand access to clean energy, and ensure that growth translates into improved nutrition, health, and livelihoods. In sum, Mozambique sits on a path where renewable energy capacity and climate resilience can be pursued in tandem with addressing food security and water stress, requiring coordinated governance, investment, and inclusive development strategies.