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Country profile · compared with SADC

Mozambique

SADCCurrency MZN

Mozambique is home to 35.6m people (2025) and has an economy of $22.3bn (2025), the 7th largest in SADC. Output per person of $627 is below the regional median of $2,539. The economy grew -0.5% in 2025, and the IMF expects 1.0% in 2026. Inflation was 4.4% in 2025, above the regional median of 3.6%. 36.9% of people have electricity (2024).

Where Mozambique stands out

  • Urban population growthFast urban growth drives demand for housing, power, water, transport and consumer goods, and signals where infrastructure is falling behind.Highest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    Highest of 16 in SADC
  • Foreign direct investment, net inflowsShows whether other foreign investors are committing capital, which is both a signal of confidence and a measure of competition for deals.Highest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    Highest of 16 in SADC
  • Foreign direct investment, net inflows (US$)The scale of foreign capital already flowing in, useful for sizing the deal market.Highest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    Highest of 16 in SADC

What to watch

  • GDP per person, adjusted for pricesA fairer comparison of living standards than market exchange rates, especially where currencies are weak or controlled.Lowest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    Lowest of 16 in SADC
  • External debtForeign debt must be repaid in hard currency, so high levels put pressure on the exchange rate and on access to dollars for repatriating profits.Highest of 14 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    Highest of 14 in SADC
  • Current account balancePersistent large deficits must be financed by capital inflows.Lowest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    Lowest of 16 in SADC

Mozambique scores best on unmet demand and weakest on stability

Scores from 0 to 100 by rank within SADC, against the SADC median. 100 means best in the region on that pillar.

MozambiqueSADC median
Market sizeGrowthStabilityInfrastructureDigital,financeGovernanceUnmetdemand47471641311977
Source: Investor Lens method·dotzedw Insights Centre

The IMF expects Mozambique to grow 1.0% in 2026

Real GDP growth, per cent a year. Open bars are IMF forecasts.

ActualIMF forecast
-1.0%0.0%1.0%2.0%3.0%-0.5%20251.0%20262.0%20272.6%2028

Ten years of history are free with a Reader account.

Source: IMF·dotzedw Insights Centre

Farming employs 73% of workers but produces 26% of output

Share of jobs in each broad sector against its share of GDP, latest year. A sector with far more jobs than output has low productivity and room to grow.

Share of jobsShare of GDP
0%20%40%60%80%Agriculture73%26%47 pts apartIndustry6%22%16 pts apartServices21%42%21 pts apart
Source: World Bank, ILO·dotzedw Insights Centre

Key figures

The bar under each figure places it among the 16 countries of SADC, lowest on the left. Hover for context; select for the data card.

Mozambique on the map

Its 10 provinces and 159 districts, shaded by population, power, water, transport and more; circles sized by value; or power lines, roads and masts on a street map.

Open the full map
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How Mozambique generates electricity

Share of electricity generation by source, latest year.

CoalGasOilWindNuclearBioenergy and otherHydroSolar

No electricity data for Mozambique.

The history of the power mix is part of the Individual plan

US$19 a month or US$190 a year. Subscribe on dotzedw.com and you come straight back to this page with Individual access. Already a member? Sign in with your dotzedw.com account.

Source: Ember, Energy Institute· Get the data (Professional)·dotzedw Insights Centre

Politics, parliament and elections

Compare all countries

The President is directly elected and is head of state and government, with a Prime Minister who coordinates the cabinet. Frelimo has governed since independence in 1975. After the disputed October 2024 election, which was followed by months of protests in which rights groups reported hundreds of deaths, Daniel Chapo took office in January 2025 and Frelimo holds more than two thirds of Assembly seats.

President
Daniel Chapo (Frelimo), since 15 Jan 2025
How the executive is chosen
Directly elected; a candidate needs more than half of the valid votes, otherwise a run-off is held
Term and limits
Five years; a president may serve at most two consecutive terms
Governing
Frelimo
In power since
Frelimo, 1975 (51 years)
Frelimo has governed since independence; multiparty elections began in 1994.
Next national election
October 2029 (general)

Frelimo holds 171 of 250 seats, a two-thirds majority

Assembly of the Republic, seats as of January 2025. List PR; 5-year term

250seatsMajority 126 · Two thirds 167 (dashed lines)
  • Frelimo171
  • Podemos43
  • Renamo28
  • MDM8
How seats are filled
Elected by closed-list proportional representation (d'Hondt) in 11 provincial constituencies and two for citizens abroad.
Powers
Passes laws and the budget and amends the Constitution with two thirds of members.
Special majority
Two thirds of members are needed to amend the Constitution. The governing side has it.
Elections
Last 9 Oct 2024; next October 2029
Source: 2024 Mozambican general election·dotzedw Insights Centre

What the record shows

  • Frelimo has governed for 51 years, since 1975, without losing a national election.
  • Frelimo's share of the parliamentary vote has risen from 55.9% in 2014 to 71.4% in 2024.
  • The last presidential election, in 2024, was a landslide: the winner took 65.2%, 41 points ahead of the runner-up.
  • The governing side holds 171 of 250 seats in the Assembly of the Republic, enough on its own to amend the Constitution (two thirds or more).
  • Turnout was 44% in 2024, down from 88% in 1994.
  • V-Dem's clean elections score is 9 out of 100, down from 28 in 2015.

The largest party won 71% of the parliamentary vote in 2024, against 44% in 1994

Every lower-house election since 1990: the largest party's share of the vote and of the seats, and turnout of registered voters. Open circles mark a change of government.

Largest party: votesLargest party: seatsTurnout
0%20%40%60%80%100%199520002005201020152020HalfTwo thirds71.4%Largest party: votes68.4%Largest party: seats43.9%Turnout
Source: Official results, V-Dem·dotzedw Insights Centre

The winner's lead over the runner-up was 41 points in 2024

First-round share of the valid vote for the winner and the runner-up in each presidential election since 1990.

WinnerRunner-up
0%20%40%60%80%100%199520002005201020152020Half65.2%Winner24.2%Runner-up
Source: Official results, V-Dem·dotzedw Insights Centre

Every national election

DateElectionResultTurnoutNotes
9 Oct 2024Assembly of the RepublicAssembly of the Republic, 2024Frelimo71.4%, 171 seatsPodemos12.9%, 43 seatsRenamo8.1%, 28 seatsFrelimo 71.4%, 171 seats; Podemos 12.9%, 43 seats43.9%Disputed
9 Oct 2024PresidentialPresidential, 2024Daniel Chapo (Frelimo)65.2%Venâncio Mondlane (Podemos)24.2%Ossufo Momade (Renamo)6.6%Daniel Chapo (Frelimo) 65.2%; Venâncio Mondlane (Podemos) 24.2%42.2%Disputed
15 Oct 2019ParliamentParliament, 2019Frelimo71.3%, 144 seatsRenamo22.3%, 89 seatsMDM4.2%, 17 seatsFrelimo 71.3%, 144 seats; Renamo 22.3%, 89 seats51.4% V-Dem
2019PresidentialPresidential, 2019Filipe Jacinto Nyusi73.5%Runner-up21.5%Filipe Jacinto Nyusi 73.5%; Runner-up 21.5%51.4% V-Dem
15 Oct 2014ParliamentParliament, 2014Frelimo57.1%, 144 seatsRenamo33.2%, 89 seatsMDM8.5%, 17 seatsFrelimo 57.1%, 144 seats; Renamo 33.2%, 89 seats48.8% V-Dem
2014PresidentialPresidential, 2014Filipe Jacinto Nyusi57.0%Runner-up36.6%Filipe Jacinto Nyusi 57.0%; Runner-up 36.6%48.8% V-Dem

Checked 30 Sept 2026.

Election calendar

All elections

Hover a vote for its result and what it means.

  • 2029
    General election
    Mozambique: General electionNo analysis written for this vote yet.Sources: Wikipedia
    Expected
  • 9 Oct 2024
    General electionWon by Daniel Chapo
    Mozambique: General electionResult: Daniel Chapo (Frelimo) declared winner; the result was disputed by Venâncio Mondlane and followed by months of deadly protests.Post-election unrest disrupted border trade and the Maputo corridor. Security in Cabo Delgado and the restart of LNG projects remain the key investor questions.Sources: Wikipedia
    Held

Deals and projects

Every deal in Mozambique

Individual Every deal record with its parties, value, stage and sources.

dotzedw analysis on Mozambique

All analysis

Sources and method