GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country, and all but essential travel to other areas. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Stunning aerial view of Maputo, Mozambique during twilight, showcasing the cityscape and coastline.Stunning aerial view of Maputo, Mozambique, featuring city buildings and the iconic bridge.

Mozambique

Africa · Eastern Africa

Medium safetyAffordable cost of livingLow development

Incomes are low.

Safety

125th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.383lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#125 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Safety index
39Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferLowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$570national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
12.2New York = 100AffordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 37% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 39% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$1.0K$2.0K$1,698 PPP$627Inflation, % a year20%0200620102015202020252006, $457 a person, $798 at PPP, inflation 13.2%2007, $508 a person, $862 at PPP, inflation 8.5%2008, $592 a person, $916 at PPP, inflation 14.5%2009, $548 a person, $951 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2010, $496 a person, $1,000 at PPP, inflation 12.4%2011, $618 a person, $1,064 at PPP, inflation 11.2%2012, $686 a person, $1,076 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2013, $687 a person, $1,114 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2014, $697 a person, $1,166 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2015, $611 a person, $1,318 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2016, $441 a person, $1,379 at PPP, inflation 17.4%2017, $471 a person, $1,283 at PPP, inflation 15.1%2018, $518 a person, $1,326 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2019, $519 a person, $1,389 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2020, $462 a person, $1,412 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2021, $510 a person, $1,457 at PPP, inflation 6.4%2022, $578 a person, $1,582 at PPP, inflation 10.3%2023, $622 a person, $1,680 at PPP, inflation 7.1%2024, $657 a person, $1,708 at PPP, inflation 4.1%2025, $627 a person, $1,698 at PPP, inflation 4.4%$0$1.0K$2.0KInflation, % a year20%0200620102015202020252006, $457 a person, $798 at PPP, inflation 13.2%2007, $508 a person, $862 at PPP, inflation 8.5%2008, $592 a person, $916 at PPP, inflation 14.5%2009, $548 a person, $951 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2010, $496 a person, $1,000 at PPP, inflation 12.4%2011, $618 a person, $1,064 at PPP, inflation 11.2%2012, $686 a person, $1,076 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2013, $687 a person, $1,114 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2014, $697 a person, $1,166 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2015, $611 a person, $1,318 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2016, $441 a person, $1,379 at PPP, inflation 17.4%2017, $471 a person, $1,283 at PPP, inflation 15.1%2018, $518 a person, $1,326 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2019, $519 a person, $1,389 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2020, $462 a person, $1,412 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2021, $510 a person, $1,457 at PPP, inflation 6.4%2022, $578 a person, $1,582 at PPP, inflation 10.3%2023, $622 a person, $1,680 at PPP, inflation 7.1%2024, $657 a person, $1,708 at PPP, inflation 4.1%2025, $627 a person, $1,698 at PPP, inflation 4.4%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
63.8years, at birthVery low
#177 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
50WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
11.9PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageLowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Moderate home internet speeds

Unemployment rate
6.6%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
41 Mbpsmedian download speedModerateOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
465EF English Proficiency Index scoreLowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet41 MbpsModerate

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Stunning aerial view of Maputo, Mozambique, featuring city buildings and the iconic bridge.
How it changed

Mozambique's Human Development Index

0.493Low human development

182nd of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 44th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #180Ethiopia0.497
  2. #181Afghanistan0.496
  3. #182Mozambique0.493
  4. #183Madagascar0.487
  5. #184Yemen0.470
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.246 in 1990 to 0.493 in 2023.

0.200.380.550.49319902000201020231990: 0.2461991: 0.2501992: 0.2451993: 0.2521994: 0.2551995: 0.2571996: 0.2691997: 0.2811998: 0.2921999: 0.3042000: 0.3112001: 0.3262002: 0.3352003: 0.3502004: 0.3602005: 0.3712006: 0.3792007: 0.3922008: 0.4032009: 0.4112010: 0.4192011: 0.4242012: 0.4312013: 0.4432014: 0.4502015: 0.4572016: 0.4602017: 0.4612018: 0.4692019: 0.4752020: 0.4772021: 0.4782022: 0.4902023: 0.4930.200.380.5519902000201020231990: 0.2461991: 0.2501992: 0.2451993: 0.2521994: 0.2551995: 0.2571996: 0.2691997: 0.2811998: 0.2921999: 0.3042000: 0.3112001: 0.3262002: 0.3352003: 0.3502004: 0.3602005: 0.3712006: 0.3792007: 0.3922008: 0.4032009: 0.4112010: 0.4192011: 0.4242012: 0.4312013: 0.4432014: 0.4502015: 0.4572016: 0.4602017: 0.4612018: 0.4692019: 0.4752020: 0.4772021: 0.4782022: 0.4902023: 0.493

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
63.8 years2024at birthUp 11.5 years from 52.3 years in 2005
Internet users
21%2024of people onlineUp 20 points from 1% in 2006
Urban population
37%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 7 points from 30% in 2006
Births per woman
4.692024births per womanDown 0.81 from 5.50 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
77%2021of energy usedDown 16 points from 93% in 2004
Access to electricity
37%2024of people with electricityUp 25 points from 12% in 2005
Infant mortality
442024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 37 from 81 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.3 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.2 t from 0.1 t in 2005
Forest area
46%2023of land under forestDown 5 points from 51% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Indian Ocean coastline and LNG discoveries bring promise; income is still very low. The case against is low incomes, short lives and patchy access to essential health services.

About Mozambique

Mozambique is a long Indian Ocean country in southern Africa with a coastline of extraordinary beauty, including pristine reef systems, deserted islands, and colonial Portuguese architecture in the capital Maputo. The culture has a warm, Creole quality shaped by African, Portuguese, and Arab influences. Infrastructure remains basic in many areas, but those who make the journey for the diving and coastal scenery will find it among the most unspoilt in the Indian Ocean.

Practical facts

  • CapitalMaputo
  • LanguagesPortuguese
  • CurrencyMozambican metical (MZN)
  • Area786,380 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F/M/N
  • Drives on theleft
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Quick answers

What is Mozambique's Human Development Index?

Mozambique's Human Development Index is 0.493 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #182 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Mozambique safe?

Mozambique scores 2.38 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #125 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Mozambique?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Mozambique at 36.9 (New York = 100); that is #53 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Mozambique?

Life expectancy at birth in Mozambique is 63.8 yrs (World Bank), ranked #177 of 195 countries.