Mozambique Economy

Is Mozambique a wealthy country?

At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorest countries. Socialist policies, economic mismanagement, and a brutal civil war from 1977 to 1992 further impoverished the country. In 1987, the government embarked on a series of macroeconomic reforms designed to stabilize the economy. These steps, combined with donor assistance and with political stability since the multi-party elections in 1994, propelled the country’s GDP, in purchasing power parity terms, from $4 billion in 1993 to about $37 billion in 2017. Fiscal reforms, including the introduction of a value-added tax and reform of the customs service, have improved the government's revenue collection abilities. In spite of these gains, about half the population remains below the poverty line and subsistence agriculture continues to employ the vast majority of the country's work force.

Mozambique's once substantial foreign debt was reduced through forgiveness and rescheduling under the IMF's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Enhanced HIPC initiatives. However, in 2016, information surfaced revealing that the Mozambican Government was responsible for over $2 billion in government-backed loans secured between 2012-14 by state-owned defense and security companies without parliamentary approval or national budget inclusion; this prompted the IMF and international donors to halt direct budget support to the Government of Mozambique. An international audit was performed on Mozambique’s debt in 2016-17, but debt restructuring and resumption of donor support have yet to occur.

Mozambique grew at an average annual rate of 6%-8% in the decade leading up to 2015, one of Africa's strongest performances, but the sizable external debt burden, donor withdrawal, elevated inflation, and currency depreciation contributed to slower growth in 2016-17.

Two major International consortiums, led by American companies ExxonMobil and Anadarko, are seeking approval to develop massive natural gas deposits off the coast of Cabo Delgado province, in what has the potential to become the largest infrastructure project in Africa. . The government predicts sales of liquefied natural gas from these projects could generate several billion dollars in revenues annually sometime after 2022.

Mozambique Economy Data

What is the GDP of Mozambique?

Currency Name and Code Mozambican Metical (MZM)
GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP) $38,420,000,000 (USD)
GDP - official exchange rate $16,990,000,000 (USD)
GDP - real growth rate 7%
GDP Per Capita $1,300.00 (USD)
GDP by Sector- agriculture 28.1%
GDP by Sector- Industry 21.6%
GDP by Sector- services 50.2%
GDP - composition, by end use household consumption: 67.5%

government consumption: 19.3%

investment in fixed capital: 14.7%

investment in inventories: 2%

exports of goods and services: 20.7%&

imports of goods and services: -24.2%
Population Below Poverty Line 70%
Inflation Rate 13.5%
Labor Force 9,870,000
Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture 81%
Labor Force By Occupation- industry 6%
Labor Force By Occupation- services 13%
Unemployment Rate 21%
Fiscal Year calendar year
Annual Budget $2,346,000,000 (USD)
Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP -8.8%
Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP 32.8%
Major Industries food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), aluminum, petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco
Industrial Growth Rate 8%
Agriculture Products cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn, coconuts, sisal, citrus and tropical fruits, potatoes, sunflowers; beef, poultry
Exchange Rate per US Dollar metical (MZM)
Child Labor - % of children ages 5-14 22%
Child Labor - # of children ages 5-14 1,369,080
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate 15.6%

Labor Force by Occupation- As reported by Mozambique

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