People and Society of Mozambique

Nationality

Mozambican(s)

Ethnic Groups

indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Shangaan, Chokwe, Manyika, Sena, Makua, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%

Population

33,897,354

Population in Major Urban Areas

MAPUTO (capital) 1.15 million; Matola 790,000

Medical facilities are rudimentary, and most medical providers do not speak fluent English. Medicines are not always consistently available. There are both public and private medical facilities in the city of Maputo and most provincial capitals. All health care institutions and providers require payment at the time of service, and may even require payment before providing service. While some private clinics accept credit cards, many medical facilities do not. Doctors and hospitals outside Maputo generally expect immediate cash payment for health services. Outside of Maputo, available medical care ranges from very basic to nonexistent.

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Mozambique stands at approximately 60 to 62 years, reflecting significant improvements over recent decades but remaining well below the global average of around 73 years. Men in Mozambique tend to live slightly shorter lives than women, with male life expectancy hovering near 59 to 60 years compared to roughly 62 to 64 years for females. This relatively low life expectancy is the product of several interconnected challenges. Mozambique continues to carry one of the highest burdens of infectious disease in the world, with HIV/AIDS remaining a leading cause of premature death. An estimated 11 to 13 percent of adults between the ages of 15 and 49 are living with HIV, a prevalence rate that places enormous strain on healthcare outcomes across generations. Malaria is equally significant, particularly in rural and low-lying coastal regions, where access to preventive measures and treatment remains limited. Maternal and child mortality rates contribute meaningfully to the overall life expectancy figure. The under-five mortality rate, while on a long-term declining trajectory, remains elevated compared to regional peers, driven by complications from preventable diseases, malnutrition, and limited access to skilled healthcare workers during childbirth. Infrastructure gaps are a defining factor. Mozambique has a very low density of physicians and nurses relative to its population, and healthcare facilities are concentrated in urban centers such as Maputo, leaving large rural populations underserved. The country also faces recurring natural disasters — including cyclones, flooding, and drought — which periodically devastate communities in the central and northern regions, disrupting food security and medical services. Tropical Cyclone Idai in 2019 and subsequent storms in the years that followed caused widespread displacement and set back health and development gains in vulnerable areas. Despite these pressures, Mozambique's life expectancy has risen considerably since the early 1990s, when it hovered near 40 years due to the combined effects of civil conflict, famine, and the early AIDS epidemic. Expanded vaccination programs, international health partnerships, antiretroviral therapy rollouts, and improvements in child nutrition have all contributed to this gradual but meaningful upward trend. Continued investment in public health infrastructure and primary care will be essential for sustaining further gains in the decades ahead.

Major Infectious Diseases

very high

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

• indigenous beliefs50.0%
• Christian30.0%
• Muslim20.0%

Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects

• Portuguese

Crime Information

Although the vast majority of visitors complete their travels in Mozambique without incident, the most serious threat facing U.S. citizens visiting Mozambique is crime. Street crimes, including mugging, purse-snatching, and pick-pocketing are common, both in Maputo and in secondary cities. Carjackings have become rare, but still do happen. Visitors must be vigilant when out in public areas and should not display jewelry or other items —even those of low value, like cell phones and personal music devices. Avoid isolated areas. Joggers and pedestrians have frequently been mugged, even during daylight hours. Visitors should take caution when walking at night, even in well-known tourist areas. Due to an increase in violent crime, pedestrian activity is discouraged on Maputo's Avenida Marginal between the Southern Sun hotel (formerly the Holiday Inn) and the Waterfront Restaurant. Mozambican police do not operate at the standard that U.S. citizens are accustomed to in the United States. Visitors should not expect the same level of police service. Many airline trips from Mozambique to the United States, Europe, or African destinations transit Johannesburg, South Africa. Baggage pilferage is an ongoing problem at Johannesburg's Oliver Tambo International Airport. Travelers are encouraged to secure their luggage, use an airport plastic wrapping service, and avoid placing currency, electronics, jewelry, cameras, cosmetics, running shoes, or other valuables in checked luggage. Having a complete inventory of items placed in checked baggage can aid in processing a claim if theft does occur. Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Mozambique, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods.Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Mozambique, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go. Persons violating Mozambican laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Mozambique are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Arrest notifications in Mozambique: While some countries will automatically notify the U.S. embassy if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the U.S. embassy as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.