World Factbook
Mozambique
Republica de Mocambique
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Area
land
786,380 sq km
water
13,000 sq km
total
799,380 sq km
Climate
tropical to subtropical
Terrain
mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west
Land use
other
5.5% (2023 est.)
forest
41.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
52.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 7.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 45.1% (2023 est.)
Location
Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania
Coastline
2,470 km
Elevation
lowest point
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point
Monte Binga 2,436 m
mean elevation
345 m
Irrigated land
1,180 sq km (2012)
Map references
Africa
Land boundaries
total
4,783 km
border countries
Malawi 1498 km; South Africa 496 km; Eswatini 108 km; Tanzania 840 km; Zambia 439 km; Zimbabwe 1,402 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces
Geography - note
the Zambezi River flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country
Natural resources
coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite
Area - comparative
slightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California
Geographic coordinates
18 15 S, 35 00 E
Population distribution
three large population clusters are found along the southern coast between Maputo and Inhambane, in the central area between Beira and Chimoio along the Zambezi River, and in and around the northern cities of Nampula, Cidade de Nacala, and Pemba; the northwest and southwest are the least populated areas, as shown in this population distribution map
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s)
Lake Malawi (shared with Malawi and Tanzania) - 22,490
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage
Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Rio Zambeze (Zambezi) river mouth (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe) - 2,740 km; Rio Limpopo river mouth (shared with South Africa [s], Botswana, and Zimbabwe) - 1,800 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth