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Mozambique vs South Africa: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 168 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Mozambique
moz
Leads on 59 of 168 metrics
South Africa
zaf
Leads on 101 of 168 metrics

Summary

South Africa has 79% more people than Mozambique (65.49 million vs 36.63 million). South Africa's economy is 15.6 times the size of Mozambique's ($424.75 billion vs $27.3 billion GDP).

Comparing Mozambique and South Africa: Mozambique leads on Radios (730,000) against South Africa (17); Mozambique leads on Televisions (67,600) against South Africa (6); South Africa leads on Malaria Incidence Rate (0.11 cases per 1,000) against Mozambique (295.10 cases per 1,000). Across 168 compared metrics, Mozambique wins on 59 and South Africa wins on 101.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 63 metrics compared
  • Environment: 11 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 8 metrics compared
  • Health: 23 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 39 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 3 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
Metric🇲🇿 Mozambique🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration0.14 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants★
Internet Penetration Rate (%)20.53 %78.36 %★
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)19.84 %75.66 %★
Internet Userspercent of population: 20% (2023 est.)percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed0.14 Mbps5.35 Mbps★
Press Freedom Index Score52.63 points75.71 points★
Radios730,000★17
Televisions67,600★6
Waterways3,750NA

Economy

63 metrics
Metric🇲🇿 Mozambique🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country5.76B $14.21B $★
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars27.30B $424.75B $★
AI Investment (% of GDP)17.66 %★14.07 %
Apple Import Volume1.33M tonnes★48,832 tonnes
Bank Account Ownership Rate54.39 %81.13 %★
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)19 %★5.75 %
Coal Revenue4.17★2.4
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)27.86 %★10.38 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)8.2 % of GDP8.3 % of GDP★
Ease of Doing Business Index69.3★59.6
Electricity Consumption11.57207.1★
Electricity Exports12.8816.55★
Electricity from Fossil Fuels1685★
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants83★1
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels04★
Electricity from Other Renewables110★
Electricity Imports9.9310.56★
Electricity Installed Capacity2.6350.02★
Electricity Production18.39234.5★
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)5.79 USD per capita86.2 USD per capita★
Female Labor Force Participation Rate77.69 %★55.4 %
Gini Index Coefficient50.563★
Gross Fixed Investment26.8★19.5
Gross National Saving16.8★16.1
High-Tech Export Percentage12.05 %45.27 %★
Highest GDP per Capita Countries1,450.96 USD13,592.05 USD★
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)2.9 %★-0.4 %
Inflation Rate4.37 %3.21 %★
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)4.1 %★4.4 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)2 % of GDP★0.7 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption1.845.07★
Natural Gas Exports4.16★0
Natural Gas Imports04.16★
Natural Gas Production6906.1★
Natural Gas Proved Reserves2.83★0
Oil Consumption17,000553,000★
Oil Exports054,930★
Oil Imports14,540521,400★
Oil Production0192,100★
Oil Proved Reserves015★
Population Below Poverty Line46.1 people★55.5 people
Public Debt76.676.2★
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)0.31 %0.73 %★
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)1.9 USD★0.6 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends18.75 %★7.68 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption26,000621,000★
Refined Petroleum Products Exports0105,600★
Refined Petroleum Products Imports25,130195,200★
Refined Petroleum Products Production0487,100★
Remittances1.2★0.2
Researchers in R&D per Million44.41 researchers466.56 researchers★
Robotics Research Funding0.31 USD0.73 USD★
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)74.3931.21★
Tax Burden (% of GDP)21.85 %★25.88 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)21.85 % of GDP25.88 % of GDP★
Taxes and Other Revenues22.726★
Top Exporting Countries9.74B USD127.53B USD★
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)15.42 %★0.58 %
Tourism Contribution to GDP4 %★3.54 %
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)4 %★3.54 %
Unemployment Rate3.6 %★33.2 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate78.71 %55.58 %★
Youth Unemployment Rate11.61 %★59.93 %

Environment

11 metrics
Metric🇲🇿 Mozambique🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)-480,826★3.23M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-267,027.75 %87,566.02 %★
Average Annual Temperature24.35 °C★18.35 °C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions9.55★446.7
Global Precipitation Distribution1,102.54 mm★652.17 mm
Population Distributionthree 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 nortthe population is concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densely populated than the west, as shown in this population distribution map
Protected Land Area for Adaptation29.5 sq km★9.88 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage29.5 %★9.6 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country17 Cubic meters per year★4.8 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources217.1★51.35
Total Threatened Mammal Species19 species★33 species

Geography

7 metrics
Metric🇲🇿 Mozambique🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization1.35 %1.94 %★
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)101.37★85.66
Agricultural land414,914.4 sq. km963,410 sq. km★
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km786,3801.21M★
Coastline Length (km)2,470 km2,798 km★
Dam capacity per capita1,983.35 cubic meters per inhabitant★464.7 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land1,18016,700★

Government

8 metrics
Metric🇲🇿 Mozambique🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country19.46 %61.59 %★
Administrative Divisions10★9
Corruption Perception Index25 index★41 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score25 index41 index★
Independence2531★
LGBT Rights Index Score2.9610.94★
Public Sector Corruption Perception25★41
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

23 metrics
Metric🇲🇿 Mozambique🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water27.54 %68.01 %★
Average BMI for Adults22 kg/m²25 kg/m²★
Change in Measles Immunization Rate65 %76 %★
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)37.2★
Female Life Expectancy Leaders63.8 years66.31 years★
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends1.83 per 1,000 births★1.87 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita167.92 USD1,541.18 USD★
Health Coverage Index Score50 score74 score★
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)9.1 % of GDP★8.3 % of GDP
Highest Male Life Expectancy63.8 years66.31 years★
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate(2021 est.) NA18.3 %
Hospital Bed Density0.7 people/sq km2.3 people/sq km★
Hospital Beds per Capita0.85 beds per 1,0002.25 beds per 1,000★
Low Birth Weight Prevalence17.76 %16.64 %★
Malaria Incidence Rate295.1 cases per 1,0000.11 cases per 1,000★
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)82 %★118 %
Mean Age at First Birth18.922.5★
Nurses and Midwives Density0.93 per 1,000 people6.39 per 1,000 people★
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)7.2 %★28.3 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending10.37 %6.69 %★
People Living With HIV/AIDS2.1★7.8
Total Number of Doctors0.180.79★
Underweight Children Under 515.44.9★

Military and Security

3 metrics
Metric🇲🇿 Mozambique🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Active Military Personnel11,000 personnel74,000 personnel★
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.87 %0.74 %★
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)11,00089,000★

People and Society

39 metrics
Metric🇲🇿 Mozambique🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Currently married (Percent)63.91 %★33.25 %
Human Capital Index0.380.42★
Life expectancy at birth68.38 years71.98 years★
Median age of population16.57 years29 years★
Population Change1.03M persons★673,269.7 persons
Population density46.54 per sq. km★53.74 per sq. km
Total population36.63M persons65.49M persons★
Academic Freedom Index0.410.83★
Beer Consumption per Capita1.09 liters3.65 liters★
Birth Rate (%)36.07 %★17.21 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate27.1 %54.6 %★
Crude Birth Rate37.03 per 1,000 people★18.48 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)9.34 %6.56 %★
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)6 % of GDP6 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age8.92M persons18.20M persons★
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)6.68 %26.52 %★
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate0.14 %5.35 %★
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth101.22 male/female103.52 male/female★
Human Development Index0.230.48★
Labor Force Participation Rate15.1727.77★
Learning-adjusted years of school4.66 years4.88 years★
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population1.85 people10.32 people★
Mean Male Height (cm)164.8166.68★
Mean Years of Schooling4.22 years10.47 years★
Military Service Age and Obligationregistration for military service is mandatory for all men and women at 18 years of age; 18-35 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; initial 60-month service obligation (2025)18
Old-Age Dependency Ratio5.27 %★9.65 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization54.37 %79.63 %★
Physician Density0.18 people/sq km0.79 people/sq km★
Population Growth Rate2.53 %★1.06 %
Population living in slums47.79 %★23.64 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio54.6630.33★
Total deaths231,031.4 persons★540,582.7 persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)49.81 %62.02 %★
Total fertility rate4.55 per woman★2.17 per woman
Total net-migration-66,448.8 persons39,599.6 persons★
Under-five mortality rate59.92 per live births28.89 per live births★
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate4.95 %★1.34 %
Voting Age Population49.92 millions★39.64 millions

Transportation

3 metrics
Metric🇲🇿 Mozambique🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.030.37★
Airports92573★
Civil Air Travel790★

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
Metric🇲🇿 Mozambique🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita272.83M USD6.72B USD★

Other

1 metric
Metric🇲🇿 Mozambique🇿🇦 South AfricaShare
Current Bank Rate9.25 %★7 %

Frequently Asked Questions About Mozambique vs South Africa

Which has a larger population, Mozambique or South Africa?▾

South Africa. South Africa has 79% more people than Mozambique (65.49 million vs 36.63 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Mozambique or South Africa?▾

South Africa. South Africa's economy is 15.6 times the size of Mozambique's ($424.75 billion vs $27.3 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Mozambique or South Africa?▾

South Africa is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $6,486 in South Africa vs $745.25 in Mozambique (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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