Mozambique

After sixteen years of civil war (1976–1992), Mozambique’s political and economic situation improved gradually, albeit only moderately. Mozambique is among the world’s least developed countries and currently ranks 182nd out of 193 on the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI).

The country is highly vulnerable to natural disasters and regularly experiences extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and cyclones. In 2019 alone, two major cyclones caused devastating damage and affected some 1.8 million people. Reconstruction efforts were still ongoing, while further tropical storms struck the central and northern regions again in 2021 and 2022, displacing thousands of families.

The Mozambican economy relies heavily on agriculture, extractive industries, and a small number of export commodities, including natural gas, coal, and aluminum. This dependence makes the country highly sensitive to global market fluctuations and limits inclusive economic growth, particularly for rural communities that depend largely on subsistence farming.

Mozambique’s population was at around 34.6 million in 2024, with an annual growth rate of about 3%. Life expectancy at birth has increased in recent years, reaching an average of 63.6 years (66.5 years for women and 60.3 years for men) in 2023. However, 46% of the population continue to live below the national poverty line. Infant mortality remains high at 64.3 deaths per 1,000 live births (2023), and 44.5% of the population is under the age of 15 (2024), placing additional pressure on health, education, and social systems.

Access to healthcare is severely limited: with fewer than 18 doctors per 100,000 inhabitants (compared to 452 in Germany), the medical infrastructure cannot meet the needs of the population.

These structural challenges underline the importance of strengthening local health systems, supporting locally driven initiatives, and fostering long-term partnerships that build on local knowledge, professional commitment, and sustainable capacity development.