Geographical location :
Southeastern Africa, bordered by Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, Eswatini and South Africa to the southwest, and the Indian Ocean to the east.
Official languages: Portuguese (official);
many indigenous languages such as Makhuwa, Sena, Tsonga, Lomwe, etc.
(i.e. 34,631,766) World Bank / Mozambique Data / World Bank Open Data
nominal, current US$
Note. World Bank Data: GDP per capita, Mauritania ~ USD 1,699.74
World Bank Open Data
Why Mozambique is considered a “failed / fragile state” candidate.
Mozambique exhibits multiple classic symptoms of state fragility: structural governance weaknesses, corruption scandals (notably the “hidden debt” case), insurgency in northern regions (Cabo Delgado), and weak institutional capacity.
The BTI 2024 report highlights that endemic corruption and impunity have allowed criminal networks to infiltrate the state, while the government has failed to ensure geographically balanced development.
The IMF 2024 Consultation notes that about 60 % of the population lives in poverty, security pressures continue in the north (Cabo Delgado), and climate shocks and disasters further strain social resilience.
Additionally, high public debt, low revenue mobilization, and reliance on extractive sectors (gas, mining) make the economy vulnerable to external and internal shocks.
