Rural population growth in Mozambique
Mozambique: Rural population growth was 1.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in Mozambique, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Mozambique recorded 1.6% for rural population growth in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.8% on the previous year and down 36.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in Mozambique peaked at 5.7% in 1994 and was at its lowest, -1.6%, in 1988.
Mozambique ranks 33rd of 209 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population growth in Mozambique, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.6% | — |
| 1962 | 1.7% | +7.4% |
| 1963 | 1.7% | +0.4% |
| 1964 | 1.7% | -0.7% |
| 1965 | 1.7% | +0.3% |
| 1966 | 1.7% | -0.5% |
| 1967 | 1.7% | -0.7% |
| 1968 | 1.7% | +0.4% |
| 1969 | 1.7% | +0.1% |
| 1970 | 1.7% | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 1.9% | +10.9% |
| 1972 | 2.2% | +14.2% |
| 1973 | 2.4% | +8.2% |
| 1974 | 2.5% | +4.9% |
| 1975 | 2.6% | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 2.7% | +3.8% |
| 1977 | 2.9% | +6.8% |
| 1978 | 3.1% | +6.9% |
| 1979 | 3.1% | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 2.0% | -34.1% |
| 1981 | 1.2% | -39.4% |
| 1982 | 1.3% | +1.7% |
| 1983 | 1.0% | -18.6% |
| 1984 | 0.8% | -21.0% |
| 1985 | 0.6% | -25.4% |
| 1986 | 0.4% | -32.8% |
| 1987 | -1.0% | -346.8% |
| 1988 | -1.6% | +61.3% |
| 1989 | -0.6% | -61.7% |
| 1990 | 0.0% | -103.0% |
| 1991 | 0.6% | +2927.3% |
| 1992 | 0.6% | +10.3% |
| 1993 | 1.9% | +213.1% |
| 1994 | 5.7% | +191.1% |
| 1995 | 5.0% | -11.0% |
| 1996 | 2.5% | -49.9% |
| 1997 | 2.2% | -12.8% |
| 1998 | 1.9% | -13.7% |
| 1999 | 1.9% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 1.9% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 2.0% | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 2.0% | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 2.1% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 2.1% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 2.1% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 2.1% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 2.2% | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 2.3% | +5.3% |
| 2010 | 2.4% | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 2.5% | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 2.5% | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 2.6% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 2.6% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 2.5% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 2.6% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 2.6% | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 2.4% | -7.0% |
| 2019 | 2.3% | -5.8% |
| 2020 | 2.2% | -3.0% |
| 2021 | 2.1% | -4.6% |
| 2022 | 2.0% | -5.0% |
| 2023 | 1.9% | -4.5% |
| 2024 | 1.8% | -6.9% |
| 2025 | 1.6% | -9.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.7% | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.5% | 1.7% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.4% | -1.6% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.2% | 0.0% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.1% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 2.3% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.0% | 1.6% | 2.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mozambique
- 30 South Sudan 1.6% compare
- 31 Equatorial Guinea 1.6% compare
- 32 Kyrgyzstan 1.6% compare
- 34 Turkmenistan 1.6% compare
- 35 Guinea 1.6% compare
- 36 Kenya 1.5% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Mozambique
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -0.2557 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2557 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 160.3 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6279 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture share gdp 25.57 (2025)
- Value added in the agricultural sector as of gdp vs gdp per capita 25.57 (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.2% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in Mozambique?
- Rural population growth in Mozambique was 1.6% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in Mozambique?
- The highest recorded value was 5.7% in 1994.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in Mozambique?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.6% in 1988.
- How does Mozambique rank for rural population growth?
- Mozambique ranks 33rd out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in Mozambique?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mozambique data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual rural population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear rural population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.