Population in the largest city (% of urban population) in Mozambique
Mozambique: Population in the largest city (% of urban population) was 15.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
15.0%
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
135th
of 153 countries
All-time high
74.5%
in 1960
All-time low
14.2%
in 2013
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in the largest city in Mozambique, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of urban population.
Analysis
In 2025, population in the largest city in Mozambique stood at 15.0%.
The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in the largest city in Mozambique peaked at 74.5% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 14.2%, in 2013.
That places Mozambique 135th out of 153 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in the largest city (% of urban population) in Mozambique, year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 74.5% | — |
| 1961 | 74.3% | -0.2% |
| 1962 | 73.6% | -1.0% |
| 1963 | 72.5% | -1.5% |
| 1964 | 71.1% | -1.9% |
| 1965 | 69.5% | -2.2% |
| 1966 | 67.9% | -2.3% |
| 1967 | 66.3% | -2.3% |
| 1968 | 64.8% | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 63.4% | -2.2% |
| 1970 | 62.0% | -2.1% |
| 1971 | 59.5% | -4.0% |
| 1972 | 56.3% | -5.5% |
| 1973 | 53.1% | -5.5% |
| 1974 | 50.2% | -5.4% |
| 1975 | 47.6% | -5.4% |
| 1976 | 45.1% | -5.3% |
| 1977 | 42.7% | -5.2% |
| 1978 | 40.5% | -5.2% |
| 1979 | 38.4% | -5.0% |
| 1980 | 37.0% | -3.8% |
| 1981 | 35.6% | -3.6% |
| 1982 | 34.1% | -4.3% |
| 1983 | 32.5% | -4.6% |
| 1984 | 31.0% | -4.6% |
| 1985 | 29.6% | -4.5% |
| 1986 | 28.3% | -4.3% |
| 1987 | 27.5% | -2.8% |
| 1988 | 27.0% | -2.0% |
| 1989 | 26.3% | -2.6% |
| 1990 | 25.5% | -2.8% |
| 1991 | 24.8% | -2.9% |
| 1992 | 24.2% | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 23.4% | -3.2% |
| 1994 | 22.0% | -6.2% |
| 1995 | 20.9% | -4.9% |
| 1996 | 20.5% | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 20.4% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 20.0% | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 19.6% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 19.2% | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 18.9% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 18.5% | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 18.2% | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 17.9% | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 17.6% | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 17.3% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 16.9% | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 16.4% | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 15.9% | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 15.4% | -3.3% |
| 2011 | 14.9% | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 14.4% | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 14.2% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 15.0% | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 15.8% | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 16.6% | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 17.5% | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 17.1% | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 16.7% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 16.3% | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 16.0% | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 15.7% | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 15.4% | -1.8% |
| 2024 | 15.2% | -1.6% |
| 2025 | 15.0% | -1.4% |
Mozambique compared with similar countries
- Mozambique's 15.0% is below the median for low income countries, which is 34.3%, 44% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Mozambique's 15.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 34.4%, 44% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 69.8% | 63.4% | 74.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 49.5% | 38.4% | 62.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 30.9% | 26.3% | 37.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.1% | 19.6% | 25.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.7% | 15.9% | 19.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.7% | 14.2% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.6% | 15.0% | 16.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mozambique
More urban development data for Mozambique
- Population density 44.04 people per sq. km of land area (2024)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 13.72 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.0902 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 3.21 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 3.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 3.83 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 1.98 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 0 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 70.74 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in the largest city in Mozambique?
- Population in the largest city in Mozambique was 15.0% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in Mozambique?
- The highest recorded value was 74.5% in 1960.
- What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in Mozambique?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.2% in 2013.
- How does Mozambique rank for population in the largest city?
- Mozambique ranks 135th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in the largest city rising or falling in Mozambique?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mozambique data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in the largest city (% of urban population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.