Quick answer: Mozambique is among the poorest countries in the world, but whether it is "the poorest" depends on the measure. By its national poverty line, the share of Mozambicans living in poverty rose from 48.4% to 62.8% between the 2014/15 and 2019/20 household surveys, according to the World Bank's 2023 Poverty Assessment (AIM). On the World Bank's international line of $2.15 a day, 64.6% of people were poor in 2014 (World Bank Poverty & Equity Brief).
What is Mozambique's poverty rate?
| Measure | Rate | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| International line, $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) | about 81% | 2026 estimate | World Bank Mozambique Economic Update, March 2026 (via IGC) |
| National poverty line | 62.9% | 2022 | World Bank country overview |
| National poverty line | 62.8% | 2019/20 | World Bank Poverty Assessment 2023 |
| National poverty line | 48.4% | 2014/15 | World Bank Poverty Assessment 2023 |
| International line, $2.15 a day (2017 PPP) | 64.6% | 2014 | World Bank Poverty & Equity Brief |
National and international lines measure different things, so the numbers are not directly comparable. Both show that most Mozambicans live in poverty. For the newest figures, check the World Bank and Mozambique's National Statistics Institute (INE), which runs the household budget surveys.
Is Mozambique the poorest country in the world?
No single list settles it. Rankings change with the measure (income per person, share of people below $2.15 a day, or human development indices) and with how recent each country's data is. Mozambique consistently appears among the poorest countries on all of them, alongside several countries in the Sahel and Central Africa.
$25 plants a farmer's season in Zambézia.
Paid straight to the local seed shop. You get the receipt, a field photo and a harvest update.
A gift, not an investment. Not tax-deductible.
Why did poverty rise in Mozambique?
The 2019/20 survey covered a period of compounding shocks:
- Cyclones Idai and Kenneth in 2019, which destroyed homes and harvests in the centre and north
- Conflict in Cabo Delgado, which displaced hundreds of thousands of people
- The start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit informal trade and incomes
Families who had climbed above the line fell back, because most had no savings or insurance.
What does poverty look like in Mozambique?
Most poor families live in rural areas and depend on small-scale farming with little fertilizer and rain-fed crops. One poor season can mean hunger until the next harvest. In cities, most poor workers earn their living in informal trade. (See What Is the Informal Sector?)
Why is Mozambique so poor despite its resources?
Gas, coal and minerals have created wealth for some, but employ few people and have not reached most households. We look at this in detail in Why Is Mozambique Poor Despite $600 Billion in Resources?
What helps families recover?
- Higher farm income through timely seed, fertilizer and access to buyers
- Resilience through savings groups, insurance and climate-tolerant crops
- Peace and security in conflict areas
- Steady support over several seasons, not one-off aid
How you can help
MBC connects sponsors with verified smallholder farmers in Mozambique. Your gift pays the farmer's local seed and fertilizer shop (92%), with 8% covering field verification, and you receive the receipt and a harvest update. Sponsor a farmer from $25 or give to our Giving Tuesday goal of 10 families.
Sponsorships are gifts, not investments, and are not tax-deductible.
Sources: World Bank, Mozambique overview (2026) · IGC, June 2026 · World Bank Mozambique Poverty Assessment 2023, reported by AIM · World Bank, Poverty & Equity Brief: Mozambique (April 2023)