Mozambique has recorded the fourth highest adolescent birth rate in the world, according to the United Nations’ 2025 State of World Population report, presented in Maputo on Tuesday by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The report reveals that between 2001 and 2024, Mozambique registered 158 births per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19. The country ranks behind only the Central African Republic (184), Equatorial Guinea (176), and Angola (163) in terms of adolescent fertility.
Mozambique’s overall fertility rate currently stands at 4.6 children per woman, placing it among the highest globally. For comparison, Angola stands at 5.0, Niger and the Central African Republic at 5.8, while Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo each report a rate of 5.9.
The study further highlights that only one in three women in Mozambique — including adolescents — has the autonomy to decide how many children to have. This is attributed to limited access to sexual and reproductive health services, alongside economic hardship.
According to the report:
- Around half of Mozambican girls give birth before turning 18;
- Only 25% of women of reproductive age use any form of contraception;
- Over 27% have unmet needs for family planning.
As a result, one child in every Mozambican family is, on average, born from an unplanned pregnancy.
UNFPA project officer Eládio Muianga stressed the urgency of implementing fertility control measures. He noted that although the national fertility rate has declined from 6.3 to 4.9, as indicated in the latest Demographic and Health Survey, it remains high. He emphasised that a replacement-level fertility rate is 2.1 children per woman — the threshold needed to maintain a stable population.
Looking ahead, the report warns that Mozambique’s population is expected to nearly double by 2050, potentially reaching 60 million people, up from the current estimate of 35.6 million.
The findings underline the critical need for expanded access to reproductive health services, comprehensive sex education, and economic empowerment for girls and women, if Mozambique is to reverse current trends and ensure sustainable development.
