A stretch of southeast Africa holds Mozambique along the eastern shoreline, facing the Indian Ocean on its right edge. To the north, it touches Tanzania while farther west lie Malawi, then Zambia, followed by Zimbabwe tucked behind. Down toward the lower left corner, Eswatini and South Africa sit close beside it. Every part rests below the equator, most sitting beyond the zero longitude line to the east. Just off the coast, a wide strip of sea called the Mozambique Channel cuts between the mainland and Madagascar out in the western parts of the Indian Ocean.
Mozambique goes by its full title, the Republic of Mozambique, though people usually just say Mozambique. While Portuguese holds official status, life in the country moves through many tongues. Capital city duties fall to Maputo - also the main urban hub facing the sea. When you flip open a world map, chances are good it shows Mozambique tucked into southeast Africa’s shoreline.
Far from being just another spot on the map, Mozambique sits along Africa’s eastern edge. Its position ties it closely to the Indian Ocean, shaping much of its landscape and climate. Located below the equator, it stretches across both tropical and subtropical belts. Sharing borders with Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Eswatini defines its regional role. Long coastlines dominate one side, bringing beaches, bays, and busy ports into view. Time in Mozambique runs two hours ahead of UTC, without seasonal shifts. Mountains rise inland, while lowlands roll toward the sea. For those arriving by air or land, access points are spread unevenly but functional. Terrain changes quietly from west to east, influencing how people move and live.
Where Is Mozambique? Key Takeaways
Mozambique is in southeastern Africa on the continent’s eastern seaboard along the Indian Ocean. It occupies a longitudinal band on Africa’s southeast quadrant that connects maritime routes of the western Indian Ocean with inland plateaus and river basins.
Mozambique is located in southeastern Africa, with an Indian Ocean coastline running roughly northeast–southwest along the Mozambique Channel.
Inland, Mozambique’s location links coastal lowlands to the plateaus of Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe across its western land borders.
The country’s eastern boundary is a long tropical coast on the Indian Ocean opposite Madagascar across the Mozambique Channel.
Standard time in Mozambique is UTC+2, with a single time zone used across the country’s territory year-round.
For air travel, Mozambique is generally reached through regional hubs in Johannesburg, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, and other southern African gateways.
Key Facts About Mozambique’s Location
Mozambique’s location can be summarized through core reference attributes typically used in atlas and data tables. These values identify its continental placement, administrative capital, scale, codes, and time standard.
| Attribute | Value |
| Capital | Maputo |
| القارة | أفريقيا |
| المنطقة الفرعية | Eastern Africa |
| السكان | 30–35 million |
| المساحة | ~800,000 km² |
| المنطقة (المناطق) الزمنية | UTC+2 |
| ISO-2 | MZ |
| ISO-3 | MOZ |
| Calling code | +258 |
| العلم الوطني | Mozambique flag |
Where Is Mozambique Located Geographically?
Mozambique’s geography combines a long tropical coastline with interior plateaus and river systems draining toward the Indian Ocean. The national territory stretches north–south along the Mozambique Channel, with terrain generally rising from coastal plains through central uplands toward higher interior regions near neighboring countries.
Latitude and Longitude: Mozambique lies roughly between 10°S and 27°S latitude and around 30°E to 41°E longitude.
Hemispheres: The country is entirely in the Southern Hemisphere and the Eastern Hemisphere on global coordinate frameworks.
Total Land Area: The land area of Mozambique is approximately 800,000 square kilometres, placing it among Africa’s larger states.
Major Physical Features: Coastal lowlands, central plateaus, the Zambezi River valley, and higher lands toward the western borders characterize Mozambique’s location.
Tectonic Setting: Mozambique sits on the African Plate within the East African Rift region, where continental rifting and related structures are present.
Is Mozambique in Africa?
Mozambique sits in Africa, often grouped with Eastern African nations by global data systems. Along the continent's southeast edge, it stretches toward the Indian Ocean, bordered by the Mozambique Channel. Its coastline defines its place, touching waters that run west of Madagascar.
Mozambique sits on the east edge of Africa, which places it firmly in Eastern Africa when looking at geography. Because it borders the Indian Ocean, it often gets grouped with coastal nations along that sea. While a few studies might link it to Southern Africa for specific comparisons, its continental identity stays rooted in Africa. Most international systems label it simply: Africa, then Eastern Africa - no exceptions.
Where Is Mozambique Located Relative to Its Neighbors?
Mozambique’s territory is arranged along a north–south coastal strip with multiple neighboring states forming its land perimeter. The country faces the Indian Ocean to the east, while its inland borders trace a series of alignments with adjacent African states.
Land borders north: Tanzania lies to the north of Mozambique, with a boundary running inland from the Indian Ocean coast.
Land borders northwest: Malawi and Zambia are positioned to the northwest, with Malawi closer to the lake region and Zambia further inland.
Land borders west: Zimbabwe extends along much of Mozambique’s western side, following a broad north–south configuration across the interior.
Land borders southwest: Eswatini and South Africa border Mozambique to the southwest and south, connecting coastal and inland routes.
Maritime alignment east: Across the Mozambique Channel to the east, the island of Madagascar lies offshore in the western Indian Ocean.
Where Is Mozambique? Seas, Oceans, & Natural Features
Mozambique is defined by its frontage on the western Indian Ocean and the Mozambique Channel, together with inland river systems and varied terrain. These elements form the essential natural frame for understanding the geographical location of Mozambique.
Seas/Oceans: Indian Ocean and the Mozambique Channel along the country’s eastern maritime boundary.
Coastline: Long subtropical and tropical coastline running roughly from the Tanzanian border to the South African border.
Major Rivers: Zambezi, Limpopo, Rovuma, Save, and other rivers draining eastward toward the Indian Ocean.
Mountains: Upland and highland areas such as the Chimanimani and Namuli regions near western and central interior zones.
Deserts: No major true desert zones, though some regions exhibit relatively arid or semi-arid landscapes inland.
Where Is Mozambique Located? Time Zones and Seasonal Geography
Mozambique operates on a single time standard, which simplifies time-related coordination across the national territory. The country’s latitude in the Southern Hemisphere defines its seasonal cycle, with seasons opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere but relatively moderated near the coast.
The standard time difference in Mozambique uses Central Africa Time, and the country does not generally observe daylight saving arrangements. Seasonal geography typically involves a warmer, wetter period and a comparatively cooler, drier period, with some variation between coastal and inland locations.
| Attribute | Value |
| المنطقة (المناطق) الزمنية | Central Africa Time |
| UTC offset | UTC+2 |
| DST status | لا يوجد توقيت صيفي |
| Regions covered | البلد بأكمله |
| Seasonal pattern | Southern Hemisphere warm/wet and cooler/drier periods |
Check out Mozambique’s Times differences for the best time to travel!
Where Is Mozambique? Significance of Its Location for Travelers
Down south, a hop from Johannesburg lands you in Maputo fast. Flying there from Europe? That usually means changing planes somewhere along the way. Middle Eastern or African hub towns feed into Mozambique without much trouble. Long hauls show up once departure points shift northward across continents.
Coming from far away, most people land first at Maputo or another official airport tied to flight paths across southern and eastern Africa. Routes often pass through big stopover spots like Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, or Doha depending on where you start. If arriving from Europe or the Middle East, body clocks adjust fairly easily since hours differ only slightly. Those flying in from North America or East Asia face more noticeable changes in daily rhythm. Inside the nation, flights and road trips tie beach areas to inland zones, making it simpler to place Mozambique within a wider trip plan that includes key experiences there and nearby countries.
Network Coverage Across the Location of Mozambique
Network coverage in Mozambique reflects the spatial distribution of population and infrastructure, with high-capacity networks concentrated in major coastal cities and key inland centres. Coverage radiates outward from urban cores into peri-urban and rural districts, where availability generally decreases as distance from main corridors increases.
Urban hubs: Coastal cities such as Maputo and other primary centres feature the most comprehensive mobile and data network presence.
Secondary towns: Regional towns along main roads and economic corridors typically have stable voice and data coverage, though not always uniform.
Rural areas: Sparsely populated rural zones may experience more limited mobile access, especially away from primary transport routes.
Transport corridors: Network availability aligns with highways and key transport links, facilitating connectivity along major movement axes.
Local operators: Top local networks include major Mozambican mobile providers operating across urban, peri-urban, and rural areas.
Using SimCorner eSIMs & SIM Cards in Mozambique Location
On arrival in Mozambique, travellers commonly need immediate mobile data access for navigation, translation tools, accommodation coordination, and digital payments across both urban and rural areas. Connectivity supports mapping services, ride-hailing where available, and communication with local contacts or tour providers during movements across different parts of the country.
SimCorner offers eSIM Mozambique options and physical Mozambique SIM cards designed for visitors who wish to avoid traditional roaming charges. The service provides eSIMs and SIM cards with upfront pricing, hotspot-tethering capability, and plans configured around data allowances. Activation is typically instant once installed, and products are structured with transparent plans, no roaming fees, and 24/7 customer support aligned to the top local networks operating in Mozambique.
Conclusion
Mozambique is located on Africa’s southeast coast along the Mozambique Channel, with inland borders linking it to multiple neighbouring states in eastern and southern Africa. Its position combines a long Indian Ocean coastline with interior plateaus and river systems that define Mozambique’s location on a world map.







