Economy, jobs and prices in Zambezia, Mozambique: official figures
Households in Zambezia spent an average of 1,429 meticais per person per month in 2022 (6,634 meticais per household), according to the INE Household Budget Survey (IOF 2022); 3rd lowest of the 11 provinces (Mozambique: 1,893 meticais per person).
Are households in Zambezia better off than before?
At constant 2019 prices, spending per person in Zambezia went from 1,132 meticais in 2019/20 to 1,274 meticais in 2022, a rise of 12.5% (Mozambique: +0.4%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Mozambique · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Zambezia?
16.9% of the labour force aged 15 and over in Zambezia was unemployed in 2022 (15.6% of women, 18.4% of men), 4th highest of the 11 provinces (Mozambique: 18.4%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Mozambique · saved copyHow many people in Zambezia have a job?
79.0% of people aged 15 and over in Zambezia had work in 2022, about 2,185,000 people; the highest of the 11 provinces (Mozambique: 71.4%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Mozambique · saved copyHow many people in Zambezia have a bank or mobile money account?
11.1% of people aged 5 and over in Zambezia had at least one financial account (mostly mobile-money wallets) in 2022, the lowest of the 11 provinces (Mozambique: 23.1%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Mozambique · saved copyHow many bank branches are there in Zambezia?
Zambezia had 35 commercial bank branches in 2025, 0.6 per 100,000 people, and 19,904 non-bank agents such as mobile-money agents; the lowest of the 11 provinces for branches per person (Mozambique: 1.9).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Mozambique · saved copyHow much private investment goes to Zambezia?
The investment promotion agency approved 7 private investment projects in Zambezia in 2025, worth US$4.71 million, against 12 worth US$9.78 million in 2024; 2nd lowest of the 11 provinces by value (Mozambique: 282 projects, US$10.6 billion).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Mozambique · saved copyHow many homes in Zambezia have electricity?
14.3% of households in Zambezia used electricity from the public grid as their main source of light in 2022, the lowest of the 11 provinces (Mozambique: 33.9%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Mozambique · saved copyDo people in Zambezia have safe drinking water?
32.9% of households in Zambezia got their drinking water from a safe source in 2022, the lowest of the 11 provinces (Mozambique: 53.6%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Mozambique · saved copyHow many homes in Zambezia have a safe toilet?
19.4% of households in Zambezia used safe sanitation (a safe toilet) in 2022, 2nd lowest of the 11 provinces (Mozambique: 31.7%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Mozambique · saved copyHow Zambezia compares with other provinces
Household spending per person per month (meticais, current prices) (2022)
Zambezia ranks 9 of 11, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Household spending per person per month (meticais, current prices) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Inhambane | 1,871 |
| 6 | Tete | 1,812 |
| 7 | Niassa | 1,644 |
| 8 | Gaza | 1,631 |
| 9 | Zambezia | 1,429 |
| 10 | Nampula | 1,362 |
| 11 | Cabo Delgado | 1,150 |
Unemployment rate (age 15+) (2022)
Zambezia ranks 4 of 11, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate (age 15+) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maputo City | 36.5% |
| 2 | Maputo Province | 33.1% |
| 3 | Inhambane | 19.3% |
| 4 | Zambezia | 16.9% |
| 5 | Gaza | 16.7% |
| 6 | Nampula | 16.5% |
| 7 | Niassa | 16.1% |
Households lit mainly by grid electricity (2022)
Zambezia ranks 11 of 11, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households lit mainly by grid electricity |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Manica | 34.4% |
| 6 | Niassa | 32.2% |
| 7 | Inhambane | 27.2% |
| 8 | Tete | 27.0% |
| 9 | Nampula | 25.8% |
| 10 | Cabo Delgado | 21.8% |
| 11 | Zambezia | 14.3% |
Households using a safe drinking water source (2022)
Zambezia ranks 11 of 11, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households using a safe drinking water source |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Inhambane | 63.6% |
| 6 | Tete | 58.8% |
| 7 | Niassa | 48.2% |
| 8 | Cabo Delgado | 45.4% |
| 9 | Manica | 43.4% |
| 10 | Nampula | 38.0% |
| 11 | Zambezia | 32.9% |
More on Zambezia: overview · health · education and schools · Mozambique
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Mozambique: Relatorio Final do Inquerito sobre Orcamento Familiar - IOF 2022 (Household Budget Survey 2022 final report): Quadros 4.2, 4.11, 6.3, 6.8, 7.5, 7.6, 7.9, 8.2, 11.2, 12.1, 12.2, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 70a1687d340c…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Mozambique: Anuario Estatistico 2025 (Statistical Yearbook 2025): Quadros 2.1.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.4, 2.3.6, 2.3.16, 2.4.1, 5.1.6 and 5.6.1 by province, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 25e1129ec762…)
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