Mozambique Facts: Flag, Capital, Time Zone and Country Profile

Mozambique is a republic on the Indian Ocean coast of southeastern Africa, with Maputo as its capital, Portuguese as its official language and Central Africa Time (UTC+2) as its time zone. This page puts the facts people look up most in one place, each one checked against the constitution or an official source, and links to the longer guides when a fact opens into a story.

The flag of Mozambique

The flag of Mozambique has green, black and gold-yellow horizontal bands separated by thin white stripes, with a red triangle at the left holding a yellow star, an open book, a gun and a hoe.

The constitution defines the flag in five colours and gives each one a meaning. In the words of Article 305 of the constitution, as we translate them from the Portuguese:

• Green stands for the riches of the soil.
• Black stands for the African continent.
• Gold-yellow stands for the riches of the subsoil.
• White stands for the justice of the Mozambican people’s struggle, and for peace.
• Red stands for centuries of resistance to colonialism, the armed struggle for national liberation and the defence of sovereignty.

The star at the centre of the red triangle symbolises the spirit of international solidarity of the Mozambican people. The book, the hoe and the gun laid over it symbolise study, production and defence. The text also fixes the layout: green, black and gold-yellow from top to bottom, divided by white stripes, with the red triangle on the left.

The gun is the part everyone asks about. The constitution calls it simply a gun, a symbol of defending what the liberation struggle won. Most references identify it as an AK-47, and you will often read that Mozambique is the only country with a modern firearm on its flag. That claim comes from a single popular flag book, as Wikipedia notes, so we treat it as a good story rather than a settled record. For the independence history behind the flag, see our history of Mozambique, written for travellers.

The national emblem

Mozambique’s national emblem is a round crest with an open book, a gun and a hoe laid over a map of the country, framed by a cogwheel, maize and sugar cane. Article 306 of the constitution spells it out, again in our translation:

• The book, gun and hoe represent education, defence and vigilance, and the farming people and agricultural production.
• The ocean lies under the map, and a rising sun at the centre symbolises a new life being built.
• The cogwheel stands for workers and industry.
• Maize and sugar cane on either side stand for agricultural wealth.
• A star at the top stands for international solidarity.
• A red band at the bottom carries the words “República de Moçambique”.

The emblem appears on official documents and buildings. The flag, emblem and anthem together are the three national symbols named in Article 13.

The national anthem

Mozambique’s national anthem is Pátria Amada, “Beloved Homeland”, approved by Law 13/2002 of 3 May. The law is cited in an official notice in the Boletim da República, which amended its article 2 and republished it. The constitution does not print the words; it says the lyrics and music are set by law.

The capital of Mozambique

The capital of Mozambique is Maputo, which the constitution names as “a Cidade de Maputo”. It lies on Maputo Bay in the far south, about 90 km from the South African border, and it is a province-level unit of its own, separate from the surrounding Maputo Province.

Maputo is the main entry point for many visitors, but it is not where most holidays happen; the beaches and islands are a long day’s drive or a short flight north. Our Maputo guide covers the city, and Where is Mozambique? shows how far each provincial capital sits from it.

Time in Mozambique

Mozambique uses Central Africa Time (CAT), UTC+2, all year round, and does not observe daylight saving time. The IANA time zone database lists a single zone for the whole country, Africa/Maputo, with no seasonal change. A clock in Pemba in the north and one in Ponta do Ouro in the south always show the same time.

What that means for your planning:

• From the UK: Mozambique is 2 hours ahead while the UK is on GMT, and 1 hour ahead during British Summer Time.
• From South Africa and Zimbabwe: the same time, all year. South Africa runs on UTC+2, and in the time zone database Zimbabwe shares Mozambique’s zone.
• Seasons: the clocks never change, but the weather does. Our best time to visit guide covers the seasons.

Calling code and internet domain

Mozambique’s international dialling code is +258, and its country-code internet domain is .mz. The code comes from the ITU’s E.164 list of country codes, and the domain from IANA’s root zone database. Dial it after your country’s exit code, or the plus sign on a mobile. Our guide to staying connected covers SIM cards and data.

Language, currency and people

Portuguese is Mozambique’s only official language, and the metical is its national currency. Both are written into the constitution: Article 10 names Portuguese, Article 9 commits the state to valuing the national languages as heritage, and Article 308 names the metical.

• Languages: Portuguese is the language of government and schools, but most people speak a Bantu language at home. Our language guide explains which ones, with phrases to try.
• Money: see money and costs for ATMs, cards, cash and the meticais you will actually carry.
• Population: Mozambique had about 27.9 million people at the 2017 census, and the national statistics institute projects 34,090,466 for 2025, or about 43 people per km². The people guide goes further.

How the country is governed

Mozambique is a republic whose president is both head of state and head of government. Article 145 of the constitution says so, and the president appoints the prime minister. The current president, Daniel Chapo, took office in January 2025 as the country’s fifth president, according to the presidency. Our Mozambique today article covers the economy and current politics.

Independence came on 25 June 1975, the date in the constitution’s own preamble.

Keep exploring

Still not sure?

Our Mozambique travel guide goes from country facts to a plan for your trip. Browse the guide contents, or message us with the places you have in mind — we’re a local operator in Vilanculos and we’re happy to help you work out what fits.

Last reviewed: 8 October 2026. Sources: the Constitution of the Republic of Mozambique, 2018 text (flag, emblem, anthem, capital, languages, currency, president; Parliament of Mozambique); the 2004/2007 English text on Constitute; the IANA time zone database, release 2026e, and IANA root zone database; ITU E.164 country-code list; INE’s Vital Statistics 2024–2025 (2025 population projection); the Boletim da República notice on Law 13/2002 (anthem); the Presidency of the Republic (president). Colour and symbol wording is our translation of the Portuguese text.