Mozambique vs South Africa — Country Comparison
Mozambique
South AfricaMozambique and South Africa side by side: South Africa is the larger country (1,221,037 km² vs 801,590 km², roughly 1.5× the size), while South Africa has the bigger population (63.1 million vs 34.1 million). The full comparison table below covers capitals, currencies, languages, dialling codes, timezones and more.
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
| Fact | Mozambique | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Maputo | Pretoria |
| Population | 34,090,466 | 63,100,945 |
| Area | 801,590 km² | 1,221,037 km² |
| Currency | Mozambican metical | South African rand |
| Languages | Portuguese | Zulu, Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa |
| Dialling code | +258 | +27 |
| Main timezone | UTC+02:00 | UTC+02:00 |
| Drives on the | Left | Left |
| Region | Eastern Africa | Southern Africa |
| Emergency number | 112 (works on most mobile networks worldwide) | 10111 (police) / 10177 (ambulance) |
Key differences: Mozambique vs South Africa
- South Africa has about 1.9 times the population of Mozambique.
- South Africa is about 1.5 times larger by area.
- South Africa is the more densely populated of the two.
- They use different currencies: MZN and ZAR.
- They do not share an official language.
- They share a land border.
- Their geographic centres are about 1,640 km apart.
- Mozambique and South Africa are in the same time zone (UTC+02:00).
Want the full picture for each country? See Mozambique and South Africa, or compare their population pages: Mozambique · South Africa.
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Mozambique vs South Africa — FAQ
Which is bigger, Mozambique or South Africa?
South Africa is bigger by area: 1,221,037 km² vs 801,590 km², roughly 1.5× the size of Mozambique.
Is Mozambique bigger than South Africa?
No — South Africa is larger at 1,221,037 km² vs 801,590 km² for Mozambique.
Which has more people, Mozambique or South Africa?
South Africa has the larger population: 63,100,945 (63.1 million) vs 34,090,466 (34.1 million).
How does the size of Mozambique compare to South Africa?
South Africa (1,221,037 km²) is about 1.5× larger than Mozambique (801,590 km²).
Do Mozambique and South Africa use the same currency?
No — Mozambique uses the Mozambican metical and South Africa uses the South African rand.
Are Mozambique and South Africa on the same continent?
Yes — both are in Africa.
What is the time difference between Mozambique and South Africa?
Mozambique and South Africa are in the same time zone (UTC+02:00).
Do Mozambique and South Africa share an official language?
No — Mozambique and South Africa do not share an official language.
Do Mozambique and South Africa share a border?
Yes — Mozambique and South Africa share a land border.
Which is more densely populated, Mozambique or South Africa?
South Africa is more densely populated at roughly 52 people per km², compared to 43 for Mozambique.
How far is Mozambique from South Africa?
The distance between the geographic centres of Mozambique and South Africa is roughly 1,640 km (1,020 miles) in a straight line. Actual travel distances between cities will differ.
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