Gender Equality in Mozambique: Progress and Challenges
- Fundação RESET
- Mar 14
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 15
Mozambique has made notable strides in advancing gender equality, particularly in political representation and legal frameworks promoting women’s rights. However, significant challenges persist in addressing gender-based violence, early marriage, adolescent pregnancy, and economic disparities. This fact sheet, based on UN Women’s 2024 data, highlights key findings on gender equality in Mozambique, emphasizing gaps in data collection and policy implementation.
Key Findings
1. Political and Legal Advancements
As of February 2024, women hold 43.2% of parliamentary seats in Mozambique, reflecting progress in political representation. Furthermore, 77.8% of legal frameworks required to promote and monitor gender equality, particularly concerning violence against women, are in place. Despite these advances, challenges remain in implementing policies that translate into effective protection and empowerment for women, particularly in rural areas where enforcement is weaker.
2. Socioeconomic Barriers and Gender-Based Violence
Women in Mozambique continue to face substantial barriers in accessing economic opportunities and social protection. The unemployment rate for women aged 15+ remains high, and only 41.8% of gender-related SDG indicators are sufficiently monitored. Gender-based violence is a persistent issue, with 16.4% of women aged 15-49 reporting physical and/or sexual violence by a partner in the past year. Moreover, 52.9% of women aged 20-24 were married before the age of 18, highlighting the urgency of addressing child marriage and its impact on girls’ education and economic independence.
3. Health and Education Challenges
Mozambique struggles with high maternal mortality (127.1 per 100,000 live births) and an adolescent birth rate of 158 per 1,000 women aged 15-19. These statistics point to significant gaps in reproductive health services and education. Literacy rates also reflect gender disparities, with only 50.3% of women aged 15+ being literate compared to 60.7% of men. Limited access to education and healthcare for women and girls contributes to a cycle of poverty and reduced economic participation.
While Mozambique has achieved progress in gender-related political participation and legal frameworks, systemic issues such as gender-based violence, early marriage, and unequal economic opportunities persist. Addressing these challenges requires stronger policy implementation, improved data collection, and increased investment in education, healthcare, and economic empowerment programs for women and girls.
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The SDG'sG's, also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
