What is the capital of Mozambique?

The capital of Mozambique is Maputo. Located in the country’s far south on Maputo Bay, the city is Mozambique’s largest urban center and an important Indian Ocean port.

Maputo developed under Portuguese rule as Lourenço Marques. Its port became especially valuable after rail links connected it with South Africa and the interior, helping the settlement expand rapidly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It became a city in 1887 and replaced the Island of Mozambique as the colonial capital in 1898.

After Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975, the city was renamed Maputo, after the nearby Maputo River. Today, its economy is centered on trade, transport, services, manufacturing, and port activity. The metropolitan area includes Matola, a separate neighboring city and major industrial center.

Nampula is Mozambique’s largest city outside the capital and an important northern hub. Beira is a major central port, and Matola is closely connected to Maputo, but none is the national capital.