Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Mozambique instead of California, you would:

Health

be 62.5% less likely to be obese

In California, 28.4% of adults are obese as of 2022. In Mozambique, that number is 10.7% of people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Economy

be 30.0% more likely to be unemployed

In California, 5.1% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Mozambique, that number is 6.6% as of 2025.

View global rankings →

be 5.6 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In California, 11.7% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Mozambique, however, that number is 65.0% as of 2022.

View global rankings →

make 99.3% less money

California has a GDP per capita of $84,028 as of 2024, while in Mozambique, the GDP per capita is $627 as of 2025.

View global rankings →

Basic Needs

be 77.8% less likely to have internet access

In California, approximately 92.6% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Mozambique, about 20.5% do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024). How we calculate this

Compare further: California vs. Mozambique

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Mozambique is 63.6% cheaper than California
→
Size Comparison · See true size
California is about 2 times smaller than Mozambique.
→
Moving from California to Mozambique · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
→

Mozambique: At a glance

Mozambique is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 786,380 sq km. Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close with independence in 1975. Large-scale emigration, economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil war hindered the country's development until the mid 1990s. The ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo) party formally abandoned Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided for multiparty elections and a free market economy. A UN-negotiated peace agreement between Frelimo and rebel Mozambique National Resistance (Renamo) forces ended the fighting in 1992. In December 2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANO stepped down after 18 years in office. His elected successor, Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, promised to continue the sound economic policies that have encouraged foreign investment. President GUEBUZA was reelected to a second term in October 2009. However, the elections were flawed by voter fraud, questionable disqualification of candidates, and Frelimo use of government resources during the campaign. As a result, Freedom House removed Mozambique from its list of electoral democracies.
Read more

How big is Mozambique compared to California? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Mozambique or United States. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.