A multiprocessor system and method for performing matrix operations includes multiple processors cooperatively performing a sparse matrix operation. Distributed among the processors are non-zero matrix elements of first and second sparse matrices. Mapped across the processors are the matrix elements of a results matrix. Each processor receives, from the other processors, non-zero matrix elements of the first matrix that had been distributed to those other processors and generates partial results based on the received non-zero matrix elements of the first matrix and on the non-zero matrix elements of the second matrix distributed to that processor. Each processor receives those partial results generated by other processors and associated with the matrix elements of the results matrix mapped to that processor. Each processor generates a final value for each matrix element of the results matrix mapped to that processor based on the partial results generated by that processor and on the partial results received from the other processors associated with that matrix element of the results matrix.