Society of Mozambique

KEY FACTS 2015

Population per sq km: 36

Life expectancy: 55 years

Net primary enrolment: 90%

Population: 27,977,000 (2015); 32 per cent of people live in urban areas and seven per cent in urban agglomerations of more than a million people; growth 2.8 per cent p.a. 1990–2015; birth rate 37 per 1,000 people (48 in 1970); life expectancy 55 years (39 in 1970 and 43 in 1990).

Ethnic groups include Makua–Lomwe in the north, Makonde in the far north, Thonga in the southern lowlands, Chopi and Thonga in the Inhambane coastal province, and Shona mainly in the central Manica and Sofala provinces.

Language: Portuguese (official) and three main African groups: Tsonga, Sena–Nyanja, Makua–Lomwe. English is widely spoken.

Religion: Christians 56 per cent (mainly Roman Catholics), Muslims 18 per cent (mainly in the north), most of the rest holding traditional beliefs, which incorporate some Christian practices.

Media: The daily newspapers are Notícias (largest, oldest and partly government-owned) and Diário de Moçambique (independent), both in Portuguese. O País and Savana are published weekly in Portuguese.

Television is a very popular medium in urban areas, radio in the rural areas. Televisão de Moçambique, the public TV service, is the sole national network, and Radio Moçambique is the public radio provider operating national, provincial and local services in Portuguese, English and indigenous languages. There are several private TV channels and radio stations.

Some nine per cent of households have TV sets (2006). There are 14 personal computers per 1,000 people (2005).

Public holidays: New Year’s Day, Heroes’ Day (3 February), Women’s Day (7 April), Workers’ Day (1 May), Independence Day (25 June), Lusaka Peace Agreement Day (7 September), Armed Forces Day (25 September), Peace and National Reconciliation Day (4 October), Maputo City Day (Maputo only, 10 November), Family/Christmas Day (25 December).