Located in southeast Africa, Mozambique’s eastern coastline is on the Indian Ocean. Its proximity to water is both a blessing and a curse. While commercial fishing provides economic value (seafood exports were over $100 million in 2000), there are sometimes floods.
Quick Facts
Population: 27.234 million
Ethnic Groups: African (99.66%) (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Europeans (0.06%), Euro-Africans (0.2%), Indians (0.08%)
Languages: Emakhuwa (26.1%), Portuguese (Official) (16.6%), Xichangana (8.6%), Ciyanja (8.1%), Cisena (7.1%), Elomwe (7.1%), Echuwabo (4.7%), Cindau (3.8%), Xxitswa (3.8%), other Mozambican languages (11.8%), Other (0.5%), Unspecified (1.8%)
Religions: Catholic (27.2%), Muslim (18.9%), Zionist Christian (15.6%), Evangelical/Pentecostal (15.3%), Anglican (1.7%), Other (4.8%), None (13.9%), Unspecified (2.5%)
Capital: Maputo
CIA: The World Factbook — Last Updated December 27, 2019
Useful Links
Mozambique is one of the world’s poorer countries as a result of warfare, Marxism, and natural disasters. Government policy between 1975 and 1982 was the propagation of Marxism, and Christians were harshly persecuted. However, there has been peace since 1992 and religious freedom since 1994. Since then, the church has grown rapidly — tripling in size from 1985 to 2010. Today, Christians count for a sizable portion of Mozambique’s population. Traditional religious beliefs are held by some people.
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