The demographics of Mozambique describes the condition and overview of Mozambique's peoples. Demographic topics include basic education, health, and population statistics as well as identified racial and religious affiliations.
Population
According to the 2022 revision of the world factbook the total population was 31,693,239 in 2022. In 2020, 45.57% of the population was 14 years of age or younger, 51.5% was between 15 and 65 years of age, and 2.93% was 65 years or older. A population census took place in 2017, and the preliminary results indicate a population of 28 861 863 inhabitants. Total populationPopulation aged 0–14 (%)Population aged 15–64 (%)Population aged 65+ (%) 19506 442 00041.755.62.7 19556 972 00041.955.42.7 19607 647 00042.355.02.8 19658 474 00042.954.32.8 19709 453 00043.553.62.9 197510 620 00043.853.23.0 198012 146 00043.853.13.0 198513 335 00044.752.23.1 199013 547 00046.650.23.3 199515 933 00044.252.73.1 200018 201 00043.953.03.2 200520 770 00044.452.43.2 201023 391 00044.152.63.3 202030 098 19745.651.52.9
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020) (Data refer to national projections based on 2007 census.): Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% Total 14 501 196 15 565 452 30 066 648 100 0–4 2 315 310 2 295 586 4 610 896 15.34 5–9 2 487 720 2 531 664 5 019 384 16.69 10–14 2 076 198 2 067 546 4 143 744 13.78 15–19 1 594 940 1 630 074 3 225 014 10.73 20–24 1 264 746 1 481 775 2 746 521 9.13 25–29 1 000 516 1 222 754 2 223 270 7.39 30–34 802 315 906 767 1 709 082 5.68 35–39 673 119 774 993 1 448 112 4.82 40–44 574 984 660 820 1 235 804 4.11 45–49 454 062 504 057 958 119 3.19 50–54 343 740 397 999 741 739 2.47 55–59 264 107 302 253 566 360 1.88 60–64 203 386 229 467 432 853 1.44 65-69 159 568 188 765 348 333 1.16 70-74 109 258 134 617 243 875 0.81 75-79 69 868 89 298 159 166 0.53 80+ 107 359 147 017 254 376 0.85Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent 0–14 6 879 228 6 894 796 13 774 024 45.81 15–64 7 175 915 8 110 959 15 286 874 50.84 65+ 446 053 559 697 1 005 750 3.35
Vital statistics
Registration of vital events is not complete in Mozambique. The website Our World in Data prepared the following estimates based on statistics from the Population Department of the United Nations.
Mid-year populationLive birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate (per 1000)Crude death rate (per 1000)Natural change (per 1000)Total fertility rate (TFR)Infant mortality (per 1000 live births)Life expectancy (in years)19505,920,000277,000160,000117,00046.727.019.75.99204.437.2619516,002,000280,000160,000120,00046.526.619.96.02203.037.4919526,082,000284,000159,000125,00046.526.120.46.06200.237.9319536,160,000287,000159,000128,00046.425.620.86.09197.338.3319546,237,000291,000158,000133,00046.425.221.26.11194.538.7719556,319,000295,000158,000137,00046.424.821.66.14191.639.1819566,404,000299,000157,000141,00046.424.422.06.16188.839.6319576,493,000303,000157,000146,00046.524.122.46.18186.040.0219586,580,000307,000157,000150,00046.423.722.76.19183.340.4619596,676,000314,000157,000157,00046.923.423.56.24180.840.8519606,788,000322,000158,000164,00047.323.224.16.32178.541.2219616,918,000329,000159,000170,00047.522.924.66.38176.641.5919627,060,000337,000161,000176,00047.722.824.96.45175.141.8319637,210,000345,000164,000181,00047.722.725.06.49174.141.9319647,364,000351,000169,000182,00047.622.924.76.52174.041.6719657,524,000357,000172,000186,00047.422.824.66.55173.841.7019667,690,000365,000176,000189,00047.422.824.66.59173.941.6419677,859,000372,000179,000193,00047.322.724.56.63174.041.6619688,036,000380,000183,000197,00047.222.724.56.67174.241.6719698,218,000389,000186,000202,00047.222.624.66.71174.241.7119708,412,000396,000190,000206,00047.122.524.56.72174.041.7619718,623,000403,000194,000210,00046.822.524.36.72174.341.7419728,861,000413,000199,000214,00046.822.524.36.74173.541.5919739,124,000426,000204,000222,00046.822.424.46.73173.141.7119749,404,000441,000208,000233,00047.022.124.86.71172.642.0719759,704,000457,000211,000246,00047.221.825.46.69171.642.58197610,019,000474,000218,000257,00047.521.825.76.66171.242.64197710,364,000493,000225,000268,00047.821.826.06.64171.042.70197810,741,000515,000233,000283,00048.221.826.46.61170.742.80197911,128,000539,000243,000296,00048.621.926.76.58170.842.74198011,414,000559,000251,000308,00048.721.926.86.52170.842.80198111,640,000563,000277,000286,00048.323.824.66.46181.440.54198211,902,000570,000280,000290,00047.823.524.46.40180.640.70198312,163,000580,000284,000297,00047.723.324.46.39179.640.83198412,426,000593,000311,000282,00047.625.022.76.40178.238.38198512,680,000602,000313,000289,00047.424.722.76.38176.638.66198612,910,000612,000295,000317,00047.222.824.46.36164.840.68198712,965,000621,000298,000323,00047.122.624.56.34163.040.84198812,957,000614,000269,000345,00046.920.626.36.30161.343.84198913,088,000616,000268,000348,00046.720.326.46.28159.644.14199013,303,000619,000268,000352,00046.420.026.36.22158.044.47199113,561,000626,000270,000356,00046.019.826.26.16156.244.66199213,817,000632,000271,000361,00045.619.526.06.10154.044.95199314,206,000640,000270,000370,00045.319.126.26.03151.345.35199414,913,000659,000276,000383,00044.918.926.15.96147.945.61199515,595,000693,000287,000406,00044.518.426.15.90143.846.04199616,080,000711,000287,000424,00044.317.926.45.85138.946.64199716,522,000736,000287,000449,00044.417.327.15.89133.447.41199816,923,000749,000285,000464,00044.216.827.45.86127.648.02199917,338,000764,000282,000483,00044.016.227.85.83121.548.81200017,769,000779,000279,000499,00043.715.728.15.81115.949.49200118,221,000792,000277,000515,00043.415.228.25.78110.050.07200218,695,000806,000276,000530,00043.014.728.35.73105.050.59200319,187,000824,000277,000547,00042.914.428.55.73100.550.87200419,694,000834,000277,000557,00042.314.128.25.6796.351.25200520,211,000847,000278,000569,00041.913.828.15.6192.651.56200620,736,000860,000278,000582,00041.413.428.05.5589.051.96200721,281,000876,000275,000600,00041.112.928.25.5184.552.57200821,846,000911,000274,000636,00041.612.529.15.5880.853.16200922,437,000942,000273,000669,00041.912.129.85.6377.353.79201023,074,000970,000275,000695,00042.011.930.15.6375.854.20201123,760,000989,000273,000716,00041.611.530.15.5572.954.87201224,488,0001,006,000269,000737,00041.111.030.15.4570.255.64201325,252,0001,024,000265,000759,00040.510.530.15.3467.756.49201426,039,0001,021,000260,000761,00039.310.029.25.1365.257.27201526,843,0001,041,000255,000786,00038.89.529.35.0662.358.15201627,696,0001,063,000250,000813,00038.49.029.44.9959.959.04201728,569,0001,089,000248,000841,00038.18.729.44.9258.359.77201829,424,0001,111,000245,000866,00037.88.329.44.8556.760.53201929,884,0001,169,000241,000928,00037.38.029.35.0255.061.3202030,784,0001,192,000246,000948,00037.08.029.04.9653.461.4202131,708,0001,218,000266,000951,00036.68.827.84.9152.060.3202232,656,0001,241,000237,0001,004,00037.88.329.44.8456.763.0202333,635,0001,261,000236,0001,025,00037.87.030.54.7656.763.6 Also, according to a 2011 survey, the total fertility rate was 5.9 children per woman, with 6.6 in rural areas and 4.5 in urban areas.
Demographic and Health Surveys Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):
Year Total Urban Rural CBR TFR CBR TFR CBR TFR 1997 5.2 (4.7) 4.6 (4.1) 5.3 (4.9) 2003 40 5.5 (4.9) 31 4.4 (3.8) 49 6.1 (5.5) 2011 41.6 5.9 (5.1) 37.4 4.5 (3.8) 43.4 6.6 (5.8) 2015 38.0 5.3 30.8 3.6 41.2 6.1201837.55.431.23.940.26.22022-2334.54.9 (4.2)28.83.6 (3.1)37.35.8 (5.0)
Fertility data by province (DHS Program): Province Total fertility rate(2011)Total fertility rate(2015)Total fertility rate(2018)Total fertility rate(2022-23)Niassa 7.16.66.46.8Cabo Delgado 6.65.66.16.2Nampula 6.15.26.05.8Zambézia 6.86.36.25.1Tete 6.86.26.05.1Manica 5.86.25.85.5Sofala 6.16.06.44.9Inhambane 4.94.34.14.0Gaza 5.34.74.13.7Maputo Província 4.13.43.02.8Maputo Cidade 3.12.52.22.1
Life expectancy
+ Period Life expectancy in years1950–195531.291955–1960 33.791960–1965 36.181965–1970 38.141970–1975 40.371975–1980 42.211980–1985 41.471985–1990 42.331990–1995 43.901995–2000 47.212000–2005 49.562005–2010 53.242010–2015 56.08
Ethnic groups Mozambique's major ethnic groups encompass numerous subgroups with diverse languages, dialects, cultures, and histories. Many are linked to similar ethnic groups living in inland countries. The estimated 4 million Makua are the largest ethnic group of the country and are dominant in the northern part of the country — the Sena and Shona (mostly Ndau and Manyika) are prominent in the Zambezi valley, and the Tsonga dominate in southern Mozambique. Other groups include Makonde, Yao, Swahili, Tonga, Chopi, and Nguni (including Zulu). The country is also home to a growing number of white residents, most with Portuguese ancestry. During colonial rule, European residents hailed from every Mozambican province, and at the time of independence the total population was estimated at around 360,000. Most vacated the region after independence in 1975, emigrating to Portugal as retornados. There is also a larger mestiço minority with mixed African and Portuguese heritage. The remaining non-Blacks in Mozambique are primarily Indian Asiatics, who have arrived from Pakistan, Portuguese India, and numerous Arab descents. There are various estimates for the size of Mozambique's Chinese community, ranging from 1,500 to 12,000 . +Ethnic groups in MozambiqueEthnic groupCensus 2017Number%Black26,637,42599.03%Mestiço212,5400.79%White22,2580.08%Indian15,4920.06%Pakistani4,4230.02%Chinese1,7460.01%Other5,2210.02%Total26,899,105
Languages
Portuguese is the official and most widely spoken language of the nation, but in 2017 only 47.4% of Mozambique's population speak Portuguese as either their first or second language, and only 16.6% speak Portuguese as their first language. Arabs, Chinese, and Indians speak their own languages (Indians from Portuguese India speak any of the Portuguese Creoles of their origin) aside from Portuguese as their second language. Most educated Mozambicans speak English, which is used in schools and business as second or third language.
Religion
Culture
Despite the influence of Islamic coastal traders and European colonizers, the people of Mozambique have largely retained an indigenous culture based on smallscale agriculture. Mozambique's most highly developed art forms have been wood sculpture, for which the Makonde in northern Mozambique are particularly renowned, and dance. The middle and upper classes continue to be heavily influenced by the Portuguese colonial and linguistic heritage.
Education and health Under Portugal, educational opportunities for poor Mozambicans were limited; 93% of the Bantu population was illiterate, and many could not speak Portuguese. In fact, most of today's political leaders were educated in missionary schools. After independence, the government placed a high priority on expanding education, which reduced the illiteracy rate to about two-thirds as primary school enrollment increased. Unfortunately, in recent years school construction and teacher training enrollments have not kept up with population increases. With post-war enrollments reaching all-time highs, the quality of education has suffered. As a member of Commonwealth of Nations, most urban Mozambicans are required to learn English starting high-school.
References
Attribution: