# Demographics of Mozambique

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. The proportion of children below the age of 14 in 2020 was 45.57%, 51.5% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 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 population | Population aged 0–14 (%) | Population aged 15–64 (%) | Population aged 65+ (%) |
| 1950 | 6 442 000 | 41.7 | 55.6 | 2.7 |
| 1955 | 6 972 000 | 41.9 | 55.4 | 2.7 |
| 1960 | 7 647 000 | 42.3 | 55.0 | 2.8 |
| 1965 | 8 474 000 | 42.9 | 54.3 | 2.8 |
| 1970 | 9 453 000 | 43.5 | 53.6 | 2.9 |
| 1975 | 10 620 000 | 43.8 | 53.2 | 3.0 |
| 1980 | 12 146 000 | 43.8 | 53.1 | 3.0 |
| 1985 | 13 335 000 | 44.7 | 52.2 | 3.1 |
| 1990 | 13 547 000 | 46.6 | 50.2 | 3.3 |
| 1995 | 15 933 000 | 44.2 | 52.7 | 3.1 |
| 2000 | 18 201 000 | 43.9 | 53.0 | 3.2 |
| 2005 | 20 770 000 | 44.4 | 52.4 | 3.2 |
| 2010 | 23 391 000 | 44.1 | 52.6 | 3.3 |
| 2020 | 30 098 197 | 45.6 | 51.5 | 2.9 |
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020) (Data refer to national projections based on 2007 census.):
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
| 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 | 0.85 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 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 in Mozambique not complete. The website Our World in Data prepared the following estimates based on statistics from the Population Department of the United Nations.
| | Mid-year population (thousands) | Live births (thousands) | Deaths (thousands) | Natural change (thousands) | Crude 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) |
| 1950 | 5 920 | 277 | 160 | 117 | 46.7 | 27.0 | 19.7 | 5.99 | 204.4 | 37.26 |
| 1951 | 6 002 | 280 | 160 | 120 | 46.5 | 26.6 | 19.9 | 6.02 | 203.0 | 37.49 |
| 1952 | 6 082 | 284 | 159 | 125 | 46.5 | 26.1 | 20.4 | 6.06 | 200.2 | 37.93 |
| 1953 | 6 160 | 287 | 159 | 128 | 46.4 | 25.6 | 20.8 | 6.09 | 197.3 | 38.33 |
| 1954 | 6 237 | 291 | 158 | 133 | 46.4 | 25.2 | 21.2 | 6.11 | 194.5 | 38.77 |
| 1955 | 6 319 | 295 | 158 | 137 | 46.4 | 24.8 | 21.6 | 6.14 | 191.6 | 39.18 |
| 1956 | 6 404 | 299 | 157 | 141 | 46.4 | 24.4 | 22.0 | 6.16 | 188.8 | 39.63 |
| 1957 | 6 493 | 303 | 157 | 146 | 46.5 | 24.1 | 22.4 | 6.18 | 186.0 | 40.02 |
| 1958 | 6 580 | 307 | 157 | 150 | 46.4 | 23.7 | 22.7 | 6.19 | 183.3 | 40.46 |
| 1959 | 6 676 | 314 | 157 | 157 | 46.9 | 23.4 | 23.5 | 6.24 | 180.8 | 40.85 |
| 1960 | 6 788 | 322 | 158 | 164 | 47.3 | 23.2 | 24.1 | 6.32 | 178.5 | 41.22 |
| 1961 | 6 918 | 329 | 159 | 170 | 47.5 | 22.9 | 24.6 | 6.38 | 176.6 | 41.59 |
| 1962 | 7 060 | 337 | 161 | 176 | 47.7 | 22.8 | 24.9 | 6.45 | 175.1 | 41.83 |
| 1963 | 7 210 | 345 | 164 | 181 | 47.7 | 22.7 | 25.0 | 6.49 | 174.1 | 41.93 |
| 1964 | 7 364 | 351 | 169 | 182 | 47.6 | 22.9 | 24.7 | 6.52 | 174.0 | 41.67 |
| 1965 | 7 524 | 357 | 172 | 186 | 47.4 | 22.8 | 24.6 | 6.55 | 173.8 | 41.70 |
| 1966 | 7 690 | 365 | 176 | 189 | 47.4 | 22.8 | 24.6 | 6.59 | 173.9 | 41.64 |
| 1967 | 7 859 | 372 | 179 | 193 | 47.3 | 22.7 | 24.5 | 6.63 | 174.0 | 41.66 |
| 1968 | 8 036 | 380 | 183 | 197 | 47.2 | 22.7 | 24.5 | 6.67 | 174.2 | 41.67 |
| 1969 | 8 218 | 389 | 186 | 202 | 47.2 | 22.6 | 24.6 | 6.71 | 174.2 | 41.71 |
| 1970 | 8 412 | 396 | 190 | 206 | 47.1 | 22.5 | 24.5 | 6.72 | 174.0 | 41.76 |
| 1971 | 8 623 | 403 | 194 | 210 | 46.8 | 22.5 | 24.3 | 6.72 | 174.3 | 41.74 |
| 1972 | 8 861 | 413 | 199 | 214 | 46.8 | 22.5 | 24.3 | 6.74 | 173.5 | 41.59 |
| 1973 | 9 124 | 426 | 204 | 222 | 46.8 | 22.4 | 24.4 | 6.73 | 173.1 | 41.71 |
| 1974 | 9 404 | 441 | 208 | 233 | 47.0 | 22.1 | 24.8 | 6.71 | 172.6 | 42.07 |
| 1975 | 9 704 | 457 | 211 | 246 | 47.2 | 21.8 | 25.4 | 6.69 | 171.6 | 42.58 |
| 1976 | 10 019 | 474 | 218 | 257 | 47.5 | 21.8 | 25.7 | 6.66 | 171.2 | 42.64 |
| 1977 | 10 364 | 493 | 225 | 268 | 47.8 | 21.8 | 26.0 | 6.64 | 171.0 | 42.70 |
| 1978 | 10 741 | 515 | 233 | 283 | 48.2 | 21.8 | 26.4 | 6.61 | 170.7 | 42.80 |
| 1979 | 11 128 | 539 | 243 | 296 | 48.6 | 21.9 | 26.7 | 6.58 | 170.8 | 42.74 |
| 1980 | 11 414 | 559 | 251 | 308 | 48.7 | 21.9 | 26.8 | 6.52 | 170.8 | 42.80 |
| 1981 | 11 640 | 563 | 277 | 286 | 48.3 | 23.8 | 24.6 | 6.46 | 181.4 | 40.54 |
| 1982 | 11 902 | 570 | 280 | 290 | 47.8 | 23.5 | 24.4 | 6.40 | 180.6 | 40.70 |
| 1983 | 12 163 | 580 | 284 | 297 | 47.7 | 23.3 | 24.4 | 6.39 | 179.6 | 40.83 |
| 1984 | 12 426 | 593 | 311 | 282 | 47.6 | 25.0 | 22.7 | 6.40 | 178.2 | 38.38 |
| 1985 | 12 680 | 602 | 313 | 289 | 47.4 | 24.7 | 22.7 | 6.38 | 176.6 | 38.66 |
| 1986 | 12 910 | 612 | 295 | 317 | 47.2 | 22.8 | 24.4 | 6.36 | 164.8 | 40.68 |
| 1987 | 12 965 | 621 | 298 | 323 | 47.1 | 22.6 | 24.5 | 6.34 | 163.0 | 40.84 |
| 1988 | 12 957 | 614 | 269 | 345 | 46.9 | 20.6 | 26.3 | 6.30 | 161.3 | 43.84 |
| 1989 | 13 088 | 616 | 268 | 348 | 46.7 | 20.3 | 26.4 | 6.28 | 159.6 | 44.14 |
| 1990 | 13 303 | 619 | 268 | 352 | 46.4 | 20.0 | 26.3 | 6.22 | 158.0 | 44.47 |
| 1991 | 13 561 | 626 | 270 | 356 | 46.0 | 19.8 | 26.2 | 6.16 | 156.2 | 44.66 |
| 1992 | 13 817 | 632 | 271 | 361 | 45.6 | 19.5 | 26.0 | 6.10 | 154.0 | 44.95 |
| 1993 | 14 206 | 640 | 270 | 370 | 45.3 | 19.1 | 26.2 | 6.03 | 151.3 | 45.35 |
| 1994 | 14 913 | 659 | 276 | 383 | 44.9 | 18.9 | 26.1 | 5.96 | 147.9 | 45.61 |
| 1995 | 15 595 | 693 | 287 | 406 | 44.5 | 18.4 | 26.1 | 5.90 | 143.8 | 46.04 |
| 1996 | 16 080 | 711 | 287 | 424 | 44.3 | 17.9 | 26.4 | 5.85 | 138.9 | 46.64 |
| 1997 | 16 522 | 736 | 287 | 449 | 44.4 | 17.3 | 27.1 | 5.89 | 133.4 | 47.41 |
| 1998 | 16 923 | 749 | 285 | 464 | 44.2 | 16.8 | 27.4 | 5.86 | 127.6 | 48.02 |
| 1999 | 17 338 | 764 | 282 | 483 | 44.0 | 16.2 | 27.8 | 5.83 | 121.5 | 48.81 |
| 2000 | 17 769 | 779 | 279 | 499 | 43.7 | 15.7 | 28.1 | 5.81 | 115.9 | 49.49 |
| 2001 | 18 221 | 792 | 277 | 515 | 43.4 | 15.2 | 28.2 | 5.78 | 110.0 | 50.07 |
| 2002 | 18 695 | 806 | 276 | 530 | 43.0 | 14.7 | 28.3 | 5.73 | 105.0 | 50.59 |
| 2003 | 19 187 | 824 | 277 | 547 | 42.9 | 14.4 | 28.5 | 5.73 | 100.5 | 50.87 |
| 2004 | 19 694 | 834 | 277 | 557 | 42.3 | 14.1 | 28.2 | 5.67 | 96.3 | 51.25 |
| 2005 | 20 211 | 847 | 278 | 569 | 41.9 | 13.8 | 28.1 | 5.61 | 92.6 | 51.56 |
| 2006 | 20 736 | 860 | 278 | 582 | 41.4 | 13.4 | 28.0 | 5.55 | 89.0 | 51.96 |
| 2007 | 21 281 | 876 | 275 | 600 | 41.1 | 12.9 | 28.2 | 5.51 | 84.5 | 52.57 |
| 2008 | 21 846 | 911 | 274 | 636 | 41.6 | 12.5 | 29.1 | 5.58 | 80.8 | 53.16 |
| 2009 | 22 437 | 942 | 273 | 669 | 41.9 | 12.1 | 29.8 | 5.63 | 77.3 | 53.79 |
| 2010 | 23 074 | 970 | 275 | 695 | 42.0 | 11.9 | 30.1 | 5.63 | 75.8 | 54.20 |
| 2011 | 23 760 | 989 | 273 | 716 | 41.6 | 11.5 | 30.1 | 5.55 | 72.9 | 54.87 |
| 2012 | 24 488 | 1 006 | 269 | 737 | 41.1 | 11.0 | 30.1 | 5.45 | 70.2 | 55.64 |
| 2013 | 25 252 | 1 024 | 265 | 759 | 40.5 | 10.5 | 30.1 | 5.34 | 67.7 | 56.49 |
| 2014 | 26 039 | 1 021 | 260 | 761 | 39.3 | 10.0 | 29.2 | 5.13 | 65.2 | 57.27 |
| 2015 | 26 843 | 1 041 | 255 | 786 | 38.8 | 9.5 | 29.3 | 5.06 | 62.3 | 58.15 |
| 2016 | 27 696 | 1 063 | 250 | 813 | 38.4 | 9.0 | 29.4 | 4.99 | 59.9 | 59.04 |
| 2017 | 28 569 | 1 089 | 248 | 841 | 38.1 | 8.7 | 29.4 | 4.92 | 58.3 | 59.77 |
| 2018 | 29 424 | 1 111 | 245 | 866 | 37.8 | 8.3 | 29.4 | 4.85 | 56.7 | 60.53 |
| 2019 | 29 884 | 1 169 | 241 | 928 | 37.3 | 8.0 | 29.3 | 5.02 | 55.0 | 61.3 |
| 2020 | 30 784 | 1 192 | 246 | 948 | 37.0 | 8.0 | 29.0 | 4.96 | 53.4 | 61.4 |
| 2021 | 31 708 | 1 218 | 266 | 951 | 36.6 | 8.8 | 27.8 | 4.91 | 52.0 | 60.3 |
| 2022 | 32 656 | 1 241 | 237 | 1 004 | 37.8 | 8.3 | 29.4 | 4.84 | 56.7 | 63.0 |
| 2023 | 33 635 | 1 261 | 236 | 1 025 | 37.8 | 7.0 | 30.5 | 4.76 | 56.7 | 63.6 |
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 | Total | Urban | Urban | Rural | Rural |
| Year | 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 | 6.1 |
| 2018 | 37.5 | 5.4 | 31.2 | 3.9 | 40.2 | 6.2 |
| 2022-23 | 34.5 | 4.9 (4.2) | 28.8 | 3.6 (3.1) | 37.3 | 5.8 (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 | 7.1 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.8 |
| Cabo Delgado | 6.6 | 5.6 | 6.1 | 6.2 |
| Nampula | 6.1 | 5.2 | 6.0 | 5.8 |
| Zambézia | 6.8 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 5.1 |
| Tete | 6.8 | 6.2 | 6.0 | 5.1 |
| Manica | 5.8 | 6.2 | 5.8 | 5.5 |
| Sofala | 6.1 | 6.0 | 6.4 | 4.9 |
| Inhambane | 4.9 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.0 |
| Gaza | 5.3 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 3.7 |
| Maputo Província | 4.1 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 2.8 |
| Maputo Cidade | 3.1 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 2.1 |

### Life expectancy

| Period | Life expectancy in Years |
| 1950–1955 | 31.29 |
| 1955–1960 | 33.79 |
| 1960–1965 | 36.18 |
| 1965–1970 | 38.14 |
| 1970–1975 | 40.37 |
| 1975–1980 | 42.21 |
| 1980–1985 | 41.47 |
| 1985–1990 | 42.33 |
| 1990–1995 | 43.90 |
| 1995–2000 | 47.21 |
| 2000–2005 | 49.56 |
| 2005–2010 | 53.24 |
| 2010–2015 | 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 Shangaan (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 countries. There are various estimates for the size of Mozambique's Chinese community, ranging from 1,500 to 12,000 as of 2007.
Ethnic groups in Mozambique :
| Ethnic group | Census 2017 | Census 2017 |
| Ethnic group | Number | % |
| Black | 26,637,425 | 99.03% |
| Mestiço | 212,540 | 0.79% |
| White | 22,258 | 0.08% |
| Indian | 15,492 | 0.06% |
| Pakistani | 4,423 | 0.02% |
| Chinese | 1,746 | 0.01% |
| Other | 5,221 | 0.02% |
| Total | 26,899,105 | 26,899,105 |

## Languages

Languages of Mozambique (2017) :
| Languages | Languages | percent | percent |
| Emakhuwa | Emakhuwa | 26.1% | 26.1% |
| Portuguese | Portuguese | 16.6% | 16.6% |
| Xitsonga | Xitsonga | 8.6% | 8.6% |
| Nyanja | Nyanja | 8.1% | 8.1% |
| Cisena | Cisena | 7.1% | 7.1% |
| Elomwe | Elomwe | 7.1% | 7.1% |
| Echuwabo | Echuwabo | 4.7% | 4.7% |
| Cindau | Cindau | 3.8% | 3.8% |
| Xitswa | Xitswa | 3.8% | 3.8% |
| Other Mozambican | Other Mozambican | 11.8% | 11.8% |
| Other | Other | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Unspecified | Unspecified | 1.8% | 1.8% |
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

Religions of Mozambique (2015) :
| Religions | Religions | percent | percent |
| Roman Catholic | Roman Catholic | 30.5% | 30.5% |
| Islam | Islam | 19.3% | 19.3% |
| Protestant | Protestant | 18.4% | 18.4% |
| Zionist Christian | Zionist Christian | 10.3% | 10.3% |
| Evangelical/Pentecostal | Evangelical/Pentecostal | 9.5% | 9.5% |
| None | None | 9.9% | 9.9% |
| Other | Other | 1.4% | 1.4% |
| Anglican | Anglican | 0.8% | 0.8% |

## 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.