The province has the third lowest literacy rate in the country, while the population growth rate is higher than the national average. The main languages spoken are SiSwati, isiZulu and isiNdebele. The growing influx of Portuguese-speaking shoppers and tourists from Mozambique to Nelspruit has prompted the Mpumalanga capital to issue Portuguese road maps. This is a summer-rainfall area divided by the Escarpment into a Highveld region with cold frosty winters and a Lowveld region with mild winters and subtropical climate. The Escarpment area sometimes experiences snow on high ground.
Thick mist is common during the hot humid summers.
Nelspruit is the second largest citrus-producing area in South Africa. It is responsible for one third of the country's export in oranges. The Research Institute for Citrus and Subtropical Fruits is situated here. The natural forests of the area could not supply enough timber for the burgeoning mining industry in the early days of gold- mining in this area. Plantations of exotic trees, mainly pine, gum as well as Australian wattles, were established to supply wood for the mine props.