Mozambique Map

The Republic of Mozambique is an African nation, bordered by Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and South Africa, with some coastline along the Indian Ocean on the eastern edge of the African continent. The capital and largest city of Mozambique is Maputo. Mozambique has an area of 801,590 square kilometers (309,496 square miles).

Mozambique has been inhabited by the Bantu people since the 1st century AD, who migrated and established communities in the land. With its location along the Indian Ocean, Mozambique was a stop for trade with the Arabs and Persians, who built commercial settlements. The Portuguese arrived in Mozambique in around 1500 after the voyage of Vasco da Gama around the Cape of Good Hope. The Portuguese took control of Mozambique, making it a colony and then an Overseas Province of Portugal. Mozambique gained independence from Portugal on June 25, 1975.

Today, Mozambique has a population of about 23 million people. About 45 percent of the population lives in the provinces of Zambezia and Nampula. The largest cities in Mozambique are the capital, Maputo, as well as Matola, Beira, Nampula, and Chimoio. The official language of Mozambique is Portuguese, spoken by just over half of the population, and Swahili and the indigenous Bantu languages are spoken around the country.

Mozambique is divided into ten provinces, and the capital city which has the status of a province. The provinces of Mozambique are Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo province and Maputo the capital city, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, and Zambezia.

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Last Updated On : March 06, 2013