Mozambique - Society

Population: 21,813,000 (2008); 37% lives in urban areas and 7% in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million people; growth 2% p.a. 1970–90 and 2.7% p.a. 1990–2006; birth rate (2006) 41 per 1,000 people (47 in 1970); life expectancy 42 years (42 in 1970). Ethnic groups include Makua–Lomwe in the north, Makonde in the far north, Thonga in the southern lowlands, Chopi and Thonga in the Inhambane coastal province, and Shona mainly in the central Manica and Sofala provinces.

Religion: Christians 30% (mainly Roman Catholics), Muslims 20% (mainly in the north), most of the rest holding traditional beliefs, which incorporate some Christian practices.

Language: Portuguese (official) and three main African groups: Tsonga, Sena–Nyanja, Makua–Lomwe. English is widely spoken.

Media: Mozambique operates a free press. The press is predominantly private. The daily newspapers are Notícias (largest and oldest and partly government-owned) and Diário de Moçambique (independent), both in Portuguese. Demos, Domingo, Fim de Semana, Savana and Zambeze are published weekly in Portuguese.

Television is a very popular medium in urban areas, while radio is the predominant form of communication in rural areas. Televisao de Mozambique (TVM) is the state-run TV station, and Radio Mozambique is the state-run radio network that operates local and provincial channels in Portuguese, English and indigenous languages. The BBC World Service is available on an FM relay in the main towns.

There are 21 TV sets (2003), six personal computers (2004) and nine internet users (2007) per 1,000 people.

Education: Public spending on education was 5% of GDP in 2005. There are seven years of compulsory education starting at age six. Net enrolment ratios are 76% for primary and 4% for secondary (2006). The pupil–teacher ratio for primary is 67:1 and for secondary 36:1 (2005). The school year starts in January.

About 1.5% of the relevant age group is enrolled in tertiary education (2005). Tertiary education is provided at the Eduardo Mondlane University, the Education University, Higher Institute for International Relations, Higher Polytechnical and University Institute and Catholic University. Illiteracy among people age 15–24 is 47.1% (2006).

Health: The national health service lost its monopoly of health care in 1992. 42% of the population uses an improved drinking water source and 31% have adequate sanitation facilities (2006). Infant mortality was 96 per 1,000 live births in 2006 (180 in 1960). Malaria and AIDS are serious problems. At the end of 2005, 14.4% of people age 15 and over were HIV positive – and there are regular outbreaks of cholera.

Communications: Country code 258. Outgoing international calls must go through the operator, although direct dialling is available to South Africa and Swaziland. Most of the major towns and cities are serviced by satellite phones. Roaming agreements exist with many international mobile phone operators and mobile phone coverage is expanding to all main cities in most provinces. There are internet cafes in Maputo. Postal services are available in main centres.

There are three main telephone lines and 154 mobile phone subscriptions per 1,000 people (2007).

Public holidays: New Year’s Day, Heroes’ Day (3 February), Women’s Day (7 April), Workers’ Day (1 May), Independence Day (25 June), Victory Day (Lusaka Agreement Anniversary, 7 September), Revolution/Armed Forces Day (25 September), Maputo City Day (Maputo only, 10 November), Family/Christmas Day (25 December).