Looking to boost your knowledge about countries of Africa and increase your chances of being crowned the next pub quiz champion? Start by learning these 14 fun facts about Mozambique!
1. Mozambique has lots of neighbours.
Mozambique is a beautiful, wildlife-rich country in South-east Africa.
It is bordered by Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the north, Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest and Zimbabwe to the west.
2. Grab the compass!
To explore the beautiful landscape and discover the incredible wildlife that Mozambique has to offer, head for the coordinates of 25.9500° S, 32.5833° E.
3. Mozambique’s land is pretty varied.
The terrain here is mostly dominated by coastal lowlands, with uplands further inland, high plateaus in the northwest and mountains in the west.
4. It’s a pretty big country.
The total land area of Mozambique is 308,642 square miles (799,380 square kilometres)…that’s more than 3 times the size of the UK!
5. However, it’s really sparse.
Mozambique’s population was 32.97 million in 2022…that’s less than half the population of the UK!
6. What’s the official capital of Mozambique?
The capital is Maputo; it covers an area of 134 square miles (346 square kilometres) and had a population of 1,2 million in 2020.
7. It’s seriously sweltering here.
Mozambicans enjoy a tropical to subtropical climate with a rainy season from November to April and a year-round average temperature of 28°C!
8. The array of wildlife is magnificent.
Mozambique is home to a wide range of wildlife, including elephants, manatees, lions, aardvarks, rhinoceros, hippopotamuses, giraffes, snakes, buffalos, crocodiles, leopards, bushbabies, monkeys, cheetahs, panthers and hyenas!
9. Mozambique’s airports are pretty unique.
Despite boasting a total of 98 airports, only 21 have paved runways!
10. What do people speak in Mozambique?
The official language of Mozambique is Portuguese, although many local languages are also spoken here. Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975.
11. What should you exchange currency into here?
Mozambican Metical is the official currency here.
12. Mozambique’s name is, in itself, unique.
Did you know that Mozambique is the only one-word country name to feature all 5 vowels? That’s a good one to remember for your next pub quiz night!
13. The life expectancy is sadly quite short.
The average life span here is 59.32 years (2021).
14. Mozambique grows plenty of crops and has a burgeoning industry.
Mozambique grows cashew nuts, cotton, tea, sugarcane, corn, coconuts, fruits and potatoes; they also rear cattle and poultry and catch fish.
Its industry consists of aluminium, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, glass, cement, tobacco, food and beverages.
The main exports include aluminium, prawns, cotton, sugar, timber, citrus fruits and electricity.
FAQs about Mozambique
Are the snakes in Mozambique friendly?
They might be friendly - but of the 96 species living in Mozambique, 21 are venomous!
Is Mozambique safe for tourists?
While much of Mozambique is considered safe and friendly, there are still areas where street crime is rife. Take care!
Do people speak English in Mozambique?
Yes, but rarely - you’ll normally find the language spoken in tourist resorts.
Do you know any fun facts about Mozambique? Share them in the comments below!
