People

Majority of the population of Mozambique is of African origin. But it has quite a number of people of Portuguese, Arabs, Indian and East Asian descent who came here during the colonial era. People also migrated to Mozambique from the erstwhile Portuguese possessions in Asia, Goa and Macao. The Portuguese population swelled to two hundred thousand after World War II. Most left after independence but small Asian and European communities still exist in Mozambique

There are 16 major ethnic groups amongst the indigenous people, the largest of which is the Makua. Most of the tribes are of Bantu origin. They are agriculturists or pastoralists and follow traditional life styles. The southern tribes of Mozambique include the Shona, Thonga, Chopi, and Ngui. The Maravi, Yao, Makua, Lomwe, and Makonde tribes live north of the Zambesi River. The Makua generally live north of the Ligonha River, which separates the provinces of Zambezia and Nampula. The Lomwe reside further inland and to the south and together. The Makua-Lomue makes up nearly 40% of the total population.

The Europeans and the Asians live in the main urban area along the coast and in the more fertile river valleys. As per the1997 census, approximately half of the people are Christian, converted during the Portuguese rule. 10% are Muslim, 5% animists who believe that everything in nature has a soul and the rest of the population practise a medley of traditional faiths with another religion.