Niassa is a
province
A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...
of
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique, is a country located in Southeast Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Eswatini and South Afr ...
with an area of 129,056 km
2 and a population of 1,810,794 (2017). It is the most sparsely populated province in the country.
is the capital of the province. There are a minimum estimated 450,000
Yao people living in Mozambique. They largely occupy the eastern and northern part of the Niassa province and form about 40% of the population of Lichinga, the capital of this province.
The
Ruvuma River forms much of the northern boundary of the province with
Ruvuma Region,
Tanzania
Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It is bordered by Uganda to the northwest; Kenya to the northeast; the Indian Ocean to the east; Mozambique and Malawi to t ...
, while
Lake Niassa forms the western border of the province, separating it from
Malawi
Malawi, officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast, and Mozambique to the east, south, and southwest. Malawi spans over and ...
. 75% of the province remains untouched by development, and remains free of
landmines.
[ The province shares the Niassa National Reserve with neighboring Cabo Delgado Province.
]
Districts
Niassa Province is divided into the 16 districts of:
* Cuamba District
* Lago District
*Lichinga District
Lichinga District is a district of Niassa Province in north-western Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique, is a country located in Southeast Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Ma ...
* Majune District
* Mandimba District
* Marrupa District
* Maúa District
* Mavago District
* Mecanhelas District
* Mecula District
* Metarica District
* Muembe District
* N'gauma District
* Nipepe District
* Sanga District
* Chimbunila District
and the municipalities of:
* Cuamba
* Lichinga
* Metangula
Demographics
Languages
After the 2007 Census it was found that native speakers of Makhuwa were 42%, speakers of the Yao language 31%, speakers of the Nyanja or Chewa language a 11%, and Portuguese speakers 9%.
Religion
The majority in Niassa province practice Islam. Monotheist religion adherence was asked in the 2007 census (Protestant / Catholic / Muslim / Zion) leaving aside so-called traditional religion followers. Answers provided a majority of protestants (74%) in the administrative post of Cobue, bordering Lake Niassa and inhabited mostly by the Nyanja. The majority of the Yao are nominal Muslim (a fact that can be recognized in a map's administrative posts north of the river Messalo). South of the river, the Makhuwas follow the Catholic or Islamic faith.
Education
In 1998, a provincial college was built in Lichinga to train teachers. Partially financed by the Irish Embassy in Maputo, it graduates 60 teachers per year. Apart from training teachers for local schools, the college offers primary school education to the local Lichinga community and works towards reducing the impact of HIV/AIDS in Niassa province.
References
External links
Niassa Province landmine assessment
External links
*
Province of Niassa official site
*
including information about districts
{{Authority control
Provinces of Mozambique