Inhambane: population, spending, jobs, schools, health, water and electricity
Inhambane is a province of Mozambique, number 9 of 11 by population. Mozambique's National Statistics Institute (INE) projects the population of Inhambane at about 1,616,000 for 2025 (756,000 men and 860,000 women), 4.7% of Mozambique's 34.09 million; 3rd smallest of the 11 provinces. The figure is a projection from the 2017 census, the last one held.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Inhambane: Households in Inhambane spent an average of 1,871 meticais per person per month in 2022 (7,744 meticais per household), according to the INE Household Budget Survey (IOF 2022); 5th highest of the 11 provinces (Mozambique: 1,893 meticais per person).
- Health in Inhambane: The 2022-23 Demographic and Health Survey measured 49 deaths before age five for every 1,000 babies born in Inhambane, and 34 before their first birthday; 4th lowest of the 11 provinces for under-five deaths (Mozambique: 60 and 39).
- Education in Inhambane: 28.0% of adults in Inhambane could not read or write in 2022 (35.8% of women and 16.6% of men), 5th lowest of the 11 provinces (Mozambique: 38.3%); in 2019/20 the rate was 29.2%.
How fast is Inhambane's population growing?
The projections add about 18,000 people to Inhambane between 2024 and 2025, growth of 1.1% in a year (Mozambique: 2.5%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Mozambique · saved copyHow densely populated is Inhambane?
Inhambane covers 68,615 square kilometres, giving 23 people per square kilometre in 2025, 3rd least densely populated of the 11 provinces (Mozambique: 42).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Mozambique · saved copyHow many children do women in Inhambane have?
Women in Inhambane have 4.0 children each on average, according to the 2022-23 Demographic and Health Survey (IDS), 4th lowest of the 11 provinces (Mozambique: 4.9).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE) and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many families in Inhambane go hungry?
6.0% of households in Inhambane usually ate only one meal a day or none in 2022, the lowest of the 11 provinces; 31.4% ate three or more (Mozambique: 12.4% and 30.1%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Mozambique · saved copyDo families in Inhambane have enough food?
51.1% of households in Inhambane said the food they ate in the last month was less than adequate in 2022, 6th highest of the 11 provinces (Mozambique: 50.2%; in 2019/20 46.2% in Inhambane).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Mozambique · saved copyHow common is violence against women in Inhambane?
10% of women aged 15 to 49 in Inhambane had suffered physical violence in the 12 months before the 2022-23 survey and 4% sexual violence; 2nd lowest of the 11 provinces for physical violence (Mozambique: 15% and 4%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE) and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow provinces are governed in Mozambique
Provinces (10 + Maputo City). Provincial assembly elected by proportional representation; since 2019 the governor is the head of the winning list. A Secretary of State appointed by the President represents central government. Decentralised provincial services; central ministries keep their own provincial offices.
Every tier of government in Mozambique
Other provinces of Mozambique
- Nampula 6,984,000
- Zambezia 6,314,000
- Tete 3,368,000
- Cabo Delgado 2,900,000
- Sofala 2,828,000
- Maputo Province 2,662,000
- Manica 2,429,000
- Niassa 2,349,000
- Gaza 1,500,000
- Maputo City 1,140,000
Up a level: Mozambique · government and power in Mozambique · cities
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE) and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program): Mocambique Inquerito Demografico e de Saude 2022-23, Relatorio Resumo: "Principais indicadores por provincia" (page 23), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 01467bf8c29b…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Mozambique: Relatorio Final do Inquerito sobre Orcamento Familiar - IOF 2022 (Household Budget Survey 2022 final report): Quadros 4.2, 4.11, 6.3, 6.8, 7.5, 7.6, 7.9, 8.2, 11.2, 12.1, 12.2, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 70a1687d340c…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Mozambique: Anuario Estatistico 2025 (Statistical Yearbook 2025): Quadros 2.1.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.4, 2.3.6, 2.3.16, 2.4.1, 5.1.6 and 5.6.1 by province, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 25e1129ec762…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE), Mozambique: Anuario Estatistico 2024 (Statistical Yearbook 2024): Quadro 2.1.1, population by province, 2024, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 afd1afb283cd…)
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