# Niassa Province, Mozambique – Districts, Population & Map

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/

Province · Mozambique 

# Niassa Province

Niassa Province is a province of Mozambique. It had an estimated **2,385,570 people** in 2025 on 129,177 km² (about 18 per km²). Its main town is Lichinga. It is divided into 16 districts. 1,538 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 122 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 2,385,570people (2025)
- 129,177km²
- 16districts
- 122mapped services

## How many people live in Niassa Province?

Niassa Province had an estimated **2,385,570 people** in 2025 — 6.8% of Moçambique, 8th of 11 provinces. There are 1,033 women for every 1,000 men (below the Moçambique figure of 1,059). Spread over 129,177 km², that is about **18 people per km²**, the least densely populated of 11 provinces.

50.3% of people are children under 15 and 1.9% are 65 or older; the median age is about 15 years (it is 17 across Moçambique). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 109 children and older people.

0–4 ****486,960**

5–9 ****386,068**

10–14 ****325,773**

15–19 ****272,545**

20–24 ****201,171**

25–29 ****159,942**

30–34 ****131,302**

35–39 ****106,708**

40–44 ****84,713**

45–49 ****67,412**

50–54 ****52,076**

55–59 ****38,299**

60–64 ****26,387**

65–69 ****18,687**

70–74 ****12,473**

75–79 ****7,650**

80+ ****7,404**

Source: [Mozambique INE (Instituto Nacional de Estatistica) via OCHA HDX, population 2025 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-moz).

## Where is Niassa Province?

Niassa Province lies in [Mozambique](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/). It borders 3 other provinces: [Cabo Delgado Province](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/cabo-delgado/), [Nampula Province](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/nampula/) and [Zambézia Province](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/zambezia/). By area it is the largest of 11 provinces in Mozambique. It covers 16.4% of [Moçambique](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/). The centre of Niassa Province is about 1,454 km in a straight line from Maputo, the capital. The centre point is at 13.3689° S, 36.3194° E.

Source: [INE- Instituto Nacional de Estatisca via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-moz).

## Things to see in and around Niassa Province

OpenStreetMap lists 13 named sights in Niassa Province: 6 nature reserves; 2 attractions; 2 memorials; 1 viewpoint; 1 beach; 1 monument.

- Chipanje Chetu Wildlife Management Area · nature reserve
- Niassa Bloco C / Luwire Lugenda Wildlife Reserve · nature reserve
- Niassa Bloco D1 · nature reserve
- Niassa Bloco D2 · nature reserve
- Niassa Bloco E · nature reserve
- Niassa National Reserve · nature reserve
- Nkwichi Beach · beach
- Summit chuwanga view · viewpoint
- Place dos Liberados · attraction
- Praia · attraction
- Grave of Bibi Achivanjila · memorial
- II Congresso da FRELIMO · monument
- Monumento aos Heróis Moçambicanos · memorial

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Niassa Province

- Time zoneUTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Maputo
- CurrencyMetical (MZN)
- Country calling code+258
- LanguagesPortuguese, Makhuwa
- Plug typesType C, D, F · 220 V
- Driving sideLeft
- Postcode format4 digits (####)

### Nearest airports

- Lichinga Airport (VXC) · Lichinga114 km
- Kamuzu International Airport (LLW) · Lumbadzi278 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 12.9 hours, sunrise around 05:02) and shortest in Jun (about 11.3 hours, sunrise around 05:54, sunset around 17:15).

Month Sunrise Sunset Daylight 

Jan 05:18 18:08 12.8 h 

Feb 05:32 18:05 12.5 h 

Mar 05:38 17:50 12.2 h 

Apr 05:40 17:29 11.8 h 

May 05:45 17:15 11.5 h 

Jun 05:54 17:15 11.3 h 

Jul 05:58 17:22 11.4 h 

Aug 05:49 17:29 11.7 h 

Sep 05:29 17:30 12.0 h 

Oct 05:08 17:31 12.4 h 

Nov 04:57 17:41 12.7 h 

Dec 05:02 17:56 12.9 h 

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-02](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Districts of Niassa Province

District People per km² Area km² Administrative posts Services 

[Cuamba District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/cuamba/) 381,691 71 5,352 4 38 

[Cidade de Lichinga](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/cidade-de-lichinga/) 365,136 110 3,314 6 24 

[Mecanhelas District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/mecanhelas/) 354,895 71 5,009 2 14 

[Mandimba District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/mandimba/) 286,386 61 4,681 2 5 

[Lago District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/lago/) 152,634 13 12,068 5 22 

[N'gauma District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/n-gauma/) 132,194 50 2,626 2 3 

[Marrupa District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/marrupa/) 108,054 6.2 17,411 3 12 

[Sanga District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/sanga/) 103,494 8.5 12,225 4 1 

[Chimbonila District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/chimbonila/) 99,629 26 3,825 2 0 

[Maua District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/maua/) 93,261 11 8,385 2 0 

[Metarica District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/metarica/) 61,328 14 4,522 2 1 

[Nipepe District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/nipepe/) 60,817 12 5,013 2 0 

[Muembe District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/muembe/) 59,482 10 5,815 2 0 

[Majune District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/majune/) 56,015 4.8 11,673 3 2 

[Mavago District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/mavago/) 40,194 4.5 8,985 2 0 

[Mecula District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/mecula/) 30,360 1.7 18,273 2 0 

Source: [INE- Instituto Nacional de Estatisca via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-moz); [Mozambique INE (Instituto Nacional de Estatistica) via OCHA HDX, population 2025 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-moz).

## Largest towns in Niassa Province

- Lichinga281,341
- Mandimba118,922
- Cuamba91,780
- Metangula14,835
- Marrupa9,565
- Insaca6,668
- Sanga4,184

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Populations as recorded in GeoNames, which may be older than the estimates above.

## Landscape and landmarks of Niassa Province

Named natural and historic features inside Niassa Province, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

1,334 rivers and streams; 4 lakes; 1 dam.

- Apucire
- Bamba
- Bambe
- Barragem Mini-Cabora
- Becê
- Bembino
- Buchi
- Bulise
- Bwazi
- Cachane
- Cacherenga
- Cagica
- Cagugu
- Cagumboca
- Calange
- Caligule
- Cambaute
- Camuite
- Candesse
- Cangongo
- Cangula
- Canhula
- Capa-Capa
- Capasia

…and 1,315 more.

### Coast and islands

17 headlands; 3 bays; 2 islands.

- Baía Rye
- Chigoma Bay
- Chilola Bay
- Ilha Macanha
- Ilha Suo
- Mataca Point
- Micundi Point
- Nhiambo Point
- Ponta Bamba
- Ponta Chinuné
- Ponta Chissogono
- Ponta Colongue
- Ponta Gilambo
- Ponta Gocha
- Ponta Guiela
- Ponta Lussefa
- Ponta Mala
- Ponta Messuli
- Ponta Mikoma
- Ponta Namicango
- Ponta Palmeira
- Ponta Txungo

### Hills and mountains

457 mountains; 223 hills.

- Mecuia · 1,698 m
- Livigire · 1,697 m
- Monte Popo · 1,661 m
- Monte Matuaimba · 1,648 m
- Monte Binga · 1,641 m
- Gaúma · 1,622 m
- Serra Jec · 1,611 m
- Monte Changaussio · 1,594 m
- Bemba · 1,551 m
- Monte Muzambiche · 1,549 m
- Monte Gatala · 1,544 m
- Monte Namati · 1,539 m
- Monte Chiganga · 1,525 m
- Matama · 1,509 m
- Langa-Langa · 1,508 m
- Xicoli · 1,502 m
- Monte Cheringurabe · 1,500 m
- Monte Miuambuaio · 1,495 m
- Monte Untola · 1,484 m
- Monte Doa · 1,428 m
- Monte Zúngilo · 1,414 m
- Monte Lucué · 1,408 m
- Serra Macuta · 1,408 m
- Monte Bambala · 1,405 m

…and 656 more.

### Forests and nature

1 nature reserve; 1 wildlife reserve.

- Niassa National Reserve
- Ruvuma Game Preserve

### History

1 ruin.

- Antigo Fortim Dom Carlos

### Getting around

16 airfields; 6 railway stations; 3 airports.

- Augusto Cardoso
- Catur
- Chilola
- Cuamba
- Cuamba Airport
- Cóbuè
- Lichinga
- Litunde
- Lugenda
- Macaloge
- Mandimba
- Maniamba
- Marrupa
- Massangulo
- Maua
- Mecova
- Mecula
- Mepica
- Messia
- Muapula
- Mucova
- Muembe
- Mussoma
- Nipepe

…and 1 more.

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Niassa Province and the best time to visit

In Niassa Province, the warmest month is Nov (average 27 °C) and the coolest is Jun (19 °C). About 1,202 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (348 mm) and the driest Jun (4 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **April to November**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 24 348 

Feb 24 256 

Mar 23 172 

Apr 22 56 

May 20 20 

Jun 19 4 

Jul 19 8 

Aug 21 8 

Sep 24 4 

Oct 27 16 

Nov 27 58 

Dec 25 251 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Niassa Province

Places mapped inside Niassa Province in open map data, by type.

- Hospitals9
- Banks20
- Petrol pumps10
- Hotels34
- Schools25
- Colleges and universities6
- Restaurants13
- Police stations5

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers

- Where is Niassa Province?In Mozambique
- What is the population of Niassa Province?2,385,570 (2025 estimate)
- What is the median age in Niassa Province?About 15 years (2025 estimate)
- What is the population density of Niassa Province?About 18 people per km²
- What borders Niassa Province?Cabo Delgado Province, Nampula Province and Zambézia Province
- What is there to see in Niassa Province?Chipanje Chetu Wildlife Management Area, Grave of Bibi Achivanjila, II Congresso da FRELIMO, Monumento aos Heróis Moçambicanos
- What time zone is Niassa Province in?UTC+2
- What currency is used in Niassa Province?Metical (MZN)
- What language is spoken in Niassa Province?Portuguese, Makhuwa (main languages nationally)
- What is the largest town in Niassa Province?Lichinga
- What is the highest point in Niassa Province?Mecuia (1,698 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Niassa Province?April to November
- How many hospitals are in Niassa Province?9 mapped
- How many banks are in Niassa Province?20 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Niassa Province?10 mapped
- What is the P-code of Niassa Province?MZ01 (OCHA common operational dataset)