# Mecanhelas District, Niassa Province – Administrative posts > Source: https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/mecanhelas/ District · Niassa Province # Mecanhelas District Mecanhelas District is a district of Mozambique in Niassa Province. It had an estimated **354,895 people** in 2025 on 5,009 km² (about 71 per km²). It is divided into 2 administrative posts. 147 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 14 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 354,895people (2025) - 5,009km² - 2administrative posts - 14mapped services ## How many people live in Mecanhelas District? Mecanhelas District had an estimated **354,895 people** in 2025 — 14.9% of Niassa Province, 22nd of 148 districts. There are 1,019 women for every 1,000 men (below the Niassa Province figure of 1,033). Spread over 5,009 km², that is about **71 people per km²**, 51st of 148 districts. 50.8% of people are children under 15 and 1.7% are 65 or older; the median age is about 15 years (it is 15 across Niassa Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 111 children and older people. 0–4 ****72,717** 5–9 ****57,733** 10–14 ****49,898** 15–19 ****40,157** 20–24 ****30,286** 25–29 ****24,038** 30–34 ****19,677** 35–39 ****15,895** 40–44 ****12,472** 45–49 ****9,797** 50–54 ****7,402** 55–59 ****5,305** 60–64 ****3,504** 65–69 ****2,431** 70–74 ****1,612** 75–79 ****1,024** 80+ ****947** 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 Mecanhelas District? Mecanhelas District lies in [Niassa Province](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/), [Mozambique](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/). It borders 3 other districts: [Cuamba District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/cuamba/), [Mandimba District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/mandimba/) and [Molumbo District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/zambezia/molumbo/). By area it is the 66th largest of 161 districts in Mozambique. It covers 3.9% of [Niassa Province](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/). The centre of Mecanhelas District is about 1,280 km in a straight line from Maputo, the capital. It is about 204 km from Lichinga, the main town of Niassa Province. The centre point is at 14.9376° S, 36.1206° 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). ## Know before you go: Mecanhelas District - 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 - Chileka International Airport (BLZ) · Blantyre148 km - Lichinga Airport (VXC) · Lichinga207 km ### Nearest railway station Entre Lagos (Entre Lagos), about 25 km from the centre. ### Daylight Days are longest in Dec (about 13.0 hours, sunrise around 05:00) and shortest in Jun (about 11.2 hours, sunrise around 05:58, sunset around 17:12). 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. ## Administrative posts of Mecanhelas District Administrative post Area km² Localities Services [Chiuta](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/mecanhelas/chiuta/) 2,160 2 0 [Insaca](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/niassa/mecanhelas/insaca/) 2,849 5 14 Source: [INE- Instituto Nacional de Estatisca via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-moz); [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). ## Largest towns in Mecanhelas District - Insaca6,668 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 Mecanhelas District Named natural and historic features inside Mecanhelas District, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 44 rivers and streams; 2 lakes. - Caperimuange - Chacomire - Changamir - Insurro - Lago Amaramba - Lake Chiuta - Luase - Mahoeche - Mapando - Marapatire - Matelamaze - Maçambiro - Meceraxi - Mechebele - Mecombice - Mecurro - Mericuembe - Minhoto - Mivumo - Mulimaniane - Muponhe - Nacauane - Nacauane - Namalava …and 22 more. ### Coast and islands 1 island. - Ilha Suo ### Hills and mountains 36 mountains; 24 hills. - Monte Mirote · 1,261 m - Monte Massara · 1,143 m - Monte Muchalala · 1,140 m - Monte Impissane · 1,126 m - Monte Marangué · 1,119 m - Monte Macamba · 1,092 m - Monte Namuera · 1,088 m - Monte Macobueno · 1,072 m - Monte Mussanga · 1,067 m - Monte Napavava · 1,058 m - Monte Nacole · 1,047 m - Monte Repe · 1,035 m - Monte Chabo · 1,026 m - Monte Girimo · 1,023 m - Monte Chetundo · 1,022 m - Monte Matuane · 1,005 m - Monte Ripaué · 1,002 m - Monte Munhete · 979 m - Monte Nhanhere · 977 m - Monte Toni · 971 m - Monte Tumbuni · 964 m - Monte Munhangusse · 962 m - Monte Comóni · 960 m - Monte Cama · 959 m …and 36 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 Mecanhelas District and the best time to visit In Mecanhelas District, the warmest month is Nov (average 28 °C) and the coolest is Jul (18 °C). About 1,177 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (363 mm) and the driest Sep (5 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 24 363 Feb 24 238 Mar 23 167 Apr 22 49 May 20 11 Jun 19 7 Jul 18 14 Aug 21 8 Sep 24 5 Oct 27 15 Nov 28 74 Dec 25 227 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Mecanhelas District Places mapped inside Mecanhelas District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations. - Banks2 - Petrol pumps1 - Hotels2 - Schools5 - Restaurants2 - Police stations2 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 Mecanhelas District?In Niassa Province, Mozambique - What is the population of Mecanhelas District?354,895 (2025 estimate) - What is the median age in Mecanhelas District?About 15 years (2025 estimate) - What is the population density of Mecanhelas District?About 71 people per km² - What borders Mecanhelas District?Cuamba District, Mandimba District and Molumbo District - What time zone is Mecanhelas District in?UTC+2 - What currency is used in Mecanhelas District?Metical (MZN) - What language is spoken in Mecanhelas District?Portuguese, Makhuwa (main languages nationally) - What is the largest town in Mecanhelas District?Insaca - What is the highest point in Mecanhelas District?Monte Mirote (1,261 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Mecanhelas District?April to November - How many banks are in Mecanhelas District?2 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Mecanhelas District?1 mapped - What is the P-code of Mecanhelas District?MZ0110 (OCHA common operational dataset)