# Sofala Province, Mozambique – Districts, Population & Map

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

Province · Mozambique 

# Sofala Province

Sofala Province is a province of Mozambique. It had an estimated **2,939,536 people** in 2025 on 68,102 km² (about 43 per km²). Its main town is Beira. It is divided into 13 districts. 1,414 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 403 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 2,939,536people (2025)
- 68,102km²
- 13districts
- 403mapped services

## How many people live in Sofala Province?

Sofala Province had an estimated **2,939,536 people** in 2025 — 8.4% of Moçambique, 5th of 11 provinces. There are 1,051 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Moçambique figure of 1,059). Spread over 68,102 km², that is about **43 people per km²**, 5th of 11 provinces.

45.5% of people are children under 15 and 2.5% are 65 or older; the median age is about 17 years (it is 17 across Moçambique). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 92 children and older people.

0–4 ****502,531**

5–9 ****450,776**

10–14 ****383,035**

15–19 ****323,256**

20–24 ****285,969**

25–29 ****236,683**

30–34 ****189,312**

35–39 ****144,407**

40–44 ****105,180**

45–49 ****84,806**

50–54 ****68,774**

55–59 ****52,881**

60–64 ****39,094**

65–69 ****29,459**

70–74 ****20,923**

75–79 ****12,439**

80+ ****10,011**

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 Sofala Province?

Sofala Province lies in [Mozambique](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/). It borders 4 other provinces: [Inhambane Province](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/inhambane/), [Manica Province](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/manica/), [Tete Province](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/tete/) and [Zambézia Province](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/zambezia/). By area it is the 8th largest of 11 provinces in Mozambique. It covers 8.7% of [Moçambique](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/). The centre of Sofala Province is about 804 km in a straight line from Maputo, the capital. The centre point is at 19.0571° S, 34.8857° 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 Sofala Province

OpenStreetMap lists 16 named sights in Sofala Province: 5 nature reserves; 3 attractions; 2 museums; 2 monuments; 1 beach; 1 cave; 1 ruins; 1 waterfall.

- Casa do Artista · museum
- Lion House · museum
- Morrombedze Falls · waterfall
- Coutada 10 · nature reserve
- Coutada 11 · nature reserve
- Coutada 12 · nature reserve
- Coutada 14 · nature reserve
- Marromeu Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Praia do Estoril · beach
- Grande Hotel Beira · attraction
- Parque Nacional da Gorongosa · attraction
- Road to Gorongosa National Park · attraction
- Codzo River Cave · cave
- Hippo House · ruins
- Monumento aos Heróis Moçambicanos · monument
- Praça dos Descobrimentos · monument

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: Sofala 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

- Beira International Airport (BEW) · Beira82 km
- Chimoio Airport (VPY) · Chimoio153 km

### Nearest railway station

Derunde (Muanza-Sede), about 8.5 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 13.3 hours, sunrise around 04:57) and shortest in Jun (about 11.0 hours, sunrise around 06:10, sunset around 17:10).

Month Sunrise Sunset Daylight 

Jan 05:14 18:23 13.2 h 

Feb 05:32 18:16 12.7 h 

Mar 05:43 17:56 12.2 h 

Apr 05:50 17:31 11.7 h 

May 05:59 17:13 11.2 h 

Jun 06:10 17:10 11.0 h 

Jul 06:13 17:18 11.1 h 

Aug 06:01 17:28 11.4 h 

Sep 05:36 17:34 12.0 h 

Oct 05:11 17:41 12.5 h 

Nov 04:55 17:55 13.0 h 

Dec 04:57 18:13 13.3 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 Sofala Province

District People per km² Area km² Administrative posts Services 

[Cidade da Beira](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/sofala/cidade-da-beira/) 873,500 1,348 648 5 214 

[Nhamatanda District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/sofala/nhamatanda/) 364,464 91 4,020 2 8 

[Dondo District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/sofala/dondo/) 270,074 117 2,301 3 16 

[Búzi District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/sofala/buzi/) 229,917 32 7,232 3 127 

[Gorongosa District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/sofala/gorongosa/) 220,396 29 7,509 3 5 

[Caia District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/sofala/caia/) 202,204 60 3,358 3 9 

[Marromeu District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/sofala/marromeu/) 195,744 34 5,779 3 5 

[Chibabava District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/sofala/chibabava/) 188,801 26 7,253 3 12 

[Maringue District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/sofala/maringue/) 106,978 20 5,411 3 0 

[Chemba District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/sofala/chemba/) 96,822 23 4,213 3 2 

[Machanga District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/sofala/machanga/) 73,826 13 5,745 3 2 

[Cheringoma District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/sofala/cheringoma/) 70,246 9.9 7,116 2 2 

[Muanza District](https://wherepedia.org/mozambique/sofala/muanza/) 46,564 6.2 7,515 2 1 

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 Sofala Province

- Beira687,764
- Dondo82,260
- Marromeu45,777
- Nhamatanda30,087
- Gorongosa21,792
- Caia21,179
- Búzi16,369
- Inhaminga11,564

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 Sofala Province

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

### Water

692 rivers and streams; 225 lakes.

- Baboé
- Bacochora
- Bala
- Baleluane
- Baleluane
- Baraga
- Baua
- Bave
- Bembamarazé
- Bobobo
- Bondongongue
- Bondue
- Bonga
- Bongo
- Bonore
- Bopopo
- Buandiça
- Buera-Bumo
- Buinpuepua
- Bunguni
- Buno
- Butula
- Buzimufu Lagoa
- Búzi Mufu

…and 893 more.

### Coast and islands

35 islands; 11 headlands; 1 lagoon.

- Chipota
- Ilha Buene
- Ilha Caluco
- Ilha Cama
- Ilha Chigogori
- Ilha Chiloane
- Ilha Chinanazi
- Ilha Chipafa
- Ilha Chongorgue
- Ilha Cunguni
- Ilha Dumba
- Ilha Gaga
- Ilha Gatamane
- Ilha Inhamissengo
- Ilha Macau
- Ilha Manuel
- Ilha Mariangona
- Ilha Marora
- Ilha Nhacarâmbue
- Ilha Nhachecamba
- Ilha Nhamatanga
- Ilha Nhamatanga
- Ilha Nhamatarara
- Ilha Nhamatica

…and 23 more.

### Hills and mountains

100 hills; 10 mountains.

- Monte Zombue · 1,823 m
- Monte Nhandore · 1,814 m
- Monte Nhanhima · 1,799 m
- Monte Inhatete · 1,683 m
- Monte Nhassacassa · 1,411 m
- Monte Dungama · 1,252 m
- Monte Nandondo · 1,192 m
- Monte Nhandôa · 1,090 m
- Serra Cúdezo · 679 m
- Monte Nhamacongurgue · 647 m
- Monte Nhanoura · 596 m
- Monte Nhamadze · 566 m
- Monte Nhamalire · 561 m
- Monte Chêta · 554 m
- Monte Nhamedandanda · 550 m
- Monte Nhangoma · 540 m
- Monte Chicorôngue · 538 m
- Monte Nhambira · 538 m
- Monte Tecequire · 515 m
- Monte Nhandiundiundio · 513 m
- Monte Nhametechenge · 508 m
- Monte Nhampande · 495 m
- Monte Nhacaramuana · 480 m
- Monte Geramo · 470 m

…and 86 more.

### Forests and nature

2 parks; 1 forest; 1 nature reserve.

- Floresta Maúma
- Gorongosa National Park
- Marromeu Reserve
- Parque Nacional da Gorongosa

### Estates

5 estates.

- Estação Caia
- Estação Inhangua
- Estação Magagade
- Murraça Estação
- Plantaçãos da Sena Sugar Estates

### Getting around

37 airfields; 18 railway stations; 2 airports; 2 lighthouses; 1 port; 1 railway halt; 1 bridge.

- Apeadeiro de Lavos
- Bandua
- Barada
- Beira Airport
- Beira Old
- Beira Port
- Caia
- Caia Airport
- Campo de Aviação Martinoti
- Campo de Aviação Vasconcelos
- Canganetole
- Chemba
- Cherinda
- Cheringoma
- Chibavava
- Chitengo
- Chupanga
- Condué
- Divinhe
- Dondo
- Dondo
- Estacatira
- Estaquinha
- Estação Caminho de Ferro Serração J. M. Pretórius

…and 38 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 Sofala Province and the best time to visit

In Sofala Province, the warmest month is Nov (average 28 °C) and the coolest is Jul (21 °C). About 1,108 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (225 mm) and the driest Aug (8 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 27 225 

Feb 26 166 

Mar 26 176 

Apr 24 87 

May 23 33 

Jun 21 29 

Jul 21 54 

Aug 22 8 

Sep 25 16 

Oct 27 36 

Nov 28 76 

Dec 27 203 

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Sofala Province

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

- Hospitals28
- Banks21
- Petrol pumps37
- Hotels45
- Shopping malls6
- Schools161
- Colleges and universities30
- Cinemas2
- Pharmacies6
- Restaurants48
- Police stations18
- Dental clinics1

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 Sofala Province?In Mozambique
- What is the population of Sofala Province?2,939,536 (2025 estimate)
- What is the median age in Sofala Province?About 17 years (2025 estimate)
- What is the population density of Sofala Province?About 43 people per km²
- What borders Sofala Province?Inhambane Province, Manica Province, Tete Province and Zambézia Province
- What is there to see in Sofala Province?Casa do Artista, Codzo River Cave, Coutada 10, Coutada 11
- What time zone is Sofala Province in?UTC+2
- What currency is used in Sofala Province?Metical (MZN)
- What language is spoken in Sofala Province?Portuguese, Makhuwa (main languages nationally)
- What is the largest town in Sofala Province?Beira
- What is the highest point in Sofala Province?Monte Zombue (1,823 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Sofala Province?April to November
- How many hospitals are in Sofala Province?28 mapped
- How many banks are in Sofala Province?21 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Sofala Province?37 mapped
- What is the P-code of Sofala Province?MZ07 (OCHA common operational dataset)