The 16 languages used for teaching in Mozambique from 2004 are the following:
Cicopi, Cindau, Cinyanja, Cinyungwe, Cisena, Ciutee, Ciyao, Echuwabo, Elomwe, Emakhuwa, Gitonga, Kimwani, Shimaconde, Xichangana, Xirhonga and Xitshwa.
The names of the languages have different spellings depending on the "speaker" (just as with German and Deutsch). The spelling chosen here is the spelling used by Universidade Eduardo Mondlane in the report on ortography from 1989.
The following tables show the distribution and use of the different languages, with the most used languages first (some of the information is taken from the web site of Radio Mozambique Sep 2006). The table also contains information about publications in each language before 1990, to indicate the base for the development of each language. For a short version see: this overview. For more information on publications in and about the languages of Mozambique, see www.tindzimi.dk/
| Name | Province | Speakers | Total | Teaching | Radio |
| Emakhuwa | Niassa | 475.518 | 4.989.281 | 4 schools (Feb 2008) | 5 h/day |
| Cabo Delgado | 1.100.730 | 3 schools (Feb 2008) | 5 h/day | ||
| Nampula | 3.413.032 | 2 schools (Feb 2008) | 9 h/day | ||
| Emakhua is the largest Mozambican language (24,8%. of the
population).
It is not used outside Mozambique. The language Elomwe (7,9%) is often counted as a dialect of Emakhuwa. The publications so far identified in and about the language nmuber: 12 before 1940, 8 between 1940 and 1975 and 13 from 1975 to 1990. Emakhuwa is used for teaching in a total of 9 EB-schools. The EB-project is made with strong support from Progresso, a mozambican NGO. |
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| Name | Province | Speakers | Total | Teaching | Radio |
| Xishangana | Gaza | 1.178.466 | 2.075.365 | 8 schools (Feb 2008) | 7 h/day |
| Maputo | 473.862 | 0 schools (Feb 2008) | 16 h/day | ||
| Maputo Cidade | 423.037 | 0 schools (Feb 2008) | n.a. | ||
| Xishangana is the second largest language (11,2% of the
population),
It is used in South Africa under the name Tsonga. The publications so far identified in and about the language number: 2 before 1940, 3 between 1940 and 1975 and 7 from 1975 to 1990. This does not include Tsonga books from South Africa, of which there are plenty. Xishangana is used for teaching in a total of 8 EB-schools |
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| Name | Province | Speakers | Total | Teaching | Radio |
| Elomwe | Zambézia | 1.582.310 | 1.582.310 | 1 school (Feb 2008) | 7 h/day |
| Elomwe is by UEM counted as i dialect of Emakhuwa.
By INDE is is counted as a language and there are books made for teaching in Elomwe. The publications so far identified in and about the language are included in the information about Emakhuwa. Elomwé is used for teaching in 1 EB-school |
See map for Emakhuwa. | ||||
| Name | Province | Speakers | Total | Teaching | Radio |
| Cisena | Zambézia | 288.383 | 1.254.390 | No schools (Feb 2008) | 0 |
| Tete | 181.578 | 3 schools (Feb 2008) | 0 | ||
| Sofala | 784.429 | 2 schools (Feb 2008) | 6 h/day | ||
| The language is not used outside Mozambique
The publications so far identified in and about the language number. 8 before 1940, 1 between 1940 and 1975 and 2 from 1975 to 1990. Cisena is used for teaching in a total of 5 EB-schools
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| Name | Province | Speakers | Total | Teaching | Radio |
| Echuwabo | Zambézia | 1.164.914 | 1.164.914 | 1 school (Feb 2008) | 5 h/day |
| The language is not used outside Mozambique
The publications so far identified in and about the language number: 0 before 1940, 3 between 1940 and 1975 and 4 from 1975 to 1990. Echuwabo is used for teaching in 1 EB-school |
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| Name | Province | Speakers | Total | Teaching | Radio |
| Cindau | Manica | 373.979 | 935.483 | 10 schools (Feb 2008) | 6 h/day |
| Sofala | 561.504 | 2 schools (Feb 2008) | 5 h/day | ||
| Inhambane | 15.000 | 1 school (Feb 2008) | |||
| Cindau is close to Shona in Zimbabwe, it is sometimes
seen as a dialect of Shona.
The use of Cindau in Inhambane for teaching should be introduced on popular demand. The publications so far identified in and about the language number: 0 before 1940, 4 between 1940 and 1975 and 0 from 1975 to 1990. This does not include books about Shona, of which there are plenty from Zimbabwe. Cindau is used for teaching in a total of 13 EB-schools
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| Name | Province | Speakers | Total | Teaching | Radio |
| Cinyanja | Niassa | 86.271 | 840.518 | 4 schools (Feb 2008) | 3 h/day |
| Tete | 754.247 | 3 schools (Feb 2008) | 7 h/day | ||
| Cinyanja is also spoken in Malawi,
where the name Cichewa was used formerly. The publications so far identified in and about the language number: 1 before 1940, 3 between 1940 and 1975 and 0 from 1975 to 1990 not including the publications from Malawi, where there exist a lot.. Cinyanja is used for teaching in a total of 7 EB-schools. The EB-project is made with strong support from Progresso, a mozambican NGO.
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| Name | Province | Speakers | Total | Teaching | Radio |
| Xitshwa | Inhambane | 812.101 | 812.101 | 1 schools (Feb 2008) | 5 h/day |
| Xitshwa is not used outside Mozambique.
The publications so far identified in and about the language number: 4 before 1940, 1 between 1940 and 1975 and 3 from 1975 to 1990. Xitshwa is used for teaching in a 1 EB-school. |
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| Name | Province | Speakers | Total | Teaching | Radio |
| Xirhonga | Maputo | 273.382 | 522.227 | 2 schools (Feb 2008) | ? |
| Maputo Cidade | 248.845 | 0 schools (Feb 2008) | ? | ||
| Xirhonga is not used outside Mozambique.
The publications so far identified in and about the language number: 16 before 1940, 11 between 1940 and 1975 and 0 from 1975 to 1990, further there was a weekly bilingual magazine (Portuguese/Ronga) "O Brado Africano" from 1925 to 1975. Xirhonga is used for teaching in a total of 2 EB-schools |
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| Name | Province | Speakers | Total | Teaching | Radio |
| Cicopi | Inhambane | 233.038 | 429.189 | 1 school (Feb 2008) | 3 h/day |
| Gaza | 82.653 | 6 schools (Feb 2008) | 5 h/day | ||
| Maputo | 52.532 | 0 schools (Feb 2008) | ? | ||
| Maputo Cid | 60.967 | 0 schools (Feb 2008) | ? | ||
| Cicopi is not used outside Mozambique
The publications so far identified in and about the language number: 3 before 1940, 6 between 1940 and 1975 and 2 from 1975 to 1990. Cicopi is used for teaching in a total of 6 EB-schools. |
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| Name | Province | Speakers | Total | Teaching | Radio |
| Ciyao | Niassa | 382.058 | 382.058 | 3 schools (Feb 2008) | 4 h/day |
| Ciyao is also spoken in Malawi and Tanzania
The publications so far identified in and about the language number: 2 before 1940, 6 between 1940 and 1975 and 3 from 1975 to 1990. This does not include publications from Malawi, which are munerous. No information of publications from Tanzania in Ciyao. Ciyao is used for teaching in a total of 3 EB-schools. The EB-project is made with strong support from Progresso, a mozambican NGO. |
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| Name | Province | Speakers | Total | Teaching | Radio |
| Shimakonde | Cabo Delgado | 358.109 | 358.109 | 4 schools (Feb 2008) | 3 h/day |
| Shimakonde is also spoken in Tanzania.
The publications so far identified in and about the language number: 1 before 1940, 7 between 1940 and 1975 and 3 from 1975 to 1990, not including possible publications from Tanzania. Shomakonde is used for teaching in a total of 4 EB-schools. The EB-project is made with strong support from Progresso, a mozambican NGO.
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| Name | Province | Speakers | Total | Teaching | Radio |
| Cinyungwe | Tete | 431.442 | 431.442 | 3 schools (Feb 2008) | 5 h/day |
| The publications so far identified in and about the
language number:
16 before 1940, 7 between 1940 and 1975 and 1 from 1975 to 1990 Cinyungwe is used for teaching in a total of 3 EB-schools |
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| Name | Province | Speakers | Total | Teaching | Radio |
| Ciutee | Manhica | 305.983 | 305.983 | 7 schools (Feb 2008) | 3 h/day |
| No publications about or in this language is identified
before 1990.
Ciutee is used for teaching in a total of 7 EB-schools |
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| Name | Province | Speakers | Total | Teaching | Radio |
| Gitonga | Inhambane | 240.099 | 240.099 | 1 school (Feb 2008) | 4 h/day |
| Gitonga is not spoken outside Mozambique.
The publications so far identified in and about the language number: 3 before 1940, 1 between 1940 and 1975 and 1 from 1975 to 1990. Gitonga is used for teaching in 1 EB-school |
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| Name | Province | Speakers | Total | Teaching | Radio |
| Kimwani | Cabo Delgado | 112.218 | 112.218 | 3 schools (Feb 2008) | 3 h/day |
| Kimwani is often seen as a dialect of Swahili.
There is an old tradition for writing in Kimwani, the first being written in Arabic script. The publications so far identified using roman letters in and about the language number: 2 before 1940, 0 between 1940 and 1975 and 3 from 1975 to 1990. Kimwani was included in the programme for Bilingual Education based on popular demand during the democratic decision process. Kimwani is used for teaching in a total of 3 EB-schools. The EB-project is made with strong support from Progresso, a mozambican NGO. |
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