a republic in SE Africa: colonized by the Portuguese from 1505 onwards and a slave-trade centre until 1878; made an overseas province of Portugal in 1951; became an independent republic in 1975; became a member of the Commonwealth in 1995. Official language: Portuguese. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: metical. Capital: Maputo. Pop: 29 668 834 (2017 est). Area: 812 379 sq km (313 661 sq miles)