Located near the southern end of the country, it is within kilometres 75 miles of the borders with Eswatini and South Africa. The city has a population of 1,, as of [ 3 ] distributed over a land area of The Maputo metropolitan area includes the neighbouring city of Matola , and has a total population of 2,, Maputo is a port city , with an economy centered on commerce.
It is noted for its vibrant cultural scene and distinctive, eclectic architecture. Maputo is situated on a large natural bay on the Indian Ocean , near where the rivers Tembe, Mbuluzi, Matola and Infulene converge. The city consists of seven administrative divisions, which are each subdivided into quarters or bairros.
The city is surrounded by Maputo Province , but is administered as a self-contained, separate province since Maputo City is the geographically smallest and most densely populated province in Mozambique. The area on which Maputo stands was first settled as a fishing village by ancient Tsonga people. The modern city traces its origins to a Portuguese fort established on the site in A town grew around the fort starting around , and in it was elevated to city status.
In , the colony of Portuguese Mozambique relocated its capital there. Upon Mozambican independence in , the city became the national capital and was renamed Maputo.
During the Mozambican Civil War , the city's economy was devastated. When the war ended, the FRELIMO government launched a program to revive the city's economy, and to clean up the city by forcibly removing criminals, squatters, and undocumented residents.
