Tanzania Population

Tanzania is among the poorest countries in Africa and the economy has been largely characterized by corruption. The country depends on aid and loans, but after several corruption scandals, several donors have withheld their contributions.

Key figures and facts

Capital: Dodoma
Ethnic groups: Ethnic groups: Mainland: Africans 99% (95% of the population belongs to more than 130 different Bantu tribes), other 1%. Zanzibar: Arabs, Africans
Language: Swahili (official), kiunguja, English (official), Arabic, many smaller languages
Religion: Christians 61.4%, Muslims 35.2%, traditional religions and other 2%, Zanzibar: the population has just about Islam as religion.
Population: 59 091 392 (2018)
Control Form: Republic
Area: 947 300 km2
Currency: Tanzanian shilling
GNP per capita: 2 786 PPP $
National Day: April 26th

In 2013, the population of Tanzania was estimated at 49,253,000 (World Bank), and annual population growth is estimated at 3 percent. 45 percent of the population is under 15 years of age. The birth rate is declining, with 40 percent in 2013 against 42 percent in 1995 and 50 percent in the period 1985–1990. In 2013, the death rate was calculated to 9 per thousand.

According to the World Health Organization, life expectancy is 62 years for women and 60 years for men (2013), up from 49 and 47 years in 2005. An important cause is the prevalence of HIV/AIDS that is now on the decline. An estimated 5 percent of the population aged 15-49 is now infected with the virus.

Population of Tanzania by Year (Historical)

Year	Population	Annual Growth Rate	Population Density	Global Rank
2020	59,734,107	2.980%	67.4353	24
2019	58,005,352	3.010%	65.4837	25
2018	56,313,327	3.020%	63.5735	25
2017	54,660,228	3.040%	61.7073	25
2016	53,049,119	3.040%	59.8885	25
2015	51,482,522	3.030%	58.1199	26
2010	44,346,414	2.890%	50.0638	30
2005	38,450,209	2.790%	43.4074	31
2000	33,499,069	2.470%	37.8180	32
1995	29,649,024	3.300%	33.4716	32
1990	25,203,734	3.100%	28.4532	34
1985	21,633,685	3.140%	24.4229	36
1980	18,538,148	3.140%	20.9283	36
1975	15,885,118	3.250%	17.9332	38
1970	13,535,370	3.070%	15.2805	38
1965	11,634,721	2.970%	13.1348	41
1960	10,052,041	2.860%	11.3481	42
1955	8,729,551	2.680%	9.8551	46
1950	7,649,650	0.000%	8.6360	49

Major Cities in Tanzania by Population

Rank	City	Population
1	Dar es Salaam	2,698,541
2	Mwanza	436,690
3	Zanzibar	403,547
4	Arusha	341,025
5	Mbeya	291,538
6	Morogoro	250,791
7	Tanga	224,765
8	Dodoma	180,430
9	Kigoma	164,157
10	Moshi	156,848
11	Tabora	145,181
12	Songea	126,338
13	Musoma	121,008
14	Iringa	111,709
15	Katumba	108,447
16	Shinyanga	107,251
17	Mtwara	96,491
18	Ushirombo	94,941
19	Kilosa	91,778
20	Sumbawanga	89,050
21	Bagamoyo	82,315
22	Mpanda	73,227
23	Bukoba	70,517
24	Singida	62,321
25	Uyovu	60,738
26	Makumbako	52,892
27	Buseresere	52,759
28	Bunda	50,833
29	Merelani	49,889
30	Katoro	49,580
31	Ifakara	49,417
32	Njombe	46,613
33	Lindi	41,801
34	Vwawa	40,034
35	Geita	39,889
36	Nguruka	39,024
37	Newala Kisimani	37,988
38	Geiro	37,798
39	Kidatu	37,431
40	Kasulu	37,238
41	Tunduma	36,445
42	Masasi	35,921
43	Kahama	35,903
44	Kidodi	35,842
45	Igunga	35,533
46	Misungwi	35,419
47	Mlimba	34,859
48	Mafinga	34,847
49	Masumbwe	34,669
50	Chalinze	34,224
51	Babati	34,180
52	Biharamulo	33,927
53	Somanda	33,821
54	Bariadi	33,754
55	Kirando	33,000
56	Tarime	32,983
57	Tumbi	32,789
58	Bugarama	32,383
59	Mvomero	31,213
60	Chanika	30,794
61	Kyela	30,573
62	Kibiti	30,052
63	Kisesa	29,693
64	Lukuledi	29,588
65	Mlandizi	29,283
66	Rujewa	29,117
67	Ilula	29,082
68	Kibondo	28,555
69	Tukuyu	28,287
70	Namanyere	28,107
71	Mkuranga	27,926
72	Bungu	27,762
73	Chato	27,665
74	Kasamwa	27,570
75	Sikonge	27,002
76	Malinyi	26,930
77	Mtinko	26,614
78	Nzega	26,473
79	Maramba	26,420
80	Wete	26,339
81	Magugu	26,020
82	Sokoni	25,710
83	Sepuka	25,546
84	Mbinga	25,081
85	Luchingu	25,034
86	Igurusi	24,784
87	Chimala	24,706
88	Shelui	24,706
89	Kakonko	24,577
90	Uvinza	24,539
91	Nyalikungu	24,537
92	Sirari	24,206
93	Lushoto	24,086
94	Matai	23,959
95	Old Shinyanga	23,636
96	Urambo	23,613
97	Mgandu	23,607
98	Kibaha	23,540
99	Songwa	23,507
100	Kiomboi	23,408
101	Kondoa	23,407
102	Vikindu	23,196
103	Mwadui	23,185
104	Nangomba	22,917
105	Kingori	22,728
106	Igugunu	22,699
107	Ngudu	22,547
108	Chala	22,513
109	Lalago	22,440
110	Kigonsera	22,044
111	Tinde	21,971
112	Rulenge	21,958
113	Maswa	21,914
114	Chake Chake	21,575
115	Mhango	21,442
116	Kiwira	21,231
117	Isaka	20,983
118	Basotu	20,826
119	Mazinde	20,423
120	Muriti	20,143
121	Matui	20,130
122	Hedaru	20,120
123	Nsunga	19,938
124	Dareda	19,765
125	Nshamba	19,704
126	Mpwapwa	19,695
127	Kiratu	19,692
128	Itigi	19,600
129	Ikungi	19,581
130	Nanyamba	19,444
131	Kibakwe	19,415
132	Maposeni	19,361
133	Kabanga	19,310
134	Liwale	19,185
135	Laela	19,074
136	Bashanet	18,976
137	Magomeni	18,975
138	Kihangara	18,971
139	Mtwango	18,929
140	Ilembula	18,759
141	Dongobesh	18,753
142	Matiri	18,719
143	Magole	18,642
144	Mlowo	18,626
145	Usa River	18,615
146	Nangwa	18,484
147	Galappo	18,417
148	Mugumu	18,320
149	Katerero	18,319
150	Nyakabindi	18,317
151	Nachingwea	17,947
152	Izazi	17,899
153	Msowero	17,750
154	Ipinda	17,664
155	Mto wa Mbu	17,643
156	Usevia	17,631
157	Nanganga	17,357
158	Same	17,344
159	Ilongero	17,231
160	Kibara	17,100
161	Ngerengere	17,070
162	Puma	16,981
163	Tandahimba	16,930
164	Muheza	16,889
165	Malampaka	16,805
166	Lugoba	16,791
167	Ngara	16,779
168	Mwandiga	16,711
169	Mikumi	16,669
170	Mungaa	16,604
171	Nyamuswa	16,396
172	Mbuguni	16,331
173	Butiama	16,265
174	Kishapu	16,260
175	Nyangao	16,232
176	Tingi	16,204
177	Kitama	16,121
178	Lembeni	15,897
179	Kamachumu	15,590
180	Mlalo	15,465
181	Makuyuni	15,405
182	Usagara	15,403
183	Mabama	15,209
184	Mlangali	15,057
185	Mahanje	14,898
186	Nkoaranga	14,627
187	Nyakahanga	14,500
188	Endasak	14,465
189	Ndungu	14,434
190	Misasi	14,059
191	Mabamba	14,029
192	Dunda	13,969
193	Kyaka	13,699
194	Mahuta	13,437
195	Nanhyanga	13,408
196	Naberera	13,388
197	Itumba	13,327
198	Mbulu	13,319
199	Liuli	13,008
200	Ikwiriri	12,960
201	Ndago	12,901
202	Mwanga	12,735
203	Chiungutwa	12,653
204	Masoko	12,609
205	Karema	12,519
206	Malya	12,516
207	Madimba	12,396
208	Kisarawe	12,396
209	Kilindoni	12,298
210	Soni	12,291
211	Kaliua	12,251
212	Ulenje	12,108
213	Namanga	11,937
214	Mtama	11,817
215	Katoro	11,814
216	Utete	11,777
217	Kongwa	11,729
218	Matonga	11,717
219	Mbekenyera	11,683
220	Inyonga	11,679
221	Namikupa	11,622
222	Muleba	11,444
223	Lupiro	11,319
224	Kimamba	11,124
225	Namalenga	11,093
226	Mtimbira	11,011
227	Ruangwa	10,984
228	Kisanga	10,867
229	Kitangari	10,845
230	Ngorongoro	10,725
231	Nyanguge	10,635
232	Matamba	10,531
233	Bugene	10,498
234	Mugango	10,439
235	Mingoyo	10,369
236	Kandete	10,207
237	Makungu	10,180
238	Igurubi	9,972
239	Kisasa	9,889
240	Majengo	9,763
241	Micheweni	9,727
242	Poli	9,457
243	Konde	9,419
244	Makanya	9,394
245	Longido	9,292
246	Maneromango	9,291
247	Mwembe	8,921
248	Mbamba Bay	8,886
249	Magomeni	8,833
250	Manda	8,282
251	Kihurio	8,266
252	Pangani	8,232
253	Nungwi	7,889
254	Masuguru	7,835
255	Kintinku	7,795
256	Lulindi	7,696
257	Issenye	7,667
258	Mahenge	7,657
259	Mwaya	7,447
260	Kwakoa	7,403
261	Bukene	7,333
262	Usoke	7,184
263	Kisiwani	7,015
264	Malangali	7,001
265	Mtambile	6,686
266	Nansio	6,326
267	Nakatunguru	5,953
268	Kilimatinde	5,864
269	Monduli	5,583
270	Mahonda	5,458
271	Msanga	5,416
272	Nkove	5,278
273	Kibaya	4,917
274	Mkokotoni	2,461
275	Koani	2,100

Population Composition

On the mainland (ie Tanganyika) the population is mostly Bantu people (more than 100 different groups of people), but none of the groups are large enough to dominate. Among the larger groups are sukuma, nyamwezi, makonde, chagga, hima, ira, hehe, gogo, ha and nyakusa. About 1 percent of the population is Indian and Arab, most of whom live on the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba. Tanzania has on several occasions received hundreds of thousands of refugees from neighboring Rwanda and Burundi.

Settlement

Tanzania is one of Africa’s least urbanized countries. In 2013, 28 percent of the country’s residents lived in cities; the urban population is increasing. The urbanization rate is higher in Zanzibar than on the mainland. The settlement is largely controlled by soils, climatic conditions and the presence of the tsetse fly. Population density is highest around the Great Lakes, the Highlands and other water-rich areas such as the coastal areas of the Indian Ocean and the islands of Pemba and Zanzibar. The largest city is Dar es Salaam with around 5 million residents (2015). The capital Dodoma has approximately 214,000 residents (2012).

Religion

Christianity has a population support of around 50 percent, of which about 31 percent are Catholics and about 19 percent are Protestants and Anglicans. Islam has a support of about 33 percent. By the way, there are minorities of Hindus, Jainists and Buddhists. Supporters of local, traditional religions have been reduced from 32 percent to 13 percent in recent decades.

The Lutheran Church in Tanzania has over 1 million members and is one of the largest in Africa.

Language

Swahili (Kiswahili) and English are official languages. Swahili is understood throughout the country. English is widely used in administration, teaching and trade, but is not understood by most Tanzanians. More than 95 percent of the population speak different bantu languages, a total of about 100 languages. The most important of these, besides Swahili, are sukuma, nyamwezi, nyakyusa, hehe, chagga, haya, gogo, makonde and ha. In the north, there are some Nilotic languages, including masai, besides some Cushitic languages. In central Tanzania, there are also Sandawe and hadza, belonging to khoisanfamilien.

Key figures and facts