Population in the largest city in Tanzania

Tanzania: Population in the largest city was 21 in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
21
World rank
111th
of 179 countries
All-time high
21
in 2020
All-time low
5.18
in 1950
Years of data
15
1950–2020

Population in the largest city in Tanzania, 1950–2020

51015201950198520201950: 5.21955: 5.71960: 5.91965: 6.21970: 6.81975: 7.61980: 101985: 10.71990: 13.21995: 13.42000: 14.32005: 15.62010: 17.82015: 19.82020: 21

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2020, population in the largest city in Tanzania stood at 21. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 18.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population in the largest city in Tanzania peaked at 21 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 5.18, in 1950.

Tanzania ranks 111th of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.

Population in the largest city in Tanzania, year by year

Annual values for Population in the largest city in Tanzania, 1950 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1950 5.18 —
1955 5.65 +9.1%
1960 5.87 +3.9%
1965 6.18 +5.2%
1970 6.75 +9.3%
1975 7.62 +12.9%
1980 9.96 +30.7%
1985 10.7 +7.4%
1990 13.23 +23.6%
1995 13.42 +1.4%
2000 14.27 +6.3%
2005 15.62 +9.5%
2010 17.79 +13.9%
2015 19.8 +11.2%
2020 21 +6.1%

Tanzania compared with similar countries

  • Tanzania's 21 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 24.93, 84% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
  • Tanzania's 21 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.91, 73% of the median. (46 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 5.42 5.18 5.65 2
1960s 6.03 5.87 6.18 2
1970s 7.19 6.75 7.62 2
1980s 10.33 9.96 10.7 2
1990s 13.32 13.23 13.42 2
2000s 14.94 14.27 15.62 2
2010s 18.79 17.79 19.8 2
2020s 21 21 21 1

Countries ranked near Tanzania

  1. 108 Guyana 22.04 compare
  2. 109 Guatemala 21.66 compare
  3. 110 Ghana 21.25 compare
  4. 112 Palestine 20.9 compare
  5. 113 Syria 20.72 compare
  6. 114 Turkey 20.61 compare

See the full ranking of 179 places →

More population data for Tanzania

All data for Tanzania →

Frequently asked questions

What is population in the largest city in Tanzania?
Population in the largest city in Tanzania was 21 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in Tanzania?
The highest recorded value was 21 in 2020.
What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in Tanzania?
The lowest recorded value was 5.18 in 1950.
How does Tanzania rank for population in the largest city?
Tanzania ranks 111th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
Is population in the largest city rising or falling in Tanzania?
Over the last ten years it is up 18.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Tanzania data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Population in the largest city in Tanzania. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 12 November 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/population-in-the-largest-city/tanzania/

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About this data

Indicator
Population in the largest city
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
179 places, 2,452 data points, 1950–2020
Last refreshed