Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Tanzania, United Republic of
Tanzania, United Republic of: Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas was 28.35 million people in 2020. ▲ Rising
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Tanzania, United Republic of, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2020, number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Tanzania, United Republic of stood at 28.35 million people. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Tanzania, United Republic of peaked at 28.35 million people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 6.50 million people, in 1950.
That places Tanzania, United Republic of 10th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Tanzania, United Republic of, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 6.50 million people | — |
| 1955 | 7.26 million people | +11.7% |
| 1960 | 8.16 million people | +12.4% |
| 1965 | 9.24 million people | +13.3% |
| 1970 | 10.58 million people | +14.4% |
| 1975 | 12.21 million people | +15.5% |
| 1980 | 13.79 million people | +12.9% |
| 1985 | 15.38 million people | +11.6% |
| 1990 | 16.98 million people | +10.4% |
| 1995 | 18.56 million people | +9.3% |
| 2000 | 19.74 million people | +6.4% |
| 2005 | 21.62 million people | +9.6% |
| 2010 | 23.54 million people | +8.8% |
| 2015 | 25.70 million people | +9.2% |
| 2020 | 28.35 million people | +10.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.88 million people | 6.50 million people | 7.26 million people | 2 |
| 1960s | 8.70 million people | 8.16 million people | 9.24 million people | 2 |
| 1970s | 11.39 million people | 10.58 million people | 12.21 million people | 2 |
| 1980s | 14.58 million people | 13.79 million people | 15.38 million people | 2 |
| 1990s | 17.77 million people | 16.98 million people | 18.56 million people | 2 |
| 2000s | 20.68 million people | 19.74 million people | 21.62 million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 24.62 million people | 23.54 million people | 25.70 million people | 2 |
| 2020s | 28.35 million people | 28.35 million people | 28.35 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania, United Republic of
More population data for Tanzania, United Republic of
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.8793 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.36 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.8793 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6843 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 129,932 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.69 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.089 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.9% (2100)
- Population density 296.72 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 20.58 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Tanzania, United Republic of?
- Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Tanzania, United Republic of was 28.35 million people in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Tanzania, United Republic of?
- The highest recorded value was 28.35 million people in 2020.
- What is the lowest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Tanzania, United Republic of?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.50 million people in 1950.
- How does Tanzania, United Republic of rank for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Tanzania, United Republic of ranks 10th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Tanzania, United Republic of?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Tanzania, United Republic of data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of people living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.