Share of population living in rural areas in Tanzania
Tanzania: Share of population living in rural areas was 46.5% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in Tanzania, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Tanzania recorded 46.5% for share of population living in rural areas in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 11.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Tanzania peaked at 85.2% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 46.5%, in 2020.
Tanzania ranks 36th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in rural areas in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 85.2% | — |
| 1955 | 83.9% | -1.5% |
| 1960 | 82.4% | -1.8% |
| 1965 | 80.6% | -2.2% |
| 1970 | 78.4% | -2.7% |
| 1975 | 75.7% | -3.5% |
| 1980 | 71.8% | -5.1% |
| 1985 | 68.4% | -4.9% |
| 1990 | 65.0% | -4.9% |
| 1995 | 61.1% | -6.1% |
| 2000 | 57.6% | -5.7% |
| 2005 | 55.2% | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 52.6% | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 49.4% | -6.0% |
| 2020 | 46.5% | -5.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 84.6% | 83.9% | 85.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 81.5% | 80.6% | 82.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 77.0% | 75.7% | 78.4% | 2 |
| 1980s | 70.1% | 68.4% | 71.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 63.1% | 61.1% | 65.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 56.4% | 55.2% | 57.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 51.0% | 49.4% | 52.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 46.5% | 46.5% | 46.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More population data for Tanzania
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6843 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.8793 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.9% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 20.58 million people (2100)
- Population density 296.72 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.9% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.089 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.69 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in Tanzania?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Tanzania was 46.5% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 85.2% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.5% in 2020.
- How does Tanzania rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Tanzania ranks 36th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Tanzania 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 Share of population living in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.