Total population (thousands) in Tanzania
Tanzania: Total population (thousands) was 69,542 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
69,542 thousands
Change on year
up 2.9%
World rank
21st
of 233 countries
All-time high
69,542 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
13,259 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Tanzania, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
Tanzania recorded 69,542 thousands for total population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.9% on the previous year and up 36.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Tanzania peaked at 69,542 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 13,259 thousands, in 1970.
That places Tanzania 21st out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 13,259 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 13,726 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1972 | 14,217 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1973 | 14,742 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 15,278 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 15,845 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1976 | 16,432 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1977 | 17,040 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1978 | 17,665 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 18,288 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 18,896 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 19,483 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 20,086 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 20,711 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1984 | 21,449 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 22,109 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1986 | 22,894 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 23,624 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 24,437 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 25,102 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 25,775 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 26,445 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 27,116 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 27,800 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 28,866 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1995 | 30,019 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 30,748 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 31,144 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 32,013 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 32,828 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 33,772 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 34,748 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 35,649 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 36,594 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 37,585 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 38,634 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 39,730 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 40,860 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 42,011 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 43,130 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 44,138 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 45,379 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 46,680 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 48,069 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 49,579 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 51,124 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 52,918 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 54,730 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 56,576 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 58,298 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 60,051 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 61,894 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 63,767 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 65,657 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 67,578 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2025 | 69,542 thousands | +2.9% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 69,542 thousands is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12,314 thousands, 5.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 69,542 thousands is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 4.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 15,649 thousands | 13,259 thousands | 18,288 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 21,879 thousands | 18,896 thousands | 25,102 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 29,275 thousands | 25,775 thousands | 32,828 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 38,271 thousands | 33,772 thousands | 43,130 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 50,749 thousands | 44,138 thousands | 58,298 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 64,748 thousands | 60,051 thousands | 69,542 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More population data for Tanzania
- 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 total population in Tanzania?
- Total population in Tanzania was 69,542 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 69,542 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,259 thousands in 1970.
- How does Tanzania rank for total population?
- Tanzania ranks 21st out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Tanzania data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release