Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Tanzania
Tanzania: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 26.02 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Tanzania, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas in Tanzania is 26.02 million people, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.9% on the previous year and up 60.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Tanzania peaked at 26.02 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 281,279 people, in 1950.
That places Tanzania 37th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 383,220 people | 281,279 people | 468,615 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 574,665 people | 483,977 people | 732,083 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.71 million people | 844,675 people | 2.65 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.75 million people | 2.83 million people | 4.72 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.06 million people | 4.94 million people | 7.27 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.59 million people | 7.60 million people | 12.00 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.99 million people | 12.62 million people | 19.73 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.20 million people | 20.64 million people | 26.02 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More population data for Tanzania
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.9% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 4.54 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 4.54 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 176,859 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 4.54 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 4.61 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 4.32 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Tanzania?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Tanzania was 26.02 million people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 26.02 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 281,279 people in 1950.
- How does Tanzania rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Tanzania ranks 37th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 60.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tanzania data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.