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
Latest (2025)
26.02 million people
Change on year
up 4.9%
World rank
37th
of 236 countries
All-time high
26.02 million people
in 2025
All-time low
281,279 people
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
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.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 281,279 people | — |
| 1951 | 306,157 people | +8.8% |
| 1952 | 330,959 people | +8.1% |
| 1953 | 355,252 people | +7.3% |
| 1954 | 378,556 people | +6.6% |
| 1955 | 400,386 people | +5.8% |
| 1956 | 420,240 people | +5.0% |
| 1957 | 437,553 people | +4.1% |
| 1958 | 453,208 people | +3.6% |
| 1959 | 468,615 people | +3.4% |
| 1960 | 483,977 people | +3.3% |
| 1961 | 499,678 people | +3.2% |
| 1962 | 515,893 people | +3.2% |
| 1963 | 532,796 people | +3.3% |
| 1964 | 550,889 people | +3.4% |
| 1965 | 570,390 people | +3.5% |
| 1966 | 591,607 people | +3.7% |
| 1967 | 614,740 people | +3.9% |
| 1968 | 654,599 people | +6.5% |
| 1969 | 732,083 people | +11.8% |
| 1970 | 844,675 people | +15.4% |
| 1971 | 989,223 people | +17.1% |
| 1972 | 1.16 million people | +17.5% |
| 1973 | 1.36 million people | +16.9% |
| 1974 | 1.57 million people | +15.8% |
| 1975 | 1.80 million people | +14.4% |
| 1976 | 2.03 million people | +12.8% |
| 1977 | 2.25 million people | +11.0% |
| 1978 | 2.46 million people | +9.1% |
| 1979 | 2.65 million people | +7.7% |
| 1980 | 2.83 million people | +7.0% |
| 1981 | 3.02 million people | +6.5% |
| 1982 | 3.21 million people | +6.2% |
| 1983 | 3.41 million people | +6.2% |
| 1984 | 3.61 million people | +6.0% |
| 1985 | 3.83 million people | +5.9% |
| 1986 | 4.05 million people | +5.8% |
| 1987 | 4.28 million people | +5.7% |
| 1988 | 4.51 million people | +5.4% |
| 1989 | 4.72 million people | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 4.94 million people | +4.6% |
| 1991 | 5.16 million people | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 5.38 million people | +4.2% |
| 1993 | 5.64 million people | +4.8% |
| 1994 | 5.95 million people | +5.5% |
| 1995 | 6.23 million people | +4.8% |
| 1996 | 6.44 million people | +3.4% |
| 1997 | 6.68 million people | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 6.96 million people | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 7.27 million people | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 7.60 million people | +4.6% |
| 2001 | 7.95 million people | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 8.32 million people | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 8.72 million people | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 9.18 million people | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 9.68 million people | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 10.22 million people | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 10.80 million people | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 11.40 million people | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 12.00 million people | +5.2% |
| 2010 | 12.62 million people | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 13.29 million people | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 13.97 million people | +5.1% |
| 2013 | 14.68 million people | +5.1% |
| 2014 | 15.43 million people | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 16.23 million people | +5.2% |
| 2016 | 17.09 million people | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 17.98 million people | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 18.86 million people | +4.9% |
| 2019 | 19.73 million people | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 20.64 million people | +4.6% |
| 2021 | 21.58 million people | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 22.53 million people | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 23.63 million people | +4.9% |
| 2024 | 24.80 million people | +4.9% |
| 2025 | 26.02 million people | +4.9% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 26.02 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million people, 3.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 26.02 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million people, 5.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
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
- 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 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.