Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Tanzania
Tanzania: Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation was 55.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Tanzania, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Tanzania is 55.8%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.6% on the previous year and up 50.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Tanzania peaked at 55.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 14.7%, in 2000.
Tanzania ranks 153rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 14.7% | — |
| 2001 | 16.1% | +9.5% |
| 2002 | 17.5% | +8.7% |
| 2003 | 18.9% | +8.0% |
| 2004 | 20.5% | +8.2% |
| 2005 | 22.1% | +7.7% |
| 2006 | 23.7% | +7.2% |
| 2007 | 25.3% | +6.8% |
| 2008 | 26.9% | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 28.6% | +6.1% |
| 2010 | 30.2% | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 31.9% | +5.6% |
| 2012 | 33.6% | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 35.4% | +5.2% |
| 2014 | 37.1% | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 38.9% | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 40.7% | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 42.5% | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 44.3% | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 46.2% | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 48.1% | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 50.0% | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 51.9% | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 53.8% | +3.7% |
| 2024 | 55.8% | +3.6% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 55.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 65.2%, 86% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 55.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48.4%, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 21.4% | 14.7% | 28.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.1% | 30.2% | 46.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.9% | 48.1% | 55.8% | 5 |
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 urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Tanzania?
- Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation in Tanzania was 55.8% in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 55.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.7% in 2000.
- How does Tanzania rank for share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation?
- Tanzania ranks 153rd out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Tanzania data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban vs. rural population using at least basic sanitation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Proportion of people using improved sanitation facilities, such as toilets or latrines, that are not shared with other households.