Tanzania Urban Population
Urban population as % of total SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS
Tanzania's urban population was 36.66% in 2025, ranked 180th globally. This represents a 1.4% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Tanzania's urban population stood at 36.66% in 2025, a rise of +0.49% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 36.66% by 2025. Tanzania ranked 180th globally.
Tanzania’s urban population share has risen from a low of 4.89 percent in 1960 to an all‑time peak of 36.66 percent in 2025, placing the country 180th globally. This 31.77‑percentage‑point increase over 66 years reflects sustained rural‑to‑urban migration, accelerated by expanding infrastructure, industrial diversification and the growth of secondary‑city agglomerations such as Dar es Salaam and Mwanza. The pace of urbanisation now parallels that of peer nations with similar rankings; for example, Mozambique records a slightly higher share at 37.01 percent, while Grenada is marginally lower at 36.64 percent, underscoring a regional convergence toward mid‑range urbanisation levels. The upward trajectory is reinforced by government policies promoting urban development zones and investment in housing, yet persistent challenges in service delivery and informal settlement expansion could temper future gains. Continued economic diversification and improvements in urban planning are likely to sustain the rise in urban share, though any slowdown in investment or demographic shocks could alter the current trajectory.
Data & projection
| Year | Urban Population | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 37.81% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 37.24% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 36.66% | - | - |
| 2025 | 36.66% | +0.49% | #180 |
| 2024 | 36.17% | +0.69% | #36 |
| 2023 | 35.47% | +0.65% | #36 |
| 2022 | 34.82% | +0.47% | #35 |
| 2021 | 34.35% | +0.50% | #32 |
| 2020 | 33.85% | +0.51% | #32 |
| 2019 | 33.35% | +0.52% | #32 |
| 2018 | 32.83% | +0.53% | #32 |
| 2017 | 32.30% | +0.54% | #31 |
| 2016 | 31.76% | +0.55% | #31 |
| 2015 | 31.21% | +0.56% | #30 |
| 2014 | 30.64% | +0.57% | #30 |
| 2013 | 30.07% | +0.58% | #30 |
| 2012 | 29.49% | +0.62% | #29 |
| 2011 | 28.87% | +0.67% | #28 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Tanzania matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 2012. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw urban population improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Tanzania's urban population was 36.66% in 2025. Ranked 180th globally. This represents a 1.4% increase from the previous year.
Tanzania's urban population peaked at 36.66% in 2025.
The lowest urban population in Tanzania was 4.89% in 1960.
Tanzania ranks 180th globally in urban population as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Tanzania's urban population is projected to reach 36.66% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The urban population of Tanzania in 2025 was 36.66%. This ranks 180th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_tanzania_urban-population,
title = {Tanzania Urban Population},
url = {https://historysaid.com/tanzania/urban-population/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}