Population in largest city in Tanzania
Tanzania: Population in largest city was 8.56 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
8.56 million
Change on year
up 4.9%
World rank
27th
of 153 countries
All-time high
8.56 million
in 2025
All-time low
162,126
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in Tanzania, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Tanzania recorded 8.56 million for population in largest city in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 4.9% on the previous year and up 67.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Tanzania peaked at 8.56 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 162,126, in 1960.
That places Tanzania 27th out of 153 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.
Population in largest city in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 162,126 | — |
| 1961 | 174,346 | +7.5% |
| 1962 | 187,506 | +7.5% |
| 1963 | 201,659 | +7.5% |
| 1964 | 216,902 | +7.6% |
| 1965 | 233,251 | +7.5% |
| 1966 | 250,857 | +7.5% |
| 1967 | 269,792 | +7.5% |
| 1968 | 295,522 | +9.5% |
| 1969 | 324,691 | +9.9% |
| 1970 | 356,785 | +9.9% |
| 1971 | 392,051 | +9.9% |
| 1972 | 430,859 | +9.9% |
| 1973 | 473,386 | +9.9% |
| 1974 | 520,177 | +9.9% |
| 1975 | 571,594 | +9.9% |
| 1976 | 628,175 | +9.9% |
| 1977 | 690,177 | +9.9% |
| 1978 | 758,398 | +9.9% |
| 1979 | 807,484 | +6.5% |
| 1980 | 854,913 | +5.9% |
| 1981 | 904,986 | +5.9% |
| 1982 | 958,068 | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 1.01 million | +5.9% |
| 1984 | 1.07 million | +5.9% |
| 1985 | 1.14 million | +5.9% |
| 1986 | 1.20 million | +5.9% |
| 1987 | 1.27 million | +5.9% |
| 1988 | 1.35 million | +5.9% |
| 1989 | 1.41 million | +4.6% |
| 1990 | 1.47 million | +4.4% |
| 1991 | 1.54 million | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 1.61 million | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 1.68 million | +4.4% |
| 1994 | 1.75 million | +4.4% |
| 1995 | 1.83 million | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 1.91 million | +4.4% |
| 1997 | 2.00 million | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 2.08 million | +4.4% |
| 1999 | 2.18 million | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 2.27 million | +4.4% |
| 2001 | 2.37 million | +4.4% |
| 2002 | 2.48 million | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 2.62 million | +5.6% |
| 2004 | 2.77 million | +5.8% |
| 2005 | 2.93 million | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 3.09 million | +5.7% |
| 2007 | 3.27 million | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 3.46 million | +5.8% |
| 2009 | 3.66 million | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 3.87 million | +5.7% |
| 2011 | 4.09 million | +5.7% |
| 2012 | 4.33 million | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 4.58 million | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 4.84 million | +5.7% |
| 2015 | 5.12 million | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 5.41 million | +5.7% |
| 2017 | 5.72 million | +5.7% |
| 2018 | 6.05 million | +5.7% |
| 2019 | 6.37 million | +5.3% |
| 2020 | 6.70 million | +5.2% |
| 2021 | 7.05 million | +5.2% |
| 2022 | 7.40 million | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 7.78 million | +5.0% |
| 2024 | 8.16 million | +5.0% |
| 2025 | 8.56 million | +4.9% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 8.56 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.61 million, 3.3× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 8.56 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.18 million, 3.9× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 231,665 | 162,126 | 324,691 | 10 |
| 1970s | 562,909 | 356,785 | 807,484 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.12 million | 854,913 | 1.41 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.80 million | 1.47 million | 2.18 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.89 million | 2.27 million | 3.66 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.04 million | 3.87 million | 6.37 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.61 million | 6.70 million | 8.56 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More urban development data for Tanzania
- Population in the largest city 32.9% (2025)
- Population density 75.21 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 20.17 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.1419 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 10.01 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 4.92 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 10.26 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 0 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 96.27 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Tanzania?
- Population in largest city in Tanzania was 8.56 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 8.56 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 162,126 in 1960.
- How does Tanzania rank for population in largest city?
- Tanzania ranks 27th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 67.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tanzania data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.