Tanzania: housing

How many people in Tanzania live in cities?

36.9% of Tanzania's population lived in urban areas in 2025, up from 34.8% in 2022, according to the World Bank World Development Indicators, which use UN estimates. The total population was 70.5 million.

The population grew by about two million in a year, according to the World Bank, so demand for urban housing, water and transport is rising quickly.

Official sources: World Bank: urban population, Tanzania · World Bank: population, Tanzania

How many people in Tanzania live in slums?

70.1% of Tanzania's urban population lived in slum conditions in 2022, according to the World Bank World Development Indicators, which use UN-Habitat data.

The series was 40.9% in 2020 and 47.3% in 2016. A change of this size in two years may reflect new data sources or methods, so the years should be compared with care. 36.9% of Tanzanians lived in urban areas in 2025, according to the World Bank.

Official sources: World Bank: population living in slums, Tanzania · World Bank: urban population, Tanzania

How many homes in Tanzania have electricity?

52.4% of people in Tanzania had access to electricity in 2024, up from 42.7% in 2021, according to the World Bank World Development Indicators.

Access has risen by about three to five percentage points a year. Only 11% of people used clean fuels and technologies for cooking in 2024, according to the World Bank. Charcoal and firewood prices drove a rise in energy costs in 2026, according to the Bank of Tanzania.

Official sources: World Bank: access to electricity, Tanzania · World Bank: access to clean cooking, Tanzania · Bank of Tanzania: Monthly Economic Review, September 2026 (PDF)

How many people in Tanzania have safe drinking water?

64.6% of people in Tanzania used at least basic drinking water services in 2024, up from 60.0% in 2021, according to the World Bank World Development Indicators, which use WHO and UNICEF data.

A basic service means water from an improved source, such as a piped supply, borehole or protected well, that can be collected in a round trip of 30 minutes or less. About a third of the population still lacks such a service.

Official sources: World Bank: basic drinking water services, Tanzania

What is Tanzania's urbanisation rate?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2025, is 36.9%. That is the highest since at least 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 44.9%; Tanzania is 32nd highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 157th of 193.

How common are informal settlements in Tanzania?

70.1%: that is the share of city dwellers living in slums in Tanzania for 2022, according to UN-Habitat. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2006. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 48.7%; Tanzania is 10th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 11th of 170.

What is the electricity access rate in Tanzania?

52.4%: that is the share of people with access to electricity in Tanzania for 2024, according to the World Bank. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 33rd highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 57.8%. World rank, highest first: 177th of 193.

What share of people in Tanzania have safe drinking water?

WHO and UNICEF puts the share of people using safely managed drinking water in Tanzania at 31.3% in 2024. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 9th highest of 25 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 27.2%. World rank, highest first: 109th of 134.

What share of people in Tanzania have safe sanitation?

According to WHO and UNICEF, the share of people using safely managed sanitation in Tanzania was 28.5% in 2024. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 11th highest of 29 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 23.6%. World rank, highest first: 102nd of 134.

What is access to clean cooking in Tanzania?

The WHO puts the share of people using clean cooking fuels in Tanzania at 11.0% in 2024. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 13.0%; Tanzania is 25th highest of 48. Of 192 countries with 2024 data, 167th highest.