Tanzania: jobs and pay

What is the unemployment rate in Tanzania?

Tanzania's unemployment rate was 1.6% in 2025, according to the International Labour Organization's modelled estimate published by the World Bank.

The ILO measure counts only people with no work at all who are looking for a job, so it is low in countries where most people farm or work informally. Tanzania's own Integrated Labour Force Survey, published by the National Bureau of Statistics, uses a national definition; its latest results could not be read on the NBS website on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: World Bank: unemployment, Tanzania · National Bureau of Statistics

What is youth unemployment in Tanzania?

Unemployment among young people aged 15 to 24 in Tanzania was 2.4% in 2025, according to the International Labour Organization's modelled estimate published by the World Bank.

Young people aged 15 to 35 make up 34.5% of Tanzania's population, the Minister of Education said in October 2026, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, who called for investment in education, skills, jobs and capital for young people. The ILO estimate does not capture underemployment or informal work.

Official sources: World Bank: youth unemployment, Tanzania · NBS: young people aged 15 to 35 make up 34.5% of Tanzanians (Swahili)

What jobs do people in Tanzania do?

64.6% of employed people in Tanzania worked in agriculture in 2025, according to the International Labour Organization's modelled estimate published by the World Bank. The share was 65.6% in 2022.

80.3% of women aged 15 and over were in the labour force in 2025, according to the World Bank. The figures are modelled estimates based on Tanzania's labour force surveys. Many people work on family farms or in informal jobs without a regular wage.

Official sources: World Bank: employment in agriculture, Tanzania · World Bank: female labour force participation, Tanzania

What is the minimum wage in Tanzania?

Tanzania sets minimum wages by sector through wage orders under its labour law. The current rates could not be read from an official source on the Prime Minister's Office (Labour, Employment and Relations), Ministry of Labour or ILO websites checked on 15 October 2026, so no figure is stated here.

Labour policy is the responsibility of the Prime Minister's Office (Labour, Employment and Relations). The ILO's statutory minimum wage series returned no data for Tanzania when checked the same day.

Official sources: Prime Minister's Office (Labour, Employment and Relations)

How much is the minimum wage in Tanzania?

The ILO puts the statutory minimum wage in Tanzania at 150,000 TZS a month (about $58) in 2024. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2012.

How much do workers in Tanzania earn on average?

In 2024, average monthly earnings of employees in Tanzania was $212 a month, according to the ILO. That compares with $184 a month in 2014. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was $173 a month, and Tanzania placed 4th highest of 12. Worldwide: 64th of 75.

What is the unemployment rate in Tanzania?

1.6%: that is the unemployment rate in Tanzania for 2025, according to the ILO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 1.6% (2024) to 3.5% (2011). It is 42nd highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 5.2%. Worldwide: 163rd of 174.

What is the youth unemployment rate in Tanzania?

The ILO puts unemployment among 15 to 24 year olds in Tanzania at 2.4% in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 2.3% (2024) to 6.8% (2011). Sub-Saharan Africa median: 8.8%; Tanzania is 41st highest of 45. World rank, highest first: 168th of 174.

What share of people in Tanzania are in the labour force?

According to the ILO, the labour force participation rate in Tanzania was 83.7% in 2025. The peak was 88.3% in 2006 and the low 82.8% in 2020. It is 2nd highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 64.3%. World rank, highest first: 4th of 174.

What share of women in Tanzania are in the labour force?

According to the ILO, the labour force participation rate for women in Tanzania was 80.3% in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 79.3% (2020) to 87.1% (2006). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 57.3%, and Tanzania placed 3rd highest of 45. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 4th highest.

What share of adults in Tanzania have a job?

In 2025, the employment to population ratio in Tanzania was 82.4%, according to the ILO. The peak was 85.4% in 2006 and the low 81.4% in 2020. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 58.8%, and Tanzania placed 2nd highest of 45. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 4th highest.

How many workers in Tanzania are self-employed or family workers?

The ILO puts the share of workers who are own-account or contributing family workers in Tanzania at 83.7% in 2025. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 67.6%; Tanzania is 8th highest of 45. World rank, highest first: 8th of 174.

What share of jobs in Tanzania are salaried?

According to the ILO, the share of workers who are paid employees in Tanzania was 14.7% in 2025. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 29.0%, and Tanzania placed 39th highest of 45. Worldwide: 168th of 174.