Regions of Tanzania: population and official figures
Tanzania is divided into 31 regions. The largest by population is Dar es Salaam with 6,003,954 people (8.6% of the total); the smallest is Kusini Unguja with 220,102. Population figures are National Bureau of Statistics projections for 2026, built from the 2022 Population and Housing Census. Each region page adds census figures on housing, water, toilets, electricity, literacy and schooling; regional GDP for 2025 (Mainland); poverty from the Household Budget Surveys (NBS for the Mainland, OCGS for Zanzibar); child and maternal health from the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey; formal jobs from the 2024/25 Employment and Earnings Survey; and schools, crime and road deaths from the NBS Statistical Abstract 2025. Songwe region, created from Mbeya in 2016, has a page of its own.
Who governs Tanzania's regions?
Regions (31: 26 mainland, 5 Zanzibar): Regional commissioner appointed by the president. Supervise local councils, keep law and order; regional secretariat gives technical advice.
How local power works in Tanzania · Level 5: devolved and state governments worldwide
All 31 regions, largest first
| # | Region | Population | Year | Growth (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dar es Salaam | 6,003,954 | 2026 | +2.2% |
| 2 | Mwanza | 4,242,495 | 2026 | +3.0% |
| 3 | Tabora | 3,895,504 | 2026 | +3.2% |
| 4 | Morogoro | 3,569,719 | 2026 | +2.3% |
| 5 | Dodoma | 3,479,323 | 2026 | +2.6% |
| 6 | Geita | 3,476,462 | 2026 | +3.5% |
| 7 | Kagera | 3,419,918 | 2026 | +3.0% |
| 8 | Tanga | 2,932,548 | 2026 | +2.5% |
| 9 | Kigoma | 2,847,496 | 2026 | +3.3% |
| 10 | Mara | 2,732,719 | 2026 | +3.2% |
| 11 | Arusha | 2,662,094 | 2026 | +2.6% |
| 12 | Mbeya | 2,616,176 | 2026 | +2.3% |
| 13 | Shinyanga | 2,558,483 | 2026 | +3.0% |
| 14 | Simiyu | 2,516,511 | 2026 | +3.7% |
| 15 | Singida | 2,298,443 | 2026 | +3.0% |
| 16 | Pwani | 2,245,859 | 2026 | +2.3% |
| 17 | Manyara | 2,161,860 | 2026 | +3.0% |
| 18 | Ruvuma | 2,078,301 | 2026 | +2.4% |
| 19 | Kilimanjaro | 2,061,256 | 2026 | +2.1% |
| 20 | Rukwa | 1,806,971 | 2026 | +3.7% |
| 21 | Mtwara | 1,806,609 | 2026 | +1.9% |
| 22 | Songwe | 1,527,117 | 2026 | +2.8% |
| 23 | Katavi | 1,343,010 | 2026 | +3.5% |
| 24 | Iringa | 1,310,690 | 2026 | +2.0% |
| 25 | Lindi | 1,310,539 | 2026 | +1.8% |
| 26 | Mjini Magharibi | 1,017,138 | 2026 | +2.8% |
| 27 | Njombe | 973,707 | 2026 | +1.8% |
| 28 | Kaskazini Pemba | 318,290 | 2026 | +3.7% |
| 29 | Kusini Pemba | 313,589 | 2026 | +3.4% |
| 30 | Kaskazini Unguja | 291,967 | 2026 | +2.9% |
| 31 | Kusini Unguja | 220,102 | 2026 | +2.4% |
Cities: the largest cities of Tanzania.
More on Tanzania: official statistics · government and power · local power
Sources
- National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar: 2022 Population and Housing Census: Administrative Units Population Distribution Report, Volume 1A (Table 1: population and growth by region), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6f41eee70eef…)
- National Bureau of Statistics: National Population Projections 2023-2050, Tables D5.1-D5.2: regional population projections, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 63a0ea088f0d…)
- National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar: 2022 Population and Housing Census: Basic Demographic and Socio-Economic Profile, United Republic of Tanzania (regional tables), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 20ed491aac53…)
- National Bureau of Statistics: National Accounts Statistics of Mainland Tanzania 2019-2025, Tables 27 and 26: regional GDP and GDP per head at current prices, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c343f2c8c1d3…)
- National Bureau of Statistics: Household Budget Survey 2017-18, Tanzania Mainland, Key Indicators Report: Tables 4.1 and 4.3 (consumption and poverty by region), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 61cf58d49ba9…)
- Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar: Zanzibar Household Budget Survey 2019/2020: Tables 7.3 and 7.4 (poverty by district) and Tables 3.10b and 3.12b (enrolment by region), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 99e322f888d2…)
- Ministry of Health, National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar (with ICF): Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey 2022, Key Indicators Report: Tables 4, 6, 9, 12, 14 and 18 by region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9108bc9f13cf…)
- National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar: Tanzania Formal Sector Employment and Earnings Survey 2024/25: Table 2.10 (employees by region) and Table 6.6 (newly recruited workers by region), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f21640fc36b0…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.