Poverty and living standards in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: official figures
8.0% of people in Dar es Salaam lived below the basic-needs poverty line (TSh 49,320 per adult a month) in the 2017-18 Household Budget Survey, the lowest of the 26 Mainland regions (Mainland: 26.4%); 2.3% could not afford even the minimum food basket (Mainland: 8.0%). This is the latest official regional poverty survey; results of the 2024-25 survey are not yet published.
How much do households in Dar es Salaam spend?
Households in Dar es Salaam spent an average of TSh 186,605 per adult a month on food and other consumption in 2017-18 (Mainland: TSh 94,997), the highest of the 26 Mainland regions.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many homes in Dar es Salaam have a proper toilet?
97.7% of households in Dar es Salaam had an improved toilet at the 2022 census and 0.2% had no toilet at all (Tanzania: 60.2% and 5.6%); the improved share is 2nd highest of Tanzania's 31 regions.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar · saved copyDo households in Dar es Salaam have clean water?
97.5% of households in Dar es Salaam drew their drinking water from an improved source such as a tap, borehole or protected well in 2022 (Tanzania: 70.1%), the highest of Tanzania's 31 regions.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar · saved copyWhat fuel do households in Dar es Salaam cook with?
47.4% of households in Dar es Salaam cooked mainly with firewood or charcoal in 2022 and 31.1% with gas (Tanzania: 81.6% and 9.2%).
Source: National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar · saved copyHow much crime is there in Dar es Salaam?
Police recorded 1,638 offences against the person (such as assault, rape and murder) in Dar es Salaam in 2025, against 1,786 in 2024: about 28 per 100,000 residents, joint 3rd highest of the 26 Mainland regions (Mainland: 17). Figures combine the Ilala, Temeke and Kinondoni police regions.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people die on the roads in Dar es Salaam?
147 people were killed in road accidents recorded by police in Dar es Salaam in 2025, 14.1% of the 1,042 road deaths on the Mainland.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyMore figures
- 99.1% of households in Dar es Salaam lived in houses built of modern materials (the census measure of an improved house) in 2022 (Tanzania: 77.9%), joint highest of Tanzania's 31 regions. Source: National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar · saved copy
How Dar es Salaam compares with other regions
People below the basic-needs poverty line (Mainland regions) (2017-18)
Dar es Salaam ranks 26 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People below the basic-needs poverty line (Mainland regions) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Mbeya | 21.4% |
| 21 | Tanga | 21.0% |
| 22 | Songwe | 20.7% |
| 23 | Morogoro | 19.3% |
| 24 | Njombe | 13.2% |
| 25 | Kilimanjaro | 10.5% |
| 26 | Dar es Salaam | 8.0% |
Households with an improved toilet (2022)
Dar es Salaam ranks 2 of 31, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with an improved toilet |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mjini Magharibi | 99.0% |
| 2 | Dar es Salaam | 97.7% |
| 3 | Kusini Unguja | 92.2% |
| 4 | Kaskazini Unguja | 88.3% |
| 5 | Iringa | 82.8% |
| 6 | Kilimanjaro | 82.4% |
| 7 | Njombe | 80.3% |
More on Dar es Salaam: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · Tanzania
Sources
- National Bureau of Statistics: Tanzania Statistical Abstract 2025: Tables 3.2, 3.6, 12.3, 12.15, 16.3 and 16.6 (density, birth registration, schools, crime and road deaths by region), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 65b6dcd7d322…)
- 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…)
- 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.