Education in Mbeya, Tanzania: official figures
87.9% of adults aged 15 and over in Mbeya could read and write at the 2022 census, up from 82.9% in 2012 (Tanzania: 83.0%); 7th highest of Tanzania's 31 regions.
How many children in Mbeya go to primary school?
85.8% of children of primary-school age in Mbeya were enrolled in primary school at the 2022 census (net enrolment rate; Tanzania: 83.3%), 16th highest of Tanzania's 31 regions.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar · saved copyHow many secondary schools are there in Mbeya?
Mbeya had 294 secondary schools in 2025, 219 government and 75 private, teaching 156,312 students: about 532 per school (Mainland: 528).
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyMore figures
- Women in Mbeya are less likely to be literate than men: 85.4% of women and 90.8% of men aged 15 and over could read and write in 2022 (Tanzania: 79.5% and 86.8%). Source: National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar · saved copy
- 15.6% of people aged four and over in Mbeya had never attended school at the 2022 census (Tanzania: 19.9%), 11th lowest of Tanzania's 31 regions; 31.8% were in school. Source: National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar · saved copy
- About 418,000 pupils were enrolled in Mbeya's public and private primary schools in 2025, against 390,000 in 2020 (PO-RALG school census). Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copy
How Mbeya compares with other regions
Adult literacy (aged 15+) (2022)
Mbeya ranks 7 of 31, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adult literacy (aged 15+) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Kusini Unguja | 93.9% |
| 5 | Njombe | 90.0% |
| 6 | Iringa | 89.5% |
| 7 | Mbeya | 87.9% |
| 8 | Ruvuma | 86.6% |
| 9 | Pwani | 86.4% |
| 10 | Mara | 85.9% |
Primary school net enrolment rate (2022)
Mbeya ranks 16 of 31, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Primary school net enrolment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Mwanza | 89.1% |
| 14 | Ruvuma | 88.1% |
| 15 | Tanga | 86.2% |
| 16 | Mbeya | 85.8% |
| 17 | Arusha | 85.0% |
| 18 | Kagera | 83.5% |
| 19 | Lindi | 83.1% |
More on Mbeya: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · 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 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…)
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