Mjini Magharibi: population, incomes, poverty, health, schools and living conditions
Mjini Magharibi is a region (Zanzibar) of Tanzania, number 26 of 31 by population. The National Bureau of Statistics projects the population of Mjini Magharibi (Urban West) region at 1,017,138 in 2026, 1.5% of Tanzania's 70.04 million; 6th smallest of Tanzania's 31 regions. The projection is built from the 2022 census.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Mjini Magharibi: Mjini Magharibi accounted for 1.0% of the 4,565,960 employees of formal-sector businesses and public bodies in Tanzania in 2024/25 (Employment and Earnings Survey), joint 7th smallest share of Tanzania's 31 regions.
- Health in Mjini Magharibi: 12.8% of children under five in Mjini Magharibi were stunted (too short for their age, a sign of long-term undernutrition) in the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey, and 10.5% were wasted (too thin); stunting is the lowest of Tanzania's 31 regions (Tanzania: 30.0%).
- Education in Mjini Magharibi: 96.2% of adults aged 15 and over in Mjini Magharibi could read and write at the 2022 census, up from 93.1% in 2012 (Tanzania: 83.0%); 2nd highest of Tanzania's 31 regions.
- Poverty and living standards in Mjini Magharibi: In the 2019/20 Zanzibar Household Budget Survey, 14.7% of people in Magharibi A district, 9.5% of people in Magharibi B district and 17.9% of people in Mjini district lived below Zanzibar's basic-needs poverty line (Zanzibar: 25.7%). Together these districts held 24.3% of Zanzibar's poor.
How fast is Mjini Magharibi's population growing?
The 2022 Population and Housing Census counted 893,169 people in Mjini Magharibi, up 299,491 from 593,678 in 2012: growth of 4.1% a year (Tanzania: 3.2% a year), 6th fastest of Tanzania's 31 regions.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar · saved copyHow many households are there in Mjini Magharibi?
79.5% of Mjini Magharibi's residents lived in urban areas at the 2022 census (Tanzania: 34.9%); 2nd most urban of Tanzania's 31 regions. The census counted 180,889 households, with 4.9 people each on average (Tanzania: 4.3).
Source: National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar · saved copyHow densely populated is Mjini Magharibi?
Mjini Magharibi had about 4,304 people per square kilometre in 2025 (NBS projection; Tanzania: 77), the most densely populated of Tanzania's 31 regions.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Mjini Magharibi have a birth certificate?
81.1% of Mjini Magharibi's residents had a birth certificate at the 2022 census (Tanzania: 28.8%), the highest of Tanzania's 31 regions.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar · saved copyMore figures
- On current trends Mjini Magharibi's population is projected to reach 1,119,779 by 2030, 10.1% more than in 2026 (Tanzania: 10.9%). Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copy
How regions are governed in Tanzania
Regions (31: 26 mainland, 5 Zanzibar). Regional commissioner appointed by the president. Supervise local councils, keep law and order; regional secretariat gives technical advice.
Every tier of government in Tanzania
Other regions of Tanzania
- Dar es Salaam 6,003,954
- Mwanza 4,242,495
- Tabora 3,895,504
- Morogoro 3,569,719
- Dodoma 3,479,323
- Geita 3,476,462
- Kagera 3,419,918
- Tanga 2,932,548
- Kigoma 2,847,496
- Mara 2,732,719
- Arusha 2,662,094
- Mbeya 2,616,176
- Shinyanga 2,558,483
- Simiyu 2,516,511
- Singida 2,298,443
- Pwani 2,245,859
- Manyara 2,161,860
- Ruvuma 2,078,301
- Kilimanjaro 2,061,256
- Rukwa 1,806,971
- Mtwara 1,806,609
- Songwe 1,527,117
- Katavi 1,343,010
- Iringa 1,310,690
- Lindi 1,310,539
- Njombe 973,707
- Kaskazini Pemba 318,290
- Kusini Pemba 313,589
- Kaskazini Unguja 291,967
- Kusini Unguja 220,102
Up a level: Tanzania · government and power in Tanzania · cities
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: Administrative Units Population Distribution Report, Volume 1A (Table 1: population and growth by region), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6f41eee70eef…)
- 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…)
- 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 Population Projections 2023-2050, Tables D5.1-D5.2: regional population projections, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 63a0ea088f0d…)
- 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.