Economy, jobs and prices in Mtwara, Tanzania: official figures
Mtwara's economy produced goods and services worth TSh 6.34 trillion in 2025 (provisional regional GDP at current prices), 2.7% of Mainland Tanzania's total; 10th smallest of the 26 Mainland regions.
What is the income per person in Mtwara?
GDP per person in Mtwara was TSh 3,577,609 in 2025 (provisional; Mainland Tanzania: TSh 3,544,124), 11th highest of the 26 Mainland regions.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many formal jobs are there in Mtwara?
Mtwara accounted for 1.4% of the 4,565,960 employees of formal-sector businesses and public bodies in Tanzania in 2024/25 (Employment and Earnings Survey), 14th smallest share of Tanzania's 31 regions.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar · saved copyHow many homes in Mtwara have electricity?
16.6% of households in Mtwara used grid electricity from TANESCO as their main source of light at the 2022 census and 55.2% used solar power (Tanzania: 37.4% and 32.4%); the grid share is 2nd lowest of Tanzania's 31 regions.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar · saved copyHow many people in Mtwara own a mobile phone?
78.2% of adults in Mtwara owned a mobile phone in 2022 and 10.3% owned a smartphone (Tanzania: 82.5% and 18.7%); smartphone ownership is joint 6th lowest of Tanzania's 31 regions.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar · saved copyMore figures
- In money terms Mtwara's GDP grew 9.3% between 2024 and 2025 and 68% since 2019, before allowing for inflation (Mainland: 10.4% and 68%). Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copy
- Formal employers in Mtwara recruited 3,076 new workers in 2024/25 (1,971 men and 1,105 women), 2.0% of the 155,510 hired nationwide. Source: National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar · saved copy
- 18.5% of households in Mtwara owned a television and 36.0% a radio at the 2022 census (Tanzania: 27.3% and 38.7%). Source: National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar · saved copy
How Mtwara compares with other regions
GDP per person, current prices (Mainland regions) (2025)
Mtwara ranks 11 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person, current prices (Mainland regions) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Mwanza | TSh 4,068,480 |
| 9 | Tanga | TSh 3,796,308 |
| 10 | Manyara | TSh 3,730,552 |
| 11 | Mtwara | TSh 3,577,609 |
| 12 | Lindi | TSh 3,571,182 |
| 13 | Shinyanga | TSh 3,399,825 |
| 14 | Morogoro | TSh 3,270,802 |
Households using grid electricity for lighting (2022)
Mtwara ranks 30 of 31, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households using grid electricity for lighting |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Tabora | 20.2% |
| 26 | Geita | 19.9% |
| 27 | Rukwa | 19.5% |
| 28 | Lindi | 18.8% |
| 29 | Kigoma | 17.7% |
| 30 | Mtwara | 16.6% |
| 31 | Simiyu | 15.9% |
More on Mtwara: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · Tanzania
Sources
- 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: 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 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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