Economy, jobs and prices in Rukwa, Tanzania: official figures
Rukwa's economy produced goods and services worth TSh 5.02 trillion in 2025 (provisional regional GDP at current prices), 2.1% of Mainland Tanzania's total; 8th smallest of the 26 Mainland regions.
What is the income per person in Rukwa?
GDP per person in Rukwa was TSh 2,877,688 in 2025 (provisional; Mainland Tanzania: TSh 3,544,124), 9th lowest of the 26 Mainland regions.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many formal jobs are there in Rukwa?
Rukwa accounted for 1.1% of the 4,565,960 employees of formal-sector businesses and public bodies in Tanzania in 2024/25 (Employment and Earnings Survey), joint 9th 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 Rukwa have electricity?
19.5% of households in Rukwa used grid electricity from TANESCO as their main source of light at the 2022 census and 38.5% used solar power (Tanzania: 37.4% and 32.4%); the grid share is 5th lowest of Tanzania's 31 regions.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar · saved copyHow many people in Rukwa own a mobile phone?
72.1% of adults in Rukwa owned a mobile phone in 2022 and 8.8% owned a smartphone (Tanzania: 82.5% and 18.7%); smartphone ownership is 2nd 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 Rukwa's GDP grew 9.0% 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 Rukwa recruited 1,555 new workers in 2024/25 (972 men and 584 women), 1.0% of the 155,510 hired nationwide. Source: National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar · saved copy
- 20.4% of households in Rukwa owned a television and 33.3% 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 Rukwa compares with other regions
GDP per person, current prices (Mainland regions) (2025)
Rukwa ranks 18 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person, current prices (Mainland regions) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Mara | TSh 3,258,071 |
| 16 | Geita | TSh 3,126,106 |
| 17 | Songwe | TSh 2,941,703 |
| 18 | Rukwa | TSh 2,877,688 |
| 19 | Katavi | TSh 2,458,982 |
| 20 | Kigoma | TSh 2,300,206 |
| 21 | Tabora | TSh 2,295,838 |
Households using grid electricity for lighting (2022)
Rukwa ranks 27 of 31, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households using grid electricity for lighting |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Katavi | 20.3% |
| 25 | Tabora | 20.2% |
| 26 | Geita | 19.9% |
| 27 | Rukwa | 19.5% |
| 28 | Lindi | 18.8% |
| 29 | Kigoma | 17.7% |
| 30 | Mtwara | 16.6% |
More on Rukwa: 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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