Economy, jobs and prices in Songwe, Tanzania: official figures
Songwe's economy produced goods and services worth TSh 4.37 trillion in 2025 (provisional regional GDP at current prices), 1.9% of Mainland Tanzania's total; 4th smallest of the 26 Mainland regions.
What is the income per person in Songwe?
GDP per person in Songwe was TSh 2,941,703 in 2025 (provisional; Mainland Tanzania: TSh 3,544,124), 10th lowest of the 26 Mainland regions.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many formal jobs are there in Songwe?
Songwe accounted for 0.7% of the 4,565,960 employees of formal-sector businesses and public bodies in Tanzania in 2024/25 (Employment and Earnings Survey), 6th 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 Songwe have electricity?
28.1% of households in Songwe used grid electricity from TANESCO as their main source of light at the 2022 census and 33.4% used solar power (Tanzania: 37.4% and 32.4%); the grid share is 15th lowest of Tanzania's 31 regions.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar · saved copyHow many people in Songwe own a mobile phone?
82.3% of adults in Songwe owned a mobile phone in 2022 and 14.0% owned a smartphone (Tanzania: 82.5% and 18.7%); smartphone ownership is 15th 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 Songwe's GDP grew 11.8% between 2024 and 2025 and 72% since 2019, before allowing for inflation (Mainland: 10.4% and 68%). Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copy
- Formal employers in Songwe recruited 556 new workers in 2024/25 (337 men and 219 women), 0.4% of the 155,510 hired nationwide. Source: National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar · saved copy
- 23.7% of households in Songwe owned a television and 36.4% 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 Songwe compares with other regions
GDP per person, current prices (Mainland regions) (2025)
Songwe ranks 17 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person, current prices (Mainland regions) |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Morogoro | TSh 3,270,802 |
| 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 |
Households using grid electricity for lighting (2022)
Songwe ranks 17 of 31, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households using grid electricity for lighting |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Tanga | 33.5% |
| 15 | Morogoro | 33.4% |
| 16 | Dodoma | 28.9% |
| 17 | Songwe | 28.1% |
| 18 | Mara | 26.1% |
| 19 | Shinyanga | 25.9% |
| 20 | Ruvuma | 24.8% |
More on Songwe: 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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