Education in Songwe, Tanzania: official figures
81.0% of adults aged 15 and over in Songwe could read and write at the 2022 census, up from 76.7% in 2012 (Tanzania: 83.0%); 15th lowest of Tanzania's 31 regions.
How many children in Songwe go to primary school?
81.0% of children of primary-school age in Songwe were enrolled in primary school at the 2022 census (net enrolment rate; Tanzania: 83.3%), 10th lowest 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 Songwe?
Songwe had 154 secondary schools in 2025, 124 government and 30 private, teaching 67,454 students: about 438 per school (Mainland: 528).
Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copyMore figures
- Women in Songwe are less likely to be literate than men: 76.4% of women and 86.2% 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
- 20.7% of people aged four and over in Songwe had never attended school at the 2022 census (Tanzania: 19.9%), 15th highest of Tanzania's 31 regions; 30.1% were in school. Source: National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar · saved copy
- About 259,000 pupils were enrolled in Songwe's public and private primary schools in 2025, against 240,000 in 2020 (PO-RALG school census). Source: National Bureau of Statistics · saved copy
How Songwe compares with other regions
Adult literacy (aged 15+) (2022)
Songwe ranks 17 of 31, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adult literacy (aged 15+) |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Arusha | 84.8% |
| 15 | Tanga | 83.0% |
| 16 | Morogoro | 82.1% |
| 17 | Songwe | 81.0% |
| 18 | Kagera | 80.1% |
| 19 | Singida | 79.4% |
| 20 | Manyara | 78.2% |
Primary school net enrolment rate (2022)
Songwe ranks 22 of 31, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Primary school net enrolment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Lindi | 83.1% |
| 20 | Morogoro | 81.9% |
| 21 | Kigoma | 81.6% |
| 22 | Songwe | 81.0% |
| 23 | Geita | 80.3% |
| 24 | Manyara | 78.5% |
| 25 | Singida | 78.3% |
More on Songwe: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.