Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Tanzania, United Republic of
Tanzania, United Republic of: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 53.5% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Tanzania, United Republic of, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Tanzania, United Republic of recorded 53.5% for share of population living in urban and rural areas in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Tanzania, United Republic of peaked at 53.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 14.8%, in 1950.
That places Tanzania, United Republic of 201st out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Tanzania, United Republic of, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 14.8% | — |
| 1955 | 16.1% | +8.7% |
| 1960 | 17.6% | +9.5% |
| 1965 | 19.4% | +10.4% |
| 1970 | 21.6% | +11.4% |
| 1975 | 24.3% | +12.5% |
| 1980 | 28.2% | +15.8% |
| 1985 | 31.6% | +12.4% |
| 1990 | 35.0% | +10.5% |
| 1995 | 38.9% | +11.3% |
| 2000 | 42.4% | +8.9% |
| 2005 | 44.8% | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 47.4% | +5.8% |
| 2015 | 50.6% | +6.7% |
| 2020 | 53.5% | +5.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 15.4% | 14.8% | 16.1% | 2 |
| 1960s | 18.5% | 17.6% | 19.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 23.0% | 21.6% | 24.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 29.9% | 28.2% | 31.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 36.9% | 35.0% | 38.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 43.6% | 42.4% | 44.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 49.0% | 47.4% | 50.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 53.5% | 53.5% | 53.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania, United Republic of
More reference data data for Tanzania, United Republic of
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6405 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 11.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 14.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 14.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 59.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 72.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Tanzania, United Republic of?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Tanzania, United Republic of was 53.5% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Tanzania, United Republic of?
- The highest recorded value was 53.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Tanzania, United Republic of?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.8% in 1950.
- How does Tanzania, United Republic of rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Tanzania, United Republic of ranks 201st out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Tanzania, United Republic of?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Tanzania, United Republic of data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.