Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Tanzania
Tanzania: Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents was 11.2% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Tanzania, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Tanzania recorded 11.2% for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 33.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Tanzania peaked at 11.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.
That places Tanzania 109th out of 180 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1955 | 0.0% | — |
| 1960 | 0.0% | — |
| 1965 | 0.0% | — |
| 1970 | 0.0% | — |
| 1975 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1985 | 0.0% | — |
| 1990 | 4.6% | — |
| 1995 | 5.2% | +12.9% |
| 2000 | 6.0% | +15.8% |
| 2005 | 7.0% | +15.7% |
| 2010 | 8.4% | +20.6% |
| 2015 | 10.0% | +18.7% |
| 2020 | 11.2% | +12.2% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 11.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 17.4%, 65% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 11.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.2%, 92% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 4.9% | 4.6% | 5.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 6.5% | 6.0% | 7.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 9.2% | 8.4% | 10.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 11.2% | 11.2% | 11.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
- 106 Madagascar 12.2% compare
- 107 Zimbabwe 12.1% compare
- 108 Belgium 12.0% compare
- 110 Czechia 11.2% compare
- 111 North Korea 11.0% compare
- 112 Uzbekistan 10.9% compare
More reference data data for Tanzania
- 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 cities with more than 1 million residents in Tanzania?
- Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Tanzania was 11.2% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 11.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
- How does Tanzania rank for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents?
- Tanzania ranks 109th out of 180 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tanzania data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in cities with 1 million or more people. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.