Urban area over the long-term in Tanzania
Tanzania: Urban area over the long-term was 3,054 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
3,054 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 6.9%
World rank
41st
of 202 countries
All-time high
3,054 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.0004 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Tanzania, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
Tanzania recorded 3,054 km² per grid cell for urban area over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 6.9% on the previous year and up 65.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Tanzania peaked at 3,054 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0004 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
That places Tanzania 41st out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0021 km² per grid cell | +378.1% |
| 1200 | 0.0088 km² per grid cell | +311.8% |
| 1300 | 0.0337 km² per grid cell | +281.4% |
| 1400 | 0.1227 km² per grid cell | +264.0% |
| 1500 | 0.2387 km² per grid cell | +94.4% |
| 1600 | 0.8695 km² per grid cell | +264.3% |
| 1700 | 3.07 km² per grid cell | +252.9% |
| 1710 | 3.73 km² per grid cell | +21.6% |
| 1720 | 4.39 km² per grid cell | +17.6% |
| 1730 | 5.13 km² per grid cell | +17.0% |
| 1740 | 5.98 km² per grid cell | +16.5% |
| 1750 | 6.94 km² per grid cell | +16.1% |
| 1760 | 8.04 km² per grid cell | +15.7% |
| 1770 | 9.27 km² per grid cell | +15.4% |
| 1780 | 10.67 km² per grid cell | +15.1% |
| 1790 | 12.26 km² per grid cell | +14.8% |
| 1800 | 14.04 km² per grid cell | +14.6% |
| 1810 | 16.06 km² per grid cell | +14.4% |
| 1820 | 18.34 km² per grid cell | +14.2% |
| 1830 | 20.9 km² per grid cell | +14.0% |
| 1840 | 23.78 km² per grid cell | +13.8% |
| 1850 | 27.02 km² per grid cell | +13.6% |
| 1860 | 29.3 km² per grid cell | +8.4% |
| 1870 | 31.77 km² per grid cell | +8.4% |
| 1880 | 34.45 km² per grid cell | +8.4% |
| 1890 | 38.49 km² per grid cell | +11.7% |
| 1900 | 38.91 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1910 | 40.94 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 1920 | 44.84 km² per grid cell | +9.5% |
| 1930 | 56.99 km² per grid cell | +27.1% |
| 1940 | 71.73 km² per grid cell | +25.9% |
| 1950 | 93.9 km² per grid cell | +30.9% |
| 1951 | 100.96 km² per grid cell | +7.5% |
| 1952 | 108.6 km² per grid cell | +7.6% |
| 1953 | 116.87 km² per grid cell | +7.6% |
| 1954 | 125.84 km² per grid cell | +7.7% |
| 1955 | 135.5 km² per grid cell | +7.7% |
| 1956 | 145.96 km² per grid cell | +7.7% |
| 1957 | 156.75 km² per grid cell | +7.4% |
| 1958 | 165.84 km² per grid cell | +5.8% |
| 1959 | 175.5 km² per grid cell | +5.8% |
| 1960 | 185.78 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1961 | 196.66 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1962 | 208.26 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1963 | 220.54 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1964 | 233.54 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1965 | 247.24 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1966 | 261.65 km² per grid cell | +5.8% |
| 1967 | 276.8 km² per grid cell | +5.8% |
| 1968 | 303.95 km² per grid cell | +9.8% |
| 1969 | 335.73 km² per grid cell | +10.5% |
| 1970 | 370.34 km² per grid cell | +10.3% |
| 1971 | 406.89 km² per grid cell | +9.9% |
| 1972 | 446.59 km² per grid cell | +9.8% |
| 1973 | 488.93 km² per grid cell | +9.5% |
| 1974 | 533.22 km² per grid cell | +9.1% |
| 1975 | 578.4 km² per grid cell | +8.5% |
| 1976 | 620.93 km² per grid cell | +7.4% |
| 1977 | 661.32 km² per grid cell | +6.5% |
| 1978 | 697.82 km² per grid cell | +5.5% |
| 1979 | 709.27 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 712.35 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 712.35 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 712.35 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 712.35 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 712.35 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 712.35 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 712.35 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 712.35 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 712.35 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 712.35 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 712.35 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 712.35 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 712.35 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 712.35 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 712.35 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 712.35 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 712.35 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 712.35 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 738.94 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 773.01 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 2000 | 811.5 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 2001 | 854.45 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 898.19 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 945.74 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 2004 | 997.73 km² per grid cell | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 1,054 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 1,116 km² per grid cell | +5.8% |
| 2007 | 1,182 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 2008 | 1,248 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 2009 | 1,319 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 1,362 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 1,444 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 2012 | 1,526 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 1,610 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 2014 | 1,698 km² per grid cell | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 1,842 km² per grid cell | +8.5% |
| 2016 | 1,944 km² per grid cell | +5.5% |
| 2017 | 2,040 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 2,137 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 2,236 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 2020 | 2,337 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 2,444 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 2,552 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 2,661 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 2024 | 2,857 km² per grid cell | +7.4% |
| 2025 | 3,054 km² per grid cell | +6.9% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 3,054 km² per grid cell is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 837.49 km² per grid cell, 3.6× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 3,054 km² per grid cell is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 733.88 km² per grid cell, 4.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in Tanzania changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +378.1% | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0021 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +311.8% | 0.0021 km² per grid cell | 0.0088 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +281.4% | 0.0088 km² per grid cell | 0.0337 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +264.0% | 0.0337 km² per grid cell | 0.1227 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +264.3% | 0.2387 km² per grid cell | 0.8695 km² per grid cell |
| 1700 | +252.9% | 0.8695 km² per grid cell | 3.07 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0021 km² per grid cell | 0.0021 km² per grid cell | 0.0021 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0088 km² per grid cell | 0.0088 km² per grid cell | 0.0088 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0337 km² per grid cell | 0.0337 km² per grid cell | 0.0337 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.1227 km² per grid cell | 0.1227 km² per grid cell | 0.1227 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.2387 km² per grid cell | 0.2387 km² per grid cell | 0.2387 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.8695 km² per grid cell | 0.8695 km² per grid cell | 0.8695 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 3.07 km² per grid cell | 3.07 km² per grid cell | 3.07 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 3.73 km² per grid cell | 3.73 km² per grid cell | 3.73 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 4.39 km² per grid cell | 4.39 km² per grid cell | 4.39 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 5.13 km² per grid cell | 5.13 km² per grid cell | 5.13 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 5.98 km² per grid cell | 5.98 km² per grid cell | 5.98 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 6.94 km² per grid cell | 6.94 km² per grid cell | 6.94 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 8.04 km² per grid cell | 8.04 km² per grid cell | 8.04 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 9.27 km² per grid cell | 9.27 km² per grid cell | 9.27 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 10.67 km² per grid cell | 10.67 km² per grid cell | 10.67 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 12.26 km² per grid cell | 12.26 km² per grid cell | 12.26 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 14.04 km² per grid cell | 14.04 km² per grid cell | 14.04 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 16.06 km² per grid cell | 16.06 km² per grid cell | 16.06 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 18.34 km² per grid cell | 18.34 km² per grid cell | 18.34 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 20.9 km² per grid cell | 20.9 km² per grid cell | 20.9 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 23.78 km² per grid cell | 23.78 km² per grid cell | 23.78 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 27.02 km² per grid cell | 27.02 km² per grid cell | 27.02 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 29.3 km² per grid cell | 29.3 km² per grid cell | 29.3 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 31.77 km² per grid cell | 31.77 km² per grid cell | 31.77 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 34.45 km² per grid cell | 34.45 km² per grid cell | 34.45 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 38.49 km² per grid cell | 38.49 km² per grid cell | 38.49 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 38.91 km² per grid cell | 38.91 km² per grid cell | 38.91 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 40.94 km² per grid cell | 40.94 km² per grid cell | 40.94 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 44.84 km² per grid cell | 44.84 km² per grid cell | 44.84 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 56.99 km² per grid cell | 56.99 km² per grid cell | 56.99 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 71.73 km² per grid cell | 71.73 km² per grid cell | 71.73 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 132.57 km² per grid cell | 93.9 km² per grid cell | 175.5 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 247.01 km² per grid cell | 185.78 km² per grid cell | 335.73 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 551.37 km² per grid cell | 370.34 km² per grid cell | 709.27 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 712.35 km² per grid cell | 712.35 km² per grid cell | 712.35 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 721.07 km² per grid cell | 712.35 km² per grid cell | 773.01 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,043 km² per grid cell | 811.5 km² per grid cell | 1,319 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,784 km² per grid cell | 1,362 km² per grid cell | 2,236 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,651 km² per grid cell | 2,337 km² per grid cell | 3,054 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
- 38 Iraq 3,477 km² per grid cell compare
- 39 Kazakhstan 3,421 km² per grid cell compare
- 40 Yemen 3,250 km² per grid cell compare
- 42 Sweden 2,988 km² per grid cell compare
- 43 Puerto Rico 2,845 km² per grid cell compare
- 44 South Korea 2,837 km² per grid cell 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 urban area over the long-term in Tanzania?
- Urban area over the long-term in Tanzania was 3,054 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 3,054 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0004 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Tanzania rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Tanzania ranks 41st out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tanzania data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.