Tanzania: Population, Economy & Travel Facts

Essential data for planning your trip to Tanzania — from population and demographics to economic indicators, healthcare infrastructure, tourism trends, and digital connectivity.

Population & Geography

Population
56,318,348
#25 of 197 countries
Area
947,300 km²
#32 of 248 countries
Density
59.5 / km²
#153 of 245 countries

Tanzania has a population of 56,318,348 spread across 947,300 km², giving it an average density of 59.5 people per km².

Demographics

Median Age
18.8
Life Expectancy
70.8 yrs
Literacy Rate
78.2%
Government
presidential republic
Ethnic Groups
Religions
GDP by Sector

Population Trends

How a country's age structure is shifting tells you a lot about what to expect on the ground. A growing elderly population often means better healthcare and higher costs, while a young population signals energy and growth but potentially less developed infrastructure.

Age Structure Over Time
Population Growth Rate (%)
Urban vs Rural (%)
Birth & Death Rates (per 1,000)

Economy & Cost of Living

Understanding the local economy helps travellers budget effectively and set expectations. Tanzania is classified as a lower middle income country by the World Bank. Prices are roughly 30% of US levels, meaning your money goes significantly further here — accommodation, food, and transport are very affordable by Western standards.

Income Level
Lower middle income
GDP per Capita
$1,224
Cost of Living
30% of US
Inflation
3.8%
Inequality
40.5
High
GDP per Capita (USD)
GDP Growth (%)
Inflation Rate (%)
Employment
GDP/Capita (PPP)
$3,700
Unemployment
2.6%

Tourism

Tourism data reveals how popular a destination is and how much infrastructure exists to support visitors. Tourism accounts for 27.2% of Tanzania's total exports, making it a major pillar of the economy — expect well-developed tourist infrastructure, but also crowded hotspots.

Tourism Revenue
$2,624,500,000
Tourism % of Exports
27.2%
Air Passengers
1,911,063
International Tourist Arrivals
Tourism Receipts (USD)
Air Passengers Carried
Tourism as % of Exports

Health & Safety Infrastructure

Healthcare quality matters when you're far from home. These indicators help gauge what level of medical care is available — Tanzania has 0.13 physicians per 1,000 people, which is well below the global average of 1.7. Travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage is strongly recommended.

Physicians
0.13/1k
Hospital Beds
0.84/1k
Health Spend
$36/person
Infant Mortality
29.9/1k
Immunization
84%
Safe Drinking Water
64.6%
Bottled water recommended
Basic Sanitation
37.2%
Health Expenditure per Capita (USD)
Hospital Beds per 1,000

Connectivity & Digital Infrastructure

Staying connected while travelling is essential for navigation, communication, and remote work. In Tanzania, 29% of the population uses the internet — connectivity can be limited outside major cities, so download offline maps and content before heading to rural areas. There are 105 mobile subscriptions per 100 people, and local SIM cards are easy to find.

Internet Users
29.1%
Mobile Subs
105/100
Broadband
2.5/100
Electricity Access
48.3%
Internet Users (%)
Urbanization (%)

Source: World Bank Open Data