Tanzania

Quick answerTanzania is a country in Eastern Africa, with a population of 61,741,120 (2022). Its capital is Dodoma, its official languages are Swahili and English, and its currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS). It covers 947,303 square kilometres (365,756 square miles), and its time zone is Africa/Dar_es_Salaam.

Tanzania is a country in East Africa, home to about 62 million people. Its capital is Dodoma, its largest city is Dar es Salaam, and its official languages are Swahili and English.

Key facts

Capital	Dodoma
Population	61,741,120 (2022) · 61.7 million
Population density	69.7 people per km² (land area)
Area	947,303 km² (365,756 sq mi) total · 885,800 km² (342,009 sq mi) land
Official languages	Swahili (official), English (official)
Currency	Tanzanian shilling (TZS, TSh)
Time zone	Africa/Dar_es_Salaam
Government	Unitary dominant-party presidential republic
Coastline	1,424 km
Highest point	Mount Kilimanjaro, 5,895 m
Life expectancy	67 years (2023)
Calling code	+255
Driving side	Left
Internet domain	.tz

Overview

Tanzania sits in East Africa, in the African Great Lakes region, between the Indian Ocean and the great lakes of the interior. It borders Uganda and Kenya to the north, Mozambique and Malawi to the south, Zambia to the south-west, and Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. It covers 947,303 square kilometres, making it the 13th-largest country in Africa, with 1,424 kilometres of coastline along the Indian Ocean, including the islands of Zanzibar. The north-east is mountainous and densely forested, home to Mount Kilimanjaro, while Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi frame its western and southern edges.

About 61.7 million people lived in Tanzania in the 2022 census, making it the most populous country located entirely south of the equator. Around 40 per cent of Tanzanians live in towns and cities, above all in Dar es Salaam, the largest city and commercial hub, with about 5.4 million people in the 2022 census. Dodoma, the official capital since 1996, is much smaller, with about 765,000 people. Swahili is the national language and, with English, the language of government and schools, while more than 100 other languages are spoken across the country. Life expectancy at birth was 67.0 years in 2023, and the median age was 19.1 years, one of the youngest populations in the world.

Tanzania was formed in 1964 from the union of Tanganyika, independent from Britain in 1961, and Zanzibar, independent in 1963. Under its first president, Julius Nyerere, the country pursued African socialism and the village policy of ujamaa, and the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi, has held power ever since, making Tanzania a dominant-party state. In 1974 the government announced that the capital would move from Dar es Salaam to the centrally located Dodoma; the move became official in 1996, although many government offices stayed in Dar es Salaam for years afterwards.

Today Tanzania's economy rests on farming, mining and tourism, and its wildlife is world famous. The Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater draw visitors from around the world, Kilimanjaro draws climbers, and Zanzibar's Stone Town and spice farms draw travellers to the coast. Arusha, in the north, hosts the headquarters of the East African Community, and the country is a member of the United Nations, the African Union and the Commonwealth.

Notable facts

Tanzania's population was 61,741,120 in the 2022 census, making it the most populous country located entirely south of the equator.
Mount Kilimanjaro, at 5,895 metres, is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world.
The Serengeti's Great Migration sees more than a million wildebeest, along with zebras and gazelles, move in a vast annual circuit across the plains in search of fresh grass.
The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, a natural enclosure that shelters one of the densest concentrations of large mammals in Africa.
Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous archipelago off the coast, was a centre of the 19th-century spice trade; its Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

How Tanzania compares

Comparison table — Tanzania next to 3 similar countries (neighbours first, then the same subregion).

Country	Population	Area	Density	Capital
Tanzania ★	61,741,120 (2022)	947,303 km²	69.7 people per km²	Dodoma
Democratic Republic of the Congo	112,832,473 (2025)	2,345,409 km²	49.8 people per km²	Kinshasa
Kenya	57,532,493 (2025)	580,367 km²	101.1 people per km²	Nairobi
Uganda	45,905,417 (2024)	241,038 km²	232.9 people per km²	Kampala

Cities in Tanzania

See all 4 cities in Tanzania →

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of Tanzania?

The capital of Tanzania is Dodoma. The government announced in 1974 that the capital would move from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma, in the centre of the country, and the move became official in 1996. Dodoma had about 765,000 people in the 2022 census. Dar es Salaam remains the largest city and the commercial capital, and some government offices stayed there for years after the move.

What is the population of Tanzania?

Tanzania had a population of 61,741,120 in the 2022 census, making it the most populous country located entirely south of the equator. The population has grown fast since then: the United Nations and World Bank estimate it at about 68.6 million in 2024. About 40 per cent of Tanzanians live in towns and cities, above all in Dar es Salaam.

What language is spoken in Tanzania?

Swahili is the national language of Tanzania and, with English, serves as a de facto official language used in government, schools and the media. English is the language of the higher courts, secondary and university education and much of business. More than 100 other languages are spoken across the country, including Sukuma, Nyamwezi, Chaga and Maasai.

What currency is used in Tanzania?

Tanzania uses the Tanzanian shilling (TZS, symbol TSh). Banknotes come in denominations up to 10,000 shillings. Cash is still common in markets and small shops, but cards and mobile money are widely used in the cities, and US dollars are often accepted for hotels and safaris.

Where is Tanzania?

Tanzania is in East Africa, in the African Great Lakes region, on the Indian Ocean. It borders Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the south, and the Indian Ocean to the east. Its islands in the ocean include Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia.

What time zone is Tanzania in?

Tanzania uses a single time zone, East Africa Time (UTC+3), across the whole country. The IANA time zone name is Africa/Dar_es_Salaam. There is no daylight saving time, so the clocks stay the same all year, from Kilimanjaro in the north-east to the shores of Lake Tanganyika in the west.

Keep exploring

Dar es Salaam — city in Tanzania
Mwanza — city in Tanzania
Dodoma — capital of Tanzania
Arusha — city in Tanzania
Burundi — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
Democratic Republic of the Congo — neighbouring country
Kenya — neighbouring country
Malawi — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
Mozambique — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
Rwanda — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
Uganda — neighbouring country
Zambia — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
Ethiopia — another country in Eastern Africa
All countries — the full list

Sources & last updated

Last updated: 2026-11-15. Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.