Quick answerDodoma is the capital of Tanzania, with 765,179 people inside the city limits in 2022. It is best known for the National capital, the National Assembly (Bunge) and the Government City. Its official languages are Swahili and English, and its currency is the Tanzanian shilling.
Dodoma is the capital of Tanzania, with about 765,000 people (2022 census). It stands on the central plateau, 1,120 metres above sea level, and is home to the National Assembly and the growing Government City.
Key facts
| Country | Tanzania |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 765,179 (2022) |
| Elevation | 1120 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Africa/Dar_es_Salaam |
| Language | Swahili, English |
| Currency | Tanzanian shilling (TZS, TSh) |
| Coordinates | 6.1731° S, 35.7419° E |
Overview
Dodoma is the capital city of Tanzania, in the centre of the country on the central plateau, 1,120 metres above sea level. The city had 765,179 residents in the 2022 census, and it is the administrative capital of both Dodoma Municipal Council and the entire Dodoma Region. In July 2024 it officially passed Arusha to become Tanzania's third-largest city.
In 1974 the government announced that the national capital would move from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma, for social and economic reasons and to put the capital in the centre of the country. Dodoma became the official capital in 1996, when the National Assembly moved there, although many ministries stayed in Dar es Salaam for years afterwards. A new Government City has since been built on the edge of town, and ministries have steadily moved in.
Today Dodoma is the seat of parliament and the presidency, and a fast-growing university town, home to the University of Dodoma, one of the largest universities in East Africa. It is a quiet, spread-out city of low buildings and wide streets, a sharp contrast to the crowded port city it replaced as capital.
What Dodoma is known for
- National capital
- National Assembly (Bunge)
- Government City
- University of Dodoma
- Central location
- Gaddafi Mosque
Landmarks
- National Assembly Building (Bunge)
- Dodoma Cathedral
- Gaddafi Mosque
- Nyerere Square
- University of Dodoma
- Chamwino State House
- Dodoma Central Market
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Dodoma?
About 765,000 people live in Dodoma (765,179 in the 2022 census). That makes Dodoma the third-largest city in Tanzania, after Dar es Salaam and Mwanza. The city's population is growing fast and was projected to reach about 1 million by the end of 2026.
What is Dodoma famous for?
Dodoma is famous as the capital of Tanzania, home to the National Assembly and the presidency, and to the University of Dodoma, one of the largest universities in East Africa. It is known for its central location on the high plateau, its wide, quiet streets and the Gaddafi Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the country.
Where is Dodoma located?
Dodoma is in central Tanzania, on the central plateau, roughly in the middle of the country. It is the capital of Tanzania and of Dodoma Region, and it sits 1,120 metres above sea level. Its coordinates are 6.17° S, 35.74° E, and its time zone is East Africa Time.
Quick quiz
Three questions from the facts on this page. No sign-up, no score is saved.
Keep exploring
- Tanzania — the country Dodoma is in
- Dar es Salaam — another city in Tanzania
- Mwanza — another city in Tanzania
- Arusha — another city in Tanzania
- All cities in Tanzania
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.