Largest Cities in Tanzania

Top 100 cities ranked by largest cities

Best Tanzania Cities

Composite rankings combining multiple weighted metrics, 4 topics from climate and air quality data.

Best Climate Cities
Warm temperatures, plenty of sunshine and clean air.
Cleanest Air Cities
Lowest pollution levels for healthy outdoor living.
Sunniest Cities
Most days of sunshine per year, with warm and dry climate.
Most Urban Cities
Densely populated city centers with the largest urban footprints.
Population & Density
Largest Cities Smallest Cities Most Dense Least Dense
Climate & Air
Warmest Cities Coldest Cities Rainiest Cities Driest Cities
Geography & Infrastructure
Highest Elevation Most Restaurants
All Countries  ·  Tanzania

Largest Cities - Tanzania

1 Dar es Salaam 23 4,715,000
2 Zanzibar 25 709,809
3 Mwanza 12 706,453
4 Mbeya 09 541,603
5 Arusha 26 535,362
6 Morogoro 10 471,409
7 Geita 28 361,671
8 Tabora 17 308,741
9 Songea 14 286,285
10 Bariadi 31 260,927
11 Kasulu 05 234,452
12 Kigoma 05 232,388
13 Tanga 18 221,127
14 Tunduma 32 219,309
15 Dodoma 03 213,636
16 Ifakara 10 205,843
17 Mpanda 29 204,338
18 Iringa 04 202,490
19 Bunda 08 182,970
20 Singida 16 165,492
21 Musoma 08 164,172
22 Sumbawanga 24 147,483
23 Bukoba 19 144,938
24 Moshi 06 144,739
25 Mtwara 11 140,793
26 Shinyanga 15 139,727
27 Tarime 08 133,043
28 Nzega 17 125,193
29 Makumbako 30 116,232
30 Sengerema 12 110,000
31 Handeni 18 108,968
32 Katumba 09 108,558
33 Lindi 07 95,096
34 Ushirombo 28 95,052
35 Kilosa 10 91,889
36 Masasi 11 89,700
37 Vwawa 32 85,000
38 Bagamoyo 02 82,426
39 Kondoa 03 80,443
40 Katoro 28 75,000
41 Vikindu 02 70,000
42 Babati 27 67,445
43 Korogwe 18 62,032
44 Mbinga 14 60,868
45 Uyovu 28 60,849
46 Buseresere 28 52,870
47 Chake Chake 20 52,047
48 Kibaigwa 03 50,054
49 Merelani 26 50,000
50 Masumbwe 28 50,000
51 Tukuyu 09 50,000
52 Utengule 09 50,000
53 Tunduru 14 48,000
54 Kyela 09 47,000
55 Mbulu 27 45,384
56 Mwandege 02 45,000
57 Diobahika 28 45,000
58 Igunga 17 45,000
59 Ikwiriri 02 45,000
60 Nansio 08 44,000
61 Rujewa 09 42,013
62 Njombe 30 40,607
63 Dumila 10 40,000
64 Geiro 10 40,000
65 Mapinga 02 40,000
66 Mlowo 32 40,000
67 Namanyere 24 40,000
68 Nguruka 05 39,135
69 Newala Kisimani 11 38,099
70 Kidatu 10 37,542
71 Boma la Ngombe 06 37,538
72 Kahama 15 36,014
73 Kidodi 10 35,953
74 Wete 13 35,951
75 Misungwi 12 35,530
76 Magu 12 35,000
77 Mlimba 10 34,970
78 Mafinga 04 34,958
79 Newala 11 34,862
80 Chalinze 02 34,335
81 Biharamulo 19 34,038
82 Lushoto 18 34,000
83 Somanda 31 33,932
84 Naberera 27 33,344
85 Kirando 24 33,111
86 Tumbi 17 32,900
87 Bugarama 19 32,494
88 Ngudu 12 32,446
89 Urambo 17 31,752
90 Mvomero 02 31,324
91 Chanika 18 30,905
92 Nungwi 22 30,762
93 Kibiti 02 30,163
94 Chato 28 30,000
95 Kisesa 12 30,000
96 Mpwapwa 03 30,000
97 Kisesa 31 29,804
98 Lukuledi 11 29,699
99 Mlandizi 02 29,394
100 Ilula 04 29,193

The largest cities in Tanzania represent major centers of economic activity, cultural influence, and population growth. Dar es Salaam leads with a population of 4,715,000, followed by Zanzibar and Mwanza. These cities serve as hubs for employment, education, and innovation, attracting residents from across the country and around the world.

Population size is a key indicator of a city's economic influence and infrastructure capacity. Larger cities typically offer more diverse job markets, extensive public transit systems, and a wider range of cultural amenities. The top 10 cities span multiple states, showing that urban growth is distributed across different regions.

While large populations bring economic advantages, they also present challenges including higher costs of living, traffic congestion, and housing affordability concerns. Many of these cities have experienced significant growth over the past decade, driven by job opportunities in technology, healthcare, and professional services.

Did You Know?

  • 1. Dar es Salaam's population is larger than that of several U.S. states.
  • 2. The 50th largest city still has a population of 50,000 - larger than most cities worldwide.
  • 3. The top 5 cities combined have a population of 7,208,227.

Browse Rankings by Region

Tanzania - By Region

Arusha Dodoma Geita Iringa Kagera Kigoma Kilimanjaro Lindi Manyara Mara Mbeya Morogoro Mtwara Mwanza Njombe Pwani Rukwa Ruvuma Shinyanga Simiyu Singida Tabora Tanga

By Country

Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Benin Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Estonia Ethiopia Finland France Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Guadeloupe Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Mali Malta Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Moldova Mongolia Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway Oman Pakistan Palestinian Territory Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Republic of the Congo Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand The Netherlands Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe