Rural population density in Tanzania
Tanzania: Rural population density was 291.88 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011. ▲ Rising
Latest (2011)
291.88 rural population per sq. km of arable land
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
28th
of 53 countries
All-time high
329.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 2003
All-time low
170.1 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 1963
Years of data
51
1961–2011
Rural population density in Tanzania, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates. Measured in rural population per sq. km of arable land.
Analysis
Tanzania recorded 291.88 rural population per sq. km of arable land for rural population density in 2011.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and down 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population density in Tanzania peaked at 329.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2003 and was at its lowest, 170.1 rural population per sq. km of arable land, in 1963.
Tanzania ranks 28th of 53 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Rural population density in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | rural population per sq. km of arable land | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 188.71 rural population per sq. km of arable land | — |
| 1962 | 199.79 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +5.9% |
| 1963 | 170.1 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -14.9% |
| 1964 | 177.88 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +4.6% |
| 1965 | 182.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.9% |
| 1966 | 187.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.6% |
| 1967 | 192.78 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 197.93 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.7% |
| 1969 | 203.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.7% |
| 1970 | 179.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -11.9% |
| 1971 | 183.56 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 188.21 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.5% |
| 1973 | 193 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.5% |
| 1974 | 197.89 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 202.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.5% |
| 1976 | 207.73 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 212.68 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 190.5 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -10.4% |
| 1979 | 194.98 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 199.58 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.4% |
| 1981 | 204.87 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 210.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.7% |
| 1983 | 215.89 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 221.56 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 202.06 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -8.8% |
| 1986 | 207.25 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.6% |
| 1987 | 212.51 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 217.92 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.5% |
| 1989 | 223.6 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 229.64 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 236.27 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 248.95 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +5.4% |
| 1993 | 253.44 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 260.56 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 267.33 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 270.56 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 279.29 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 291.02 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 297.8 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 307.5 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 316.48 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 320.57 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 329.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 303.03 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -8.1% |
| 2005 | 303.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 310.3 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 307.9 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 278.24 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -9.6% |
| 2009 | 280.6 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 284.98 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 291.88 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 189.03 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 170.1 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 203.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 9 |
| 1970s | 195.05 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 179.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 212.68 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1980s | 211.55 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 199.58 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 223.6 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1990s | 263.49 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 229.64 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 297.8 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2000s | 305.79 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 278.24 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 329.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2010s | 288.43 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 284.98 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 291.88 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 2 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
- 25 Mozambique 316.54 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 26 Botswana 300.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 27 Congo 300.96 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 29 Guinea-Bissau 289.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 30 Ghana 250.34 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 31 Zambia 241.1 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
More environment data for Tanzania
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -7.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.29 Percentage change (2025)
- Exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 3.52 Percentage change (2024)
- Exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 2.43 Percentage change (2024)
- Heating Degree Days 32.33 (2024)
- Cooling Degree Days 3,254 (2024)
- Total fisheries production 669,540 metric tons (2024)
- Capture fisheries production 530,933 metric tons (2024)
- Aquaculture production 138,607 metric tons (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Waste 0.6753 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population density in Tanzania?
- Rural population density in Tanzania was 291.88 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.
- What is the highest rural population density recorded in Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 329.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2003.
- What is the lowest rural population density recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 170.1 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 1963.
- How does Tanzania rank for rural population density?
- Tanzania ranks 28th out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
- Is rural population density rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Tanzania data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates, published as part of Rural population density (rural population per sq. km of arable land). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Rural population density is the rural population divided by the arable land area. Rural population is calculated as the difference between the total population and the urban population. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded.