# Demographics of Tanzania

Demographic features of the population of Tanzania include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations, and other aspects of the population.
The population distribution in Tanzania is extremely uneven. Most people live on the northern border or the eastern coast, with much of the remainder of the country being sparsely populated.$^{:1252}$ Density varies from 12 per square kilometre (31/sq mi) in the Katavi Region to 3,133 per square kilometre (8,110/sq mi) in Dar es Salaam.$^{:6}$ Approximately 70 percent of the population is rural, although this percentage has been declining since at least 1967. Dar es Salaam is the de facto capital and largest city. Dodoma, located in the centre of Tanzania, is the de jure capital, although action to move government buildings to Dodoma has stalled.
The population consists of about 125 ethnic groups. The Sukuma, Nyamwezi, Chagga, and Haya peoples have more than 1 million members each.$^{:4}$
Over 100 languages are spoken in Tanzania, making it the most linguistically diverse country in East Africa. Among the languages spoken in Tanzania are all four of Africa's language families: Bantu, Cushitic, Nilotic, and Khoisan. Swahili and English are Tanzania's official languages. Swahili belongs to the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family. The Sandawe people speak a language that may be related to the Khoe languages of Botswana and Namibia, while the language of the Hadzabe people, although it has similar click consonants, is arguably a language isolate. The language of the Iraqw people is Cushitic. Other languages are Indian languages and Portuguese (spoken by Goans and Mozambicans).
Non-Africans residing on the mainland and Zanzibar account for 1 percent of the total population. The Asian community including Hindus, Sikhs, Shi'a and Sunni Muslims, Parsis, and Goans, exceed 60,000. An estimated 70,000 Arabs and 20,000 Europeans (90 percent of which are from the British diaspora) reside in Tanzania. Over 100,000 people living in Tanzania are of Asian or European ancestry.
Based on 1999–2003 data, over 74,000 Tanzanian-born people were living in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, with 32,630 residing in the United Kingdom; 19,960 in Canada; 12,225 in the United States; 1,714 in Australia; 1,180 in the Netherlands; and 1,012 in Sweden.

## Population

According to the 2012 census, the total population was 44,928,923 compared to 12,313,469 in 1967,$^{:1}$ resulting in an annual growth rate of 2.9 percent. The under 15 age group represented 44.1 percent of the population, with 35.5 percent being in the 15–35 age group, 52.2 percent being in the 15–64 age group, and 3.8 percent being older than 64.
According to the 2012 revision of the World Population Prospects, children below the age of 15 constituted 44.8 percent of the total population, with 52.0 percent aged 15–64 and 3.1 percent aged 65 or older.
| | Total population | Population aged 0–14 (%) | Population aged 15–64 (%) | Population aged 65+ (%) |
| 1950 | 7,650,000 | 46.0 | 51.8 | 2.2 |
| 1955 | 8,741,000 | 45.7 | 52.0 | 2.3 |
| 1960 | 10,074,000 | 45.8 | 51.8 | 2.4 |
| 1965 | 11,683,000 | 45.8 | 51.7 | 2.4 |
| 1970 | 13,605,000 | 46.2 | 51.3 | 2.5 |
| 1975 | 15,978,000 | 46.4 | 51.1 | 2.6 |
| 1980 | 18,687,000 | 46.5 | 50.8 | 2.6 |
| 1985 | 21,850,000 | 46.4 | 51.0 | 2.7 |
| 1990 | 25,485,000 | 46.0 | 51.3 | 2.7 |
| 1995 | 29,944,000 | 45.3 | 51.9 | 2.8 |
| 2000 | 34,021,000 | 44.8 | 52.3 | 2.9 |
| 2005 | 38,824,000 | 44.6 | 52.4 | 3.0 |
| 2010 | 44,793,000 | 44.8 | 52.0 | 3.1 |

### Structure of the population

Structure of the population (01.07.2013) (Estimates) (Projections based on the 2002 Population Census.):
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
| Total | 23 267 957 | 23 864 623 | 47 132 580 | 100 |
| 0-4 | 4 191 004 | 4 121 103 | 8 312 107 | 17.64 |
| 5-9 | 3 608 891 | 3 551 955 | 7 160 846 | 15.19 |
| 10-14 | 2 735 494 | 2 728 687 | 5 464 181 | 11.59 |
| 15-19 | 2 494 983 | 2 490 960 | 4 985 943 | 10.58 |
| 20-24 | 2 179 173 | 2 160 970 | 4 340 143 | 9.21 |
| 25-29 | 1 730 600 | 1 754 007 | 3 484 607 | 7.39 |
| 30-34 | 1 289 114 | 1 563 083 | 2 852 197 | 6.05 |
| 35-39 | 1 207 182 | 1 394 428 | 2 601 610 | 5.52 |
| 40-44 | 1 032 605 | 1 088 697 | 2 121 302 | 4.50 |
| 45-49 | 770 149 | 797 868 | 1 568 017 | 3.33 |
| 50-54 | 604 621 | 629 580 | 1 234 201 | 2.62 |
| 55-59 | 422 141 | 459 343 | 881 484 | 1.87 |
| 60-64 | 347 604 | 387 334 | 734 938 | 1.56 |
| 65-69 | 223 365 | 243 517 | 466 882 | 0.99 |
| 70-74 | 179 960 | 207 795 | 387 755 | 0.82 |
| 75-79 | 115 076 | 130 796 | 245 872 | 0.52 |
| 80+ | 135 995 | 154 500 | 290 495 | 0.62 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 0-14 | 10 535 389 | 10 401 745 | 20 937 134 | 44.42 |
| 15-64 | 12 078 172 | 12 726 270 | 24 804 442 | 52.63 |
| 65+ | 654 396 | 736 608 | 1 391 004 | 2.95 |
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020) (Projections based on the 2012 Population Census.):
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
| Total | 28 229 599 | 29 408 029 | 57 637 628 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 4 972 289 | 4 878 738 | 9 851 027 | 17.09 |
| 5–9 | 4 013 263 | 3 968 953 | 7 982 216 | 13.85 |
| 10–14 | 3 582 899 | 3 568 790 | 7 151 689 | 12.41 |
| 15–19 | 3 014 118 | 3 041 114 | 6 055 232 | 10.51 |
| 20–24 | 2 656 362 | 2 674 122 | 5 330 484 | 9.25 |
| 25–29 | 2 042 003 | 2 333 256 | 4 375 259 | 7.59 |
| 30–34 | 1 642 384 | 1 971 517 | 3 613 901 | 6.27 |
| 35–39 | 1 464 246 | 1 732 225 | 3 196 471 | 5.55 |
| 40–44 | 1 241 782 | 1 330 290 | 2 572 072 | 4.46 |
| 45–49 | 1 032 732 | 1 113 792 | 2 146 524 | 3.72 |
| 50–54 | 758 908 | 762 341 | 1 521 249 | 2.64 |
| 55–59 | 605 139 | 713 099 | 1 318 238 | 2.29 |
| 60–64 | 411 344 | 406 728 | 818 072 | 1.42 |
| 65-69 | 312 655 | 351 895 | 664 550 | 1.15 |
| 70-74 | 199 196 | 211 801 | 410 997 | 0.71 |
| 75-79 | 141 944 | 180 717 | 322 661 | 0.56 |
| 80+ | 138 335 | 168 651 | 306 986 | 0.53 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 0–14 | 12 568 451 | 12 416 481 | 24 984 932 | 43.35 |
| 15–64 | 14 869 018 | 16 078 484 | 30 947 502 | 53.69 |
| 65+ | 792 130 | 913 064 | 1 705 194 | 2.96 |

## Vital statistics

The Tanzanian Demographic and Health Survey 2010 estimated that the infant mortality rate for 2005–10 was 51. Registration of other vital events in Tanzania is not complete. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.
| | Mid-year population (thousands) | Live births (thousands) | Deaths (thousands) | Natural change (thousands) | Crude birth rate (per 1000) | Crude death rate (per 1000) | Natural change (per 1000) | Total fertility rate (TFR) | Infant mortality (per 1000 births) |
| 1950 | 7 632 | 365 | 168 | 197 | 47.7 | 22.0 | 25.8 | 6.49 | 145.0 |
| 1951 | 7 835 | 376 | 170 | 205 | 48.0 | 21.7 | 26.2 | 6.51 | 144.0 |
| 1952 | 8 045 | 387 | 174 | 213 | 48.1 | 21.7 | 26.5 | 6.53 | 143.1 |
| 1953 | 8 264 | 399 | 178 | 221 | 48.3 | 21.6 | 26.8 | 6.56 | 142.1 |
| 1954 | 8 490 | 411 | 182 | 229 | 48.5 | 21.4 | 27.0 | 6.58 | 141.2 |
| 1955 | 8 726 | 425 | 186 | 239 | 48.7 | 21.4 | 27.3 | 6.61 | 140.4 |
| 1956 | 8 970 | 439 | 191 | 248 | 48.9 | 21.3 | 27.6 | 6.65 | 139.7 |
| 1957 | 9 224 | 454 | 196 | 258 | 49.2 | 21.2 | 28.0 | 6.69 | 138.9 |
| 1958 | 9 488 | 467 | 201 | 266 | 49.2 | 21.1 | 28.1 | 6.70 | 138.1 |
| 1959 | 9 760 | 482 | 206 | 276 | 49.3 | 21.1 | 28.3 | 6.72 | 137.4 |
| 1960 | 10 042 | 496 | 211 | 285 | 49.4 | 21.0 | 28.4 | 6.73 | 136.6 |
| 1961 | 10 338 | 512 | 216 | 296 | 49.6 | 20.9 | 28.7 | 6.75 | 135.8 |
| 1962 | 10 645 | 528 | 221 | 307 | 49.6 | 20.8 | 28.8 | 6.76 | 134.9 |
| 1963 | 10 960 | 544 | 226 | 318 | 49.7 | 20.6 | 29.0 | 6.77 | 133.9 |
| 1964 | 11 290 | 560 | 231 | 329 | 49.6 | 20.4 | 29.2 | 6.78 | 132.7 |
| 1965 | 11 631 | 576 | 235 | 341 | 49.5 | 20.2 | 29.3 | 6.78 | 131.5 |
| 1966 | 11 982 | 593 | 239 | 354 | 49.5 | 20.0 | 29.5 | 6.79 | 130.1 |
| 1967 | 12 346 | 609 | 243 | 367 | 49.4 | 19.7 | 29.7 | 6.80 | 128.6 |
| 1968 | 12 740 | 628 | 245 | 383 | 49.4 | 19.2 | 30.1 | 6.84 | 127.1 |
| 1969 | 13 168 | 651 | 248 | 403 | 49.5 | 18.8 | 30.7 | 6.88 | 125.6 |
| 1970 | 13 618 | 675 | 252 | 423 | 49.7 | 18.5 | 31.1 | 6.91 | 124.0 |
| 1971 | 14 092 | 701 | 257 | 444 | 49.8 | 18.3 | 31.6 | 6.94 | 122.3 |
| 1972 | 14 596 | 725 | 262 | 463 | 49.8 | 18.0 | 31.8 | 6.95 | 120.5 |
| 1973 | 15 124 | 752 | 266 | 487 | 49.8 | 17.6 | 32.2 | 6.96 | 118.7 |
| 1974 | 15 671 | 781 | 272 | 510 | 49.9 | 17.4 | 32.6 | 7.00 | 116.7 |
| 1975 | 16 244 | 808 | 277 | 531 | 49.8 | 17.1 | 32.7 | 7.00 | 114.7 |
| 1976 | 16 839 | 832 | 281 | 551 | 49.5 | 16.7 | 32.8 | 6.99 | 112.6 |
| 1977 | 17 455 | 860 | 285 | 576 | 49.3 | 16.3 | 33.0 | 6.99 | 110.5 |
| 1978 | 18 080 | 887 | 289 | 598 | 49.1 | 16.0 | 33.1 | 6.98 | 108.7 |
| 1979 | 18 699 | 909 | 292 | 617 | 48.6 | 15.6 | 33.0 | 6.95 | 107.1 |
| 1980 | 19 298 | 930 | 297 | 632 | 48.1 | 15.4 | 32.7 | 6.91 | 106.2 |
| 1981 | 19 891 | 950 | 303 | 647 | 47.7 | 15.2 | 32.5 | 6.85 | 105.8 |
| 1982 | 20 500 | 973 | 311 | 663 | 47.4 | 15.1 | 32.3 | 6.80 | 105.8 |
| 1983 | 21 171 | 998 | 320 | 678 | 47.2 | 15.1 | 32.1 | 6.75 | 106.0 |
| 1984 | 21 857 | 1 017 | 329 | 688 | 46.5 | 15.1 | 31.4 | 6.67 | 106.1 |
| 1985 | 22 570 | 1 038 | 337 | 700 | 46.1 | 15.0 | 31.1 | 6.57 | 105.8 |
| 1986 | 23 324 | 1 059 | 345 | 714 | 45.4 | 14.8 | 30.6 | 6.48 | 105.0 |
| 1987 | 24 099 | 1 082 | 353 | 729 | 45.0 | 14.7 | 30.3 | 6.40 | 103.8 |
| 1988 | 24 844 | 1 110 | 360 | 749 | 44.6 | 14.5 | 30.1 | 6.37 | 102.5 |
| 1989 | 25 523 | 1 130 | 369 | 761 | 44.2 | 14.4 | 29.8 | 6.29 | 101.1 |
| 1990 | 26 206 | 1 149 | 380 | 769 | 43.8 | 14.5 | 29.3 | 6.20 | 99.9 |
| 1991 | 26 891 | 1 171 | 391 | 781 | 43.5 | 14.5 | 29.0 | 6.14 | 98.9 |
| 1992 | 27 581 | 1 190 | 404 | 787 | 43.1 | 14.6 | 28.5 | 6.08 | 98.2 |
| 1993 | 28 469 | 1 211 | 414 | 798 | 42.8 | 14.6 | 28.2 | 6.01 | 97.1 |
| 1994 | 29 598 | 1 250 | 426 | 824 | 42.5 | 14.5 | 28.0 | 5.93 | 96.2 |
| 1995 | 30 560 | 1 300 | 440 | 860 | 42.5 | 14.4 | 28.1 | 5.87 | 95.0 |
| 1996 | 31 141 | 1 334 | 450 | 884 | 42.5 | 14.3 | 28.2 | 5.85 | 93.4 |
| 1997 | 31 786 | 1 353 | 460 | 893 | 42.5 | 14.5 | 28.1 | 5.84 | 91.5 |
| 1998 | 32 626 | 1 386 | 464 | 922 | 42.4 | 14.2 | 28.2 | 5.79 | 88.7 |
| 1999 | 33 500 | 1 415 | 459 | 956 | 42.2 | 13.7 | 28.5 | 5.73 | 85.4 |
| 2000 | 34 464 | 1 453 | 457 | 996 | 42.1 | 13.3 | 28.9 | 5.69 | 81.6 |
| 2001 | 35 414 | 1 495 | 452 | 1 043 | 42.1 | 12.7 | 29.4 | 5.67 | 77.4 |
| 2002 | 36 354 | 1 525 | 447 | 1 078 | 41.9 | 12.3 | 29.6 | 5.62 | 73.1 |
| 2003 | 37 334 | 1 565 | 437 | 1 128 | 41.8 | 11.7 | 30.2 | 5.61 | 69.0 |
| 2004 | 38 361 | 1 613 | 433 | 1 179 | 42.0 | 11.3 | 30.7 | 5.61 | 65.4 |
| 2005 | 39 440 | 1 662 | 430 | 1 232 | 42.1 | 10.9 | 31.2 | 5.61 | 62.1 |
| 2006 | 40 562 | 1 696 | 428 | 1 269 | 41.7 | 10.5 | 31.2 | 5.56 | 59.2 |
| 2007 | 41 716 | 1 719 | 424 | 1 295 | 41.1 | 10.2 | 31.0 | 5.49 | 56.4 |
| 2008 | 42 871 | 1 748 | 422 | 1 325 | 40.7 | 9.8 | 30.8 | 5.43 | 54.0 |
| 2009 | 43 958 | 1 773 | 415 | 1 358 | 40.2 | 9.4 | 30.8 | 5.36 | 51.5 |
| 2010 | 45 111 | 1 795 | 401 | 1 394 | 39.7 | 8.9 | 30.8 | 5.29 | 49.5 |
| 2011 | 46 416 | 1 816 | 392 | 1 424 | 39.1 | 8.4 | 30.6 | 5.21 | 47.4 |
| 2012 | 47 786 | 1 833 | 382 | 1 451 | 38.3 | 8.0 | 30.3 | 5.10 | 45.5 |
| 2013 | 49 254 | 1 908 | 375 | 1 533 | 38.7 | 7.6 | 31.1 | 5.12 | 43.9 |
| 2014 | 50 815 | 1 978 | 369 | 1 609 | 38.9 | 7.3 | 31.6 | 5.12 | 42.2 |
| 2015 | 52 543 | 2 032 | 365 | 1 667 | 38.7 | 7.0 | 31.8 | 5.09 | 41.1 |
| 2016 | 54 402 | 2 086 | 361 | 1 725 | 38.4 | 6.7 | 31.7 | 5.03 | 39.8 |
| 2017 | 56 267 | 2 140 | 360 | 1 780 | 38.1 | 6.4 | 31.7 | 4.99 | 38.6 |
| 2018 | 58 090 | 2 181 | 359 | 1 822 | 37.5 | 6.2 | 31.3 | 4.92 | 37.3 |
| 2019 | 59 873 | 2 224 | 360 | 1 864 | 37.1 | 6.0 | 31.1 | 4.86 | 36.3 |
| 2020 | 61 705 | 2 262 | 381 | 1 881 | 36.7 | 6.2 | 30.5 | 4.80 | 35.3 |
| 2021 | 62 830 | 2 263 | 383 | 1 872 | 36.0 | 6.1 | 29.8 | 4.73 | 31.3 |
| 2022 | 64 712 | 2 306 | 378 | 1 890 | 35.6 | 5.8 | 29.2 | 4.67 | 30.1 |
| 2023 | 66 618 | 2 346 | 386 | 1 921 | 35.2 | 5.8 | 28.8 | 4.61 | 28.9 |

### Life expectancy

| Period | Life expectancy in Years |
| 1950–1955 | 41.25 |
| 1955–1960 | 43.03 |
| 1960–1965 | 44.31 |
| 1965–1970 | 45.83 |
| 1970–1975 | 47.70 |
| 1975–1980 | 49.90 |
| 1980–1985 | 50.64 |
| 1985–1990 | 50.86 |
| 1990–1995 | 49.61 |
| 1995–2000 | 50.06 |
| 2000–2005 | 53.65 |
| 2005–2010 | 58.82 |
| 2010–2015 | 62.78 |
| 2020 | 66.40 |
| 2021 | 66.20 |

### Census Data and Demographic and Health Surveys

Source:
| Region | 1967 (Population / Crude Birth Rate / Total Fertility Rate) | 1978 (Population / Crude Birth Rate / Total Fertility Rate) | 1988 (Population / Crude Birth Rate / Total Fertility Rate) | 2002 (Population / Crude Birth Rate / Total Fertility Rate) | 2012 (Population / Crude Birth Rate / Total Fertility Rate) |
| Tanzania, including Zanzibar | 12,313,469 / 47 / 7.3 | 17,036,499 / 49 / 6.3 | 22,455,207 / 47 / 5.4 | 33,461,849 / 43 / 4.2 | 44,928,923 / / |
| Zanzibar | 354,815 / 48 / 7.3 | 476,111 / 48 / 7.1 | 640,675 / 49 / 6.4 | 981,754 / 43 / 4.5 | 1,303,569 / / |
Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):
| Year | CBR (Total) | TFR (Total) | CBR (Urban) | TFR (Urban) | CBR (Rural) | TFR (Rural) | CBR (Zanzibar) | TFR (Zanzibar) |
| 1991-1992 | 42.8 | 6.25 (5.57) | 42.1 | 5.14 | 43.0 | 6.59 (5.91) |
| 1996 | 40.8 | 5.82 (5.1) | 36.3 | 4.11 (3.5) | 41.9 | 6.34 (5.5) |
| 1999 | 41.4 | 5.55 (4.8) | 34.4 | 3.16 (2.9) | 43.5 | 6.48 (5.5) |
| 2004-2005 | 42.4 | 5.7 (4.9) | 34.6 | 3.6 (3.1) | 44.8 | 6.5 (5.6) | 38.0 | 5.3 (4.6) |
| 2010 | 38.1 | 5.4 (4.7) | 35.0 | 3.7 (3.3) | 39.0 | 6.1 (5.3) | 35,9 | 5.1 (4.8) |
| 2015-16 | 37.2 | 5.2 (4.5) | 35.1 | 3.8 (3.4) | 38.1 | 6.0 (5.1) | 36.3 | 5.1 (4.6) |
| 2017 | 35.5 | 4.9 | 31.0 | 3.5 | 37.3 | 5.7 | 33.7 | 4.5 |
| 2022 | 33.8 | 4.8 (4.4) | 31.9 | 3.6 (3.4) | 34.6 | 5.5 (5.0) | 33.8 | 4.7 (4.3) |

#### Regional fertility rates

Fertility rates are estimated by Surveys (TDHS) and Census in different times. TDHS surveys estimated these fertility rates: 6.3 (1991–92), 5.8 (1996), 5.7 (2004–05), 5.4 (2010) and 2002 Census said 6.3
| Region | 1967 | 1978 | 1988 | 2006-09 | 2017 |
| Tanzania (country total) | 7.3 | 6.3 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 4.9 |
| Dodoma (capital) | 7.6 | 6.2 | 5.9 | | 6.0 |
| Arusha | 7.5 | 7.0 | 6.0 | | 3.2 |
| Kilimanjaro | 8.9 | 7.5 | 5.8 | | 3.4 |
| Tanga | 7.7 | 6.2 | 5.1 | | 4.6 |
| Morogoro | 6.2 | 6.5 | 4.3 | | 3.7 |
| Pwani | 5.8 | 6.1 | 5.4 | | 3.8 |
| Dar es Salaam | 5.0 | 5.4 | 3.4 | | 2.8 |
| Lindi | - | 5.4 | 4.6 | | 3.9 |
| Mtwara | 5.7 | 4.9 | 4.5 | | 3.3 |
| Ruvuma | 7.1 | 6.1 | 5.0 | | 3.7 |
| Iringa | 7.8 | 6.3 | 4.9 | | 4.5 |
| Mbeya | 8.1 | 6.3 | 4.7 | | 4.7 |
| Singida | 6.3 | 5.9 | 5.7 | | 7.4 |
| Tabora | 6.7 | 6.0 | 5.4 | | 6.9 |
| Rukwa | - | 6.1 | 6.2 | | 5.7 |
| Kigoma | 6.6 | 7.2 | 6.5 | | 5.7 |
| Shinyanga | 8.7 | 6.9 | 6.3 | | 5.5 |
| Kagera | 7.5 | 7.3 | 6.9 | | 4.7 |
| Mwanza | 8.1 | 7.1 | 6.1 | | 6.0 |
| Mara | 8.0 | 6.9 | 5.9 | | 6.4 |
| Manyara | - | - | - | | 6.0 |
| Njombe | - | - | - | | 4.2 |
| Simiyu | - | - | - | | 7.6 |
| Geita | - | - | - | | 6.9 |
| Katavi | - | - | - | | 6.7 |
| Songwe | - | - | - | | 5.4 |
| Tanzania Mainland | 7.3 | 6.3 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 4.9 |
| North Unguja | - | 7.1 | 7.0 | | 4.5 |
| South Unguja | - | 6.2 | 6.5 | | 3.2 |
| Urban West | - | 6.1 | 5.2 | | 3.6 |
| North Pemba | - | 8.3 | 6.9 | | 6.3 |
| South Pemba | - | 8.2 | 7.6 | | 5.5 |
| Tanzania Zanzibar | 7.3 | 7.1 | 6.4 | 5.1 | 4.5 |

## Ethnic groups

mainland - African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, African, mixed Arab and African. Around 100,000 people living in Tanzania are from Europe or Asia.

## Languages

* Kiswahili or Swahili or Kiunguja (in Zanzibar) (official)
* English (official)
* Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar)

## Religion

Most Tanzanians are nowadays Christians and Muslims. The numerical relationship between followers of the two religions is regarded as politically sensitive and questions about religious affiliation have not been included in census questionnaires since 1967.
For many years estimates have been repeated that about a third of the population each follows Islam, Christianity and traditional religions. As there is likely no longer such a large percentage of traditional religionists, a range of competing estimates has been published giving one side or the other a large share or trying to show equal shares.
Estimates from the Pew Report Islam and Christianity (2010) were 60% Christian and 36% Muslim.
The remainder of the population are Hindus, Buddhists, animists, and unaffiliated. Most Christians are Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican or Pentecostal, though a number of other churches, as Seventh-Day Adventist, and Eastern Orthodox Christians are also represented in the country. Most Tanzanian Muslims are Sunni Muslims, though there are also populations of Ibadi, Shia, Ahamadiya, Bohora. Muslims are concentrated in coastal areas and in mainland areas along former caravan trade routes.