Tanzania’s urban population has surged sharply over decades and is projected to reach 59% by 2050, raising concerns over housing, planning, and access to basic services.
Tanzania’s minister of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Dr. Leonard Akwilapo says the country is facing mounting pressure on housing and social services as more people move into towns and cities.
Speaking in Nairobi, Kenya during the Second Africa Urban Forum, Dr. Akwilapo noted that Tanzania’s urban population has grown from 5.7 percent in 1967 to 34.9 percent in 2022.
The figure is expected to rise further to 59% by 2050, reflecting rapid urbanization trends seen across the continent.
Dr. Akwilapo said the government is taking steps to address the strain by improving and formalizing informal settlements, aiming to turn them into safer and better-serviced communities.
He added that land readjustment and planning programmes are being rolled out to improve land use and transform such areas into economic opportunities.
The shift, he said, is part of broader efforts to manage the fast pace of urban growth while improving living conditions for residents in expanding urban centres.
