Number of people living in extreme poverty in Tanzania
Tanzania: Number of people living in extreme poverty was 27.88 million people in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in extreme poverty in Tanzania, 1991–2018
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in extreme poverty in Tanzania is 27.88 million people, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of up 76.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in extreme poverty in Tanzania peaked at 27.88 million people in 2018 and was at its lowest, 4.52 million people, in 2000.
That places Tanzania 36th out of 120 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
Number of people living in extreme poverty in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.27 million people | — |
| 2000 | 4.52 million people | -37.9% |
| 2007 | 15.80 million people | +249.8% |
| 2011 | 22.81 million people | +44.4% |
| 2018 | 27.88 million people | +22.2% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 27.88 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14.39 million people, 1.9× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 27.88 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.66 million people, 2.6× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.27 million people | 7.27 million people | 7.27 million people | 1 |
| 2000s | 10.16 million people | 4.52 million people | 15.80 million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 25.34 million people | 22.81 million people | 27.88 million people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More poverty & inequality data for Tanzania
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 1 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 4.61 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 1,961 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 8.03 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 11.48 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 11.5% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in extreme poverty in Tanzania?
- Number of people living in extreme poverty in Tanzania was 27.88 million people in 2018, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in extreme poverty recorded in Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 27.88 million people in 2018.
- What is the lowest number of people living in extreme poverty recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.52 million people in 2000.
- How does Tanzania rank for number of people living in extreme poverty?
- Tanzania ranks 36th out of 120 countries with data for 2018.
- Is number of people living in extreme poverty rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 76.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tanzania data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in extreme poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption above $3 per day.