Arusha Population 2026

Arusha has a population of 617,631, making it the #5 biggest city in 🇹🇿 Tanzania, located in Arusha. Roughly 0.9% of Tanzania's population lives here. It is about 8.7× smaller than Dar es Salaam, the country's biggest city.

Location of Arusha (capital Dodoma shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

617,631

Rank in Tanzania

Coordinates

3.37°S, 36.68°E

~1,415 m elevation · Africa/Dar_es_Salaam

Distance to capital (Dodoma)

329 km

204 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Arusha

City	Population	Rank in Tanzania
Merelani	50,000	#56
Mbuguni	49,801	#57
Kingori	22,839	#142
Usa River	21,000	#157
Makuyuni	20,000	#167
Kiratu	20,000	#168
Mto wa Mbu	17,754	#198

Cities near Arusha

Usa River21,000 people · ~19 km away
Kingori22,839 people · ~35 km away
Mbuguni49,801 people · ~37 km away
Merelani50,000 people · ~39 km away
Boma la Ngombe37,538 people · ~52 km away
Makuyuni20,000 people · ~68 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Arusha?

Arusha has a population of 617,631 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #5 biggest city in Tanzania.

What region is Arusha in?

Arusha is located in Arusha, Tanzania.

Is Arusha the capital of Tanzania?

No, the capital of Tanzania is Dodoma, about 329 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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