Mbeya Population 2026

Mbeya has a population of 541,603, making it the #6 biggest city in 🇹🇿 Tanzania, located in Mbeya. Roughly 0.7% of Tanzania's population lives here. It is about 9.9× smaller than Dar es Salaam, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

541,603

Rank in Tanzania

Coordinates

8.90°S, 33.45°E

~1,697 m elevation · Africa/Dar_es_Salaam

Distance to capital (Dodoma)

395 km

245 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Mbeya

City	Population	Rank in Tanzania
Katumba	108,558	#34
Utengule	50,000	#53
Tukuyu	50,000	#54
Kyela	47,000	#59
Rujewa	42,013	#66
Matundasi	26,073	#115
Igurusi	25,000	#122
Chimala	24,817	#125

Cities near Mbeya

Utengule50,000 people · ~13 km away
Kiwira21,342 people · ~32 km away
Katumba108,558 people · ~41 km away
Igurusi25,000 people · ~44 km away
Tukuyu50,000 people · ~45 km away
Mlowo40,000 people · ~52 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Mbeya?

Mbeya has a population of 541,603 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #6 biggest city in Tanzania.

What region is Mbeya in?

Mbeya is located in Mbeya, Tanzania.

Is Mbeya the capital of Tanzania?

No, the capital of Tanzania is Dodoma, about 395 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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