Sumbawanga Population 2026

Sumbawanga has a population of 303,986, making it the #12 biggest city in 🇹🇿 Tanzania, located in Rukwa. Roughly 0.4% of Tanzania's population lives here. It is about 18× smaller than Dar es Salaam, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

303,986

Rank in Tanzania

#12

Coordinates

7.97°S, 31.62°E

~1,833 m elevation · Africa/Dar_es_Salaam

Distance to capital (Dodoma)

497 km

309 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Rukwa

City	Population	Rank in Tanzania
Namanyere	40,000	#67
Kirando	33,111	#88
Matai	24,070	#129
Chala	22,624	#144
Laela	19,185	#179

Cities near Sumbawanga

Matai24,070 people · ~39 km away
Chala22,624 people · ~57 km away
Namanyere40,000 people · ~80 km away
Laela19,185 people · ~82 km away
Usevia17,742 people · ~105 km away
Kirando33,111 people · ~128 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Sumbawanga?

Sumbawanga has a population of 303,986 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #12 biggest city in Tanzania.

What region is Sumbawanga in?

Sumbawanga is located in Rukwa, Tanzania.

Is Sumbawanga the capital of Tanzania?

No, the capital of Tanzania is Dodoma, about 497 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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