Zanzibar Population 2026

Zanzibar has a population of 709,809, making it the #4 biggest city in 🇹🇿 Tanzania, located in Zanzibar Urban/West. Roughly 1.0% of Tanzania's population lives here. It is about 7.6× smaller than Dar es Salaam, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

709,809

Rank in Tanzania

Coordinates

6.16°S, 39.20°E

~14 m elevation · Africa/Dar_es_Salaam

Distance to capital (Dodoma)

382 km

237 miles, straight line

Cities near Zanzibar

Bagamoyo82,426 people · ~45 km away
Sokoni25,821 people · ~49 km away
Nungwi30,762 people · ~50 km away
Mapinga40,000 people · ~51 km away
Mvomero31,324 people · ~60 km away
Dar es Salaam5,383,728 people · ~74 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Zanzibar?

Zanzibar has a population of 709,809 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #4 biggest city in Tanzania.

What region is Zanzibar in?

Zanzibar is located in Zanzibar Urban/West, Tanzania.

Is Zanzibar the capital of Tanzania?

No, the capital of Tanzania is Dodoma, about 382 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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