Updated
Overview
Tanzania has 4.8 times the population of Rwanda: 70.55 million people against 14.57 million (2025).
Tanzania's economy is 5.5 times the size of Rwanda's, at $90.14B versus $16.37B.
Per person, Tanzania is the wealthier of the two: $1,319 against $1,124 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Tanzania | Rwanda | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $90.14B | $16.37B | 2025 | $78.78B / $14.25B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $1,319 | $1,124 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 5.9% | Higher: 9.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.3% | 5.9% | 2025 | 3.1% / 1.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 1.6% | 11.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 27 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $212 | $53 | 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $58 | $2 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 70.55 million | 14.57 million | 2025 | 69.15 million / 13.62 million |
| Population growth | 2.9% | 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 17.5 yrs | 19.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 4.47 | 3.59 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 67.2 yrs | Higher: 68.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 37% | 31% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 31% | Higher: 32% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 945,087 km² | 26,338 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 74.6/km² | 553.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 20 Mt | Lower: 2.03 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 0.3 t | Lower: 0.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $920.85M | $175.92M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.2% | 1.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 28,000 | 35,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Rwanda is growing much faster: 9.4% annual GDP growth versus 5.9%.
Rwanda runs the hotter price environment: 5.9% inflation versus 3.3%.
Average monthly earnings favour Tanzania: $212 against $53 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Tanzania is the younger society: median age 17.5 versus 19.9 years.
Geography
By land area, Tanzania is 36 times the size of Rwanda: 945,087 km² versus 26,338 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Rwanda is far more densely settled: 553 people per km² against 75.
Military
Tanzania spends 5.2 times as much on defence as Rwanda: $920.85M versus $175.92M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Rwanda fields the larger armed forces: 35,000 personnel against 28,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Tanzania bigger than Rwanda?
- Tanzania is larger by land area. Tanzania covers 945,087 km² while Rwanda covers 26,338 km², so Tanzania is 36 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Tanzania or Rwanda?
- Tanzania has the larger population: 70.55 million versus 14.57 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Tanzania richer than Rwanda?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Tanzania is richer: $1,319 against $1,124. Total GDP tells the same story: $90.14B for Tanzania versus $16.37B for Rwanda.
- Who spends more on their military, Tanzania or Rwanda?
- Tanzania spends more: $920.85M versus $175.92M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).