Updated
Overview
Tanzania has 3.2 times the population of Zambia: 70.55 million people against 21.91 million (2025).
Tanzania's economy is 3.1 times the size of Zambia's, at $90.14B versus $28.88B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Tanzania | Zambia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $90.14B | $28.88B | 2025 | $78.78B / $26.33B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $1,319 | $1,318 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.9% | 3.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.3% | 13.9% | 2025 | 3.1% / 15.0% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 1.6% | 5.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 30 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $212 | $170 | 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $58 | $50 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 70.55 million | 21.91 million | 2025 | 69.15 million / 22.02 million |
| Population growth | 2.9% | 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 17.5 yrs | 17.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 4.47 | 3.97 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 67.2 yrs | 66.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 37% | 46% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 31% | 17% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 945,087 km² | 752,612 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 74.6/km² | 29.1/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 20 Mt | Lower: 12 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.3 t | 0.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $920.85M | $349.67M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.2% | 1.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 28,000 | 16,000 | 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
Tanzania is growing faster: 5.9% annual GDP growth versus 3.8%.
Zambia runs the hotter price environment: 13.9% inflation versus 3.3%.
Average monthly earnings favour Tanzania: $212 against $170 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 17.5 (Tanzania) and 17.9 (Zambia).
Internet adoption is higher in Tanzania (31% vs 17% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Tanzania is 26% larger than Zambia: 945,087 km² versus 752,612 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Tanzania is far more densely settled: 75 people per km² against 29.
Military
Tanzania spends 2.6 times as much on defence as Zambia: $920.85M versus $349.67M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Tanzania fields the larger armed forces: 28,000 personnel against 16,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Tanzania bigger than Zambia?
- Tanzania is larger by land area. Tanzania covers 945,087 km² while Zambia covers 752,612 km², so Tanzania is 26% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Tanzania or Zambia?
- Tanzania has the larger population: 70.55 million versus 21.91 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Tanzania richer than Zambia?
- They are effectively level on GDP per capita: $1,319 for Tanzania against $1,318 for Zambia, a gap too small to call. Total GDP tells the same story: $90.14B for Tanzania versus $28.88B for Zambia.
- Who spends more on their military, Tanzania or Zambia?
- Tanzania spends more: $920.85M versus $349.67M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).