List of ethnic groups in Tanzania

See also: Demographics of Tanzania

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Tanzania’s population comprises more than 120 ethnic groups, with no single group forming a majority, contributing to a diverse cultural and linguistic landscape without including ethnic groups that reside in Tanzania as refugees from conflicts in nearby countries. These ethnic groups are of Bantu origin, with large Nilotic-speaking, moderate indigenous, and small non-African minorities. The country lacks a clear dominant ethnic majority: the largest ethnic group in Tanzania, the Sukuma people, comprises about 16 percent of the country's total population, followed by the Wanyakyusa, and the Chagga. Unlike its neighbouring countries, Tanzania has not experienced large-scale ethnic conflicts, a fact attributed to the unifying influence of the Swahili language.[1]

The ethnic groups mentioned here are mostly differentiated based on ethnolinguistic lines. They may sometimes be referred to together with noun class prefixes appropriate for ethnonyms: this can be either a prefix from the ethnic group's native language (if Bantu), or the Swahili prefix wa.[2]

Ethnic group  | Region  | District  | Ethnolinguistic group  | Notes

|
|
|
|

Alagwa | Dodoma Region | Kondoa District | Cushite | The community is associated with the arts of rainmaking, despite being 99% Muslim.[3]
Akie | Manyara Region | Simanjiro District | Khoisan | The Akie, like all other hunter-gatherer persons in Tanzania and Kenya, are sometimes referred to as "Dorobo" or "Wandorobo", which is disparaging and false.[4]
Barabaig | Manyara Region | Hanang District | Nilotic |
Assa | Manyara Region | Kiteto District | Cushite |
Arusha | Arusha Region | Arusha District | Nilotic |
Bembe | Katavi Region | Mpanda District | Bantu |
Bena | Njombe Region | Njombe District | Bantu |
Bende | Katavi Region | Mpanda District | Bantu |
Bondei | Tanga Region | Pangani District & Muheza District | Bantu |
Bungu | Mbeya Region | Chunya District | Bantu |
Burunge | Dodoma Region | Kondoa District | Cushite |
Chagga | Kilimanjaro Region | Siha District, Moshi District, Moshi Rural District, Rombo District & Hai District | Bantu |
Datooga | Arusha Region | Karatu District | Nilotic |
Dhaiso | Tanga Region | Muheza District | Bantu |
Digo | Tanga Region | Mkinga District & Tanga District | Bantu |
Doe | Pwani Region | Chalinze District | Bantu |
Fipa | Rukwa Region | Nkasi District & Sumbawanga District | Bantu |
Gogo | Dodoma Region | Chamwino District, Chemba District, Bahi District, Kongwa District & Mpwapwa District | Bantu |
Goma people | Kigoma Region | Kigoma-Ujiji District & Kigoma District | Bantu |
Gorowa | Dodoma Region | Kondoa District | Cushite |
Ha | Kigoma Region | Kasulu District & Kibondo District | Bantu |
Hadimu | Zanzibar | Kati District, Kaskazini A District , Kaskazini B District, Mjini District & Kusini District | Bantu |
Hadza | Arusha Region | Karatu District | Khoisan |
Hangaza | Kagera Region | Ngara District | Bantu |
Haya | Kagera Region | Muleba District, Bukoba Rural District, Bukoba District, & Missenyi District | Bantu |
Hehe | Iringa Region | Iringa District, Kilolo District, Mufindi District & Iringa Urban District | Bantu |
Holoholo people | Kigoma Region | Uvinza District | Bantu |
Ikizu | Mara Region | Bunda District | Bantu |
Ikoma | Mara Region | Serengeti District & Butiama District | Bantu |
Iraqw | Manyara Region | Hanang District, Babati District & Mbulu District | Cushite |
Isanzu | Singida Region | Mkalama District | Bantu |
Jiji | Kigoma Region | Kigoma-Ujiji District | Bantu |
Jita | Mara Region | Rorya District | Bantu |
Joluo | Mara Region | Butiama District, Musoma Urban, Rorya District & Tarime District | Nilotic |
Kaguru | Morogoro Region | Gairo District & Kilosa District | Bantu |
Kami | Pwani Region | Kisarawe District | Bantu |
Kara | Mwanza Region | Ukerewe District | Bantu |
Kerewe | Mwanza Region | Ukerewe District | Bantu |
Kimbu | Mbeya Region | Chunya District | Bantu |
Kinga | Njombe Region | Makete District | Bantu |
Kisi | Njombe Region | Makete District | Bantu |
Konongo | Katavi Region | Mpanda District | Bantu |
Kuria | Mara Region | Tarime District | Bantu |
Kutu | Morogoro Region | Morogoro Rural District | Bantu |
Kw'adza | Manyara Region | Mbulu District | Cushite |
Kwaya | Mara Region | Musoma Rural District | Bantu |
Lambya | Songwe Region | Momba District | Bantu |
Luguru | Morogoro Region | Mvomero District & Morogoro Rural District | Bantu |
Lungu | Rukwa Region | Kalambo District | Bantu |
Maasai | Manyara Region & Arusha Region | Ngorongoro District, Kiteto District, Simanjiro District, Longido District, Monduli District & Arusha District | Nilotic |
Machinga | Lindi Region | Lindi District & Kilwa District | Bantu |
Magoma | Njombe Region | Makete District | Bantu |
Mahanji | Njombe Region | Makete District | Bantu |
Makonde | Mtwara Region & Lindi Region | Mtwara-Mikindani District, Mtwara District, Ruangwa District, Nachingwea District, Masasi District, Lindi District, Tandahimba District & Newala District | Bantu |
Makua | Mtwara Region | Newala District & Tandahimba District | Bantu |
Malila | Songwe Region | Momba District | Bantu |
Mambwe | Rukwa Region | Kalambo District | Bantu |
Manyema | Kigoma Region | Kigoma District | Bantu |
Manda | Njombe Region | Ludewa District | Bantu |
Meru | Arusha Region | Meru District | Bantu |
Matengo | Ruvuma Region | Mbinga District | Bantu |
Matumbi | Lindi Region | Kilwa District | Bantu |
Maviha | Mtwara Region | Mtwara District | Bantu |
Mbugwe | Manyara Region | Babati District | Bantu |
Mbunga | Iringa Region | Kilolo District | Bantu |
Mbugu people | Tanga Region | Lushoto District | Bantu |
Mpoto | Ruvuma Region | Mbinga District | Bantu |
Mwera | Lindi Region | Kilwa District | Bantu |
Ndali | Songwe Region | Momba District | Bantu |
Ndamba | Iringa Region | Kilolo District | Bantu |
Ndendeule | Ruvuma Region | Namtumbo District | Bantu |
Ndengereko | Pwani Region | Mkuranga District, Kisarawe District & Rufiji District | Bantu |
Ndonde | Lindi Region | Nachingwea District | Bantu |
Ngasa | Kilimanjaro Region | Rombo District | Bantu |
Ngindo | Lindi Region | Liwale District | Bantu |
Ngoni | Ruvuma Region | Songea District | Bantu |
Ngulu | Tanga Region | Kilindi District | Bantu |
Ngurimi | Mara Region | Serengeti District & Tarime District | Bantu |
Iramba | Singida Region & Shinyanga Region | Iramba District & Kishapu District | Bantu |
Nindi | Ruvuma Region | Songea District | Bantu |
Nyakyusa | Mbeya Region | Kyela District & Rungwe District | Bantu |
Kwere | Rukwa Region | Nkasi District & Sumbawanga District | Bantu |
Nyambo | Kagera Region | Karagwe District | Bantu |
Nyamwanga | Songwe Region | Momba District | Bantu |
Nyamwezi | Tabora Region & Shinyanga Region | Urambo District, Kaliua District, Sikonge District, Nzega District, Kahama District, Shinyanga District, Uyui District & Igunga District | Bantu |
Nyanyembe | Tabora Region | Uyui District | Bantu |
Nyaturu | Singida Region | Ikungi District & Manyoni District | Bantu |
Nyiha | Mbeya Region | Mbozi District | Bantu |
Pangwa | Njombe Region | Ludewa District | Bantu |
Pare | Kilimanjaro Region | Mwanga District & Same District | Bantu |
Pimbwe | Katavi Region | Mpimbwe District & Mlele District | Bantu |
Pogolo | Morogoro Region | Kilombero District | Bantu |
Rangi | Dodoma Region | Kondoa District | Bantu |
Rufiji | Pwani Region | Rufiji District, Mafia District & Kibiti District | Bantu |
Rungwa | Katavi Region | Mpanda District | Bantu |
Safwa | Mbeya Region | Mbeya District & Rungwe District | Bantu |
Sagara | Morogoro Region | Kilosa District | Bantu |
Sandawe | Dodoma Region | Chemba District | Khoisan |
Sangu | Mbeya Region | Chunya District | Bantu |
Segeju | Tanga Region | Mkinga District | Bantu |
Shambaa | Tanga Region | Korogwe District, Bumbuli District & Lushoto District | Bantu |
Shirazi | Zanzibar | Kati District, Kaskazini A District , Kaskazini B District, Mjini District & Kusini District | Bantu |
Shubi | Kagera Region | Ngara District | Bantu |
Suba | Mara Region | Rorya District | Bantu |
Sukuma | Mwanza Region, Simiyu Region, Geita Region & Shinyanga Region | Ilemela District, Kwimba District , Magu District, Misungwi District, Nyamagana District, Sengerema District , Geita District, Nyang'hwale District, Bariadi District, Busega District , Itilima District, Maswa District, Meatu District Shinyanga District, Kahama District , Kishapu District, Msalala District, Ushetu District & Mbogwe District | Bantu |
Sumbwa | Geita Region | Bukombe District | Bantu |
Swahili | All regions  | All districts  | Bantu
Sonjo | Arusha Region | Ngorongoro District | Bantu |
Tongwe | Kigoma Region | Uvinza District | Bantu |
Tumbuka | Rukwa Region | Nkasi District & Sumbawanga District | Bantu |
Vidunda | Morogoro Region | Kilosa District | Bantu |
Vinza | Kigoma Region | Uvinza District | Bantu |
Wanda | Rukwa Region | Sumbawanga District | Bantu |
Wanji | Njombe Region | Makete District | Bantu |
Ware | Mara Region | Rorya District | Bantu |
Yao | Ruvuma Region | Tunduru District & Namtumbo District | Bantu |
Zanaki | Mara Region | Butiama District & Bunda District | Bantu |
Zaramo | Dar es Salaam Region & Pwani Region | Ilala District, Temeke District, Ubungo District , Kigamboni District, Kinondoni District, Bagamoyo District, Kibaha District , Chalinze District, Kisarawe District, Mkuranga District, Mafia District & Kibiti District | Bantu |
Zigua | Tanga Region & Pwani Region | Handeni District, Muheza District, Chalinze District, Kilindi District, Korogwe District & Pangani District | Bantu |
Zinza | Geita Region & Mwanza Region | Sengerema District, Geita District & Chato District | Bantu |

Other groups:

Ethnic group  | Region  | District  | Ethnolinguistic group

|
|
|

Gujarati | Dar es Salaam Region | Ilala District | Indo-Aryan

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Ethnic groups of Tanzania
2. ^ "Makabila ya Tanzania". Archived from the original on 2006-08-22. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
3. ^ Raa, Eric Ten. “The Moon as a Symbol of Life and Fertility in Sandawe Thought.” Africa: Journal of the International African Institute, vol. 39, no. 1, 1969, pp. 24–53. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1157948. Accessed 18 Mar. 2023.
4. ^ "Akie - A heavily endangered hunter‐gatherers' language in Central Tanzania" (PDF). Documentation of Endangered Languages. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-07-13. Retrieved June 12, 2021.

### Ndwewe; from morogoro, Tanzania. Malinyi, Ulanga and Kilombero

[edit]

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Ethnic groups in Tanzania

Arusha|

* Arusha
* Datooga
* Hadza
* Meru
* Sonjo
* Maasai

Dar es Salaam|

* Swahili
* Zaramo

Dodoma|

* Alagwa
* Burunge
* Gogo
* Gorowa
* Rangi
* Sandawe

Geita|

* Sukuma
* Sumbwa
* Zinza

Iringa|

* Hehe
* Mbunga
* Ndamba

Kagera|

* Hangaza
* Haya
* Nyambo
* Shubi

Katavi|

* Bembe
* Bende
* Konongo
* Pimbwe
* Rungwa

Kigoma|

* Goma
* Ha
* Holoholo
* Jiji
* Manyema
* Tongwe
* Swahili
* Vinza

Kilimanjaro|

* Chagga
* Ngasa
* Pare

Lindi|

* Machinga
* Matumbi
* Mwera
* Makonde
* Ndonde
* Ngindo
* Swahili

Manyara|

* Akie
* Asa
* Barabaig
* Iraqw
* Kw'adza
* Maasai
* Mbugwe

Mara|

* Ikizu
* Ikoma
* Jita
* Kabwa
* Kuria
* Ngurimi
* Suba
* Ware
* Zanaki

Mbeya|

* Kimbu
* Nyakyusa
* Nyiha
* Safwa
* Sangu

Morogoro|

* Kaguru
* Kutu
* Luguru
* Pogolo
* Sagara
* Vidunda

Mtwara|

* Makonde
* Makua
* Maviha
* Swahili

Mwanza|

* Kara
* Kerewe
* Sukuma

Njombe|

* Bena
* Kinga
* Kisi
* Manda
* Pangwa
* Wanji

Pwani|

* Doe
* Kami
* Kwere
* Ndengereko
* Rufiji
* Swahili
* Zaramo
* Zigula

Rukwa|

* Fipa
* Lungu
* Mambwe
* Tumbuka
* Wanda

Ruvuma|

* Matengo
* Mpoto
* Ndendeule
* Ngoni
* Nindi
* Yao

Shinyanga|

* Iramba
* Sukuma
* Nyamwezi

Simiyu|

* Sukuma

Singida|

* Iramba
* Isanzu
* Nyaturu

Songwe|

* Malila
* Nyamwanga
* Ndali
* Lambya

Tabora|

* Nyamwezi
* Nyanyembe
* Swahili

Tanga|

* Bondei
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* Swahili

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