10 largest districts of Tanzania by land area

Tanzania’s top 10 largest districts by land area are:

Mpanda
Liwale
Songea Rural
Manyoni
Chunya
Ulanga
Urambo
Sikonge
Tabora Urban
Iringa Rural

List of Tanzania largest districts by land area

DistrictArea (Km²)
Mpanda45,843
Liwale36,084
Songea Rural33,825
Manyoni28,620
Chunya27,065
Ulanga23,681
Urambo21,299
Sikonge21,000
Tabora Urban20,104
Iringa Rural19,898
Simanjiro18,851
Tunduru18,778
Kiteto16,305
Mbarali16,000
Kibondo15,722
Kilosa14,245
Monduli14,070
Dodoma Rural14,004
Kilwa13,920
Kilombero13,577
Ngorongoro13,460
Rufiji13,339
Kondoa13,210
Sumbawanga Rural12,836
Singida Rural12,164
Morogoro Rural11,711
Kigoma Rural11,545
Mbinga11,396
Serengeti10,942
Bukombe10,842
Njombe9,868
Bagamoyo9,842
Bariadi9,777
Mbozi9,586
Kahama9,461
Nkasi9,375
Kasulu9,128
Masasi8,940
Biharamulo8,938
Meatu8,871
Iramba7,900
Lindi Urban7,846
Mpwapwa7,479
Mvomero7,325
Kilindi7,091
Nachingwea7,070
Bukoba Rural6,993
Nzega6,961
Kilolo6,804
Igunga6,788
Mufindi6,177
Handeni6,112
Geita5,880
Same5,730
Ludewa5,597
Karagwe5,450
Babati4,969
Muheza4,818
Kisarawe4,464
Ngara4,428
Kishapu4,334
Shinyanga Rural4,212
Kongwa4,041
Tarime3,885
Korogwe3,756
Kwimba3,599
Mtwara Rural3,597
Lushoto3,500
Sengerema3,335
Mbulu3,316
Karatu3,300
Makete3,178
Magu3,070
Hanang2,918
Arumeru2,896
Bunda2,782
Maswa2,736
Dodoma Urban2,576
Muleba2,499
Rungwe2,454
Mkuranga2,432
Hai2,369
Mbeya Rural2,334
Mwanga2,170
Newala2,126
Ruangwa2,080
Misungwi1,947
Ileje1,935
Musoma Rural1,929
Tandahimba1,894
Kibaha1,812
Moshi Rural1,500
Rombo1,482
Pangani1,019
Ilemela895
Kati854
Kyela791
Singida Urban657
Temeke656
Ukerewe640
Sumbawanga Urban581
Wete574
Shinyanga Urban548
Kinondoni527
Mafia518
Tanga474
Kaskazini ‘A’470
Nyamagana425
Songea Urban394
Chake332
Morogoro Urban260
Mjini230
Ilala210
Mbeya Urban185
Mtwara Urban163
Iringa Urban160
Kigoma Urban128
Arusha83
Bukoba Urban80
Moshi Urban58
Musoma Urban28
Kaskazini ‘B’
Kusini
Lindi Rural
Magharibi
Micheweni
Mkoani
Namtumbo
Uyui

Tanzania districts

As of 2021 Tanzania comprises 31 regions divided into 184 districts.

The districts are each administered by a district council.

Cities are separately administered by their own councils, and while administratively within a region, are not considered to be located within a district.

Reformation of Tanzania districts

Around 1972: Makete district created from Njombe.

1980: Meatu district created from Maswa.

1995: Bukombe district created from Kahama. Karatu district created from Mbulu. Mkuranga district created from Kisarawe.

Around 1995: Kilolo district created from Iringa Rural.

1996: Tandahimba district created from Newala.

1996-07: Misungwi district created from Kwimba.

Around 1998: Mbarali district created from Mbeya Rural.

2000: Kishapu district created from Shinyanga Rural.

2002: Kilindi district created from Handeni.

2002-07: Mvomero district created from Morogoro Rural.

2007-07-01: Mkinga district created from Muheza.

2012-03-02: Government created 19 new districts: Buhigwe (capital Buhigwe, created from Kasulu) Busega (capital Nyashimo, created from Magu)

Butiama (capital Butiama, created from Musoma)

Chemba (capital Chemba, created from Kondoa)

Gairo (capital Gairo, created from Kilosa)

Ikungi (capital Ikungi, created from Singida)

Itilima (capital Lagangabilili, created from Bariadi)

Kakonko (capital Kakonko, created from Kibondo)

Kalambo (capital Matai, created from Sumbwanga)

Kaliua (capital Kaliua, created from Urambo)

Kyerwa (capital Rubwera, created from Karagwe)

Mbogwe (capital Mbogwe, created from Bukombe)

Mkalama (capital Nduguti, created from Iramba)

Mlele (capital Inyonga, created from Mpanda)

Momba (capital Chitete, created from Mbozi)

Nyang’hwale (capital Kharumwa, created from Geita)

Nyasa (capital Mbamba Bay, created from Mbinga)

Uvinza (capital Lugufu, created from Kigoma)

and Wanging’ombe (capital Igwachanya, created from Njombe).