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Tanga
Region
From top to bottom: Building in Tanga District, Funguni Island of Pangani District and Tongoni Ruins
Nickname(s): Mini Tanzania; the love region
Location in Tanzania
Coordinates: 5°18′18″S 38°18′59.76″E / 5.30500°S 38.3166000°E / -5.30500; 38.3166000
Country	Tanzania
Zone	Northern
Named for	The port of Tanga
Capital	Tanga
Districts	List Handeni District Kilindi District Korogwe District Lushoto District Muheza District Mkinga District Pangani District Tanga District Korogwe Urban District Bumbuli District
Government
• Regional Commissioner	Omary Mgumba
Area
• Total	26,677 km (10,300 sq mi)
• Rank	15th of 31
Highest elevation	2,289 m (7,510 ft)
Population
• Total	2,615,597
• Rank	8th of 31
• Density	98/km (250/sq mi)
Demonym	Tangan
Ethnic groups
• Settler	Swahili
• Native	Shambaa, Digo, Bondei, Segeju, Mbugu, Nguu, Dhaiso & Zigua
Time zone	UTC+3 (EAT)
Postcode	21xxx
Area code	027
ISO 3166 code	TZ-25
HDI (2021)	0.569 medium · 8th of 25
Website	Official website
Symbols of Tanzania
Bird	Usambara Weaver
Butterfly	Hypolimnas usambara
Fish	African coelacanth
Mammal	Black Rhino
Tree	Ocotea usambarensis
Mineral	Quartzite

Tanga Region (Mkoa wa Tanga in Swahili) is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The region covers an area of 26,667 km (10,296 sq mi). The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of Burundi. The regional capital is the municipality of Tanga city. Located in northeast Tanzania, the region is bordered by Kenya and Kilimanjaro Region to the north; Manyara Region to the west; and Morogoro and Pwani Regions to the south. It has a coastline to the east with the Indian Ocean. According to the 2022 national census, the region had a population of 2,615,597.

History

The region was previously known as Tanga Province and included Same and Mwanga Districts that are at present in Kilimanjaro Region.

Geography

Geology and terrain

Tanga Region is the 15th largest region by size with an area of 26,667 km (10,296 sq mi), after Songwe Region at 27,656 km (10,678 sq mi). An area occupying 3% of the country. In comparison, Tanga is larger than the African nation of Burundi at 25,680 square kilometers. The Tanga Region shares land borders with four other regions and three regions across the Pemba Channel namely; Pemba North Region, Pemba South Region and Zanzibar North. Tanga northwestern area is of high elevation, home to the Usambara Mountains with Tanga Region's highest point being Chambolo peak at 2,289 meters above sea level. The largest and longest river in Tanga Region is the Pangani River, fed by the Umkomazi River, Soni River and the Lwengera River. Tanga Region is located between 4 and 6 degrees south of the Equator. Another major river, the Mligasi River forms the southern border between Pwani Region and Tanga Region. Tanga Region is also home to largest cave system in East Africa, the Amboni Caves located a few kilometers north of Tanga city.

Flora and Fauna

Tanga is home to rich biodiversity of plants and animals. Tanga Region is home to two major national parks, Mkomazi National Park, shared with southern Kilimanjaro Region. The park is home to the endangered Black rhinoceros and the African wild dog. The second national park in Tanga Region is the Saadani National Park, The only national park in the country that shares an ocean coastline.

In the northwestern portion of the region is the Usambara mountains with the Amani Nature Reserve, home to the endemic fauna such as Amani Forest Tree Frog and Usambara torrent frog. In the forest, rare bird species like the Usambara eagle-owl, Usambara weaver, Usambara thrush and the Usambara double-collared sunbird are found. In addition, rare reptiles such as Usambara dwarf gecko, and endangered mammals such as the Usambara shrew are also found in the mountains. Just off the coast of Tanga is home to the Coelacanth. Tanga has one of the largest protected marine parks, Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park . The endangered Dugong is found off the coast in Mkinga District near Kirui Island.

Climate

Tanga Region has a tropical savanna climate with the Köppen climate classification of 49 and Aw. Western Tanga on the Handeni plateau is semi-arid and dry. Where are the Usambara mountains share a more temperate climate. Tanga Region receives annual precipitation level of 1,100 to 1,400 millimeters, often raining in April to May during the Wet season. Western Tanga Region gets less annual rainfall at 600mm annually, whilst some parts of the Usambara mountains receive up to 2,000mm annually. The average temperature range during the hot months of December to March is a high of 32 and a low of 26 degrees C. In comparison, the average temperature range during the cooler months of May to October is a high of 28 and a low of 20 degrees C.

Demographics

Population

Tanga Region's population in 2012 was around 2,045,205. Lushoto District having the highest population of 492,441. Pangani District has the lowest population of 54,025. Tanga is home to around six major indigenous ethnic groups. It is the ancestral home to the Bondei people located on the central east coast of the Tanga Region, the majority in Pangani district and Muheza District. Most of western Tanga is home to the Zigula people, the majority in Handeni District.

The Sambaa, the largest ethnic group in Tanga Region, are mostly found in the northern Tanga Region in the western Usambaras, Lushoto district, western Korogwe District and northern Muheza district. The Digo people and the Segeju people are a small minority within Mkinga District in the northeastern Tanga Region. Lastly the Ngulu people are native on the southwestern corner of Tanga Region's Kilindi District. Other smaller ethnic groups in Tanga Region include Mbugu and Pare people. More recently in history, immigrants from other parts of the country and abroad have found economic opportunities in Tanga Region, including Indians and Arabs.

Religious communities

The majority of Tanga Region residents practice Sunni Islam with elements of African traditional faiths since the introduction of Islam to the Tangan coast through trade during the Swahili era in the 9th and 10th centuries.

Economy

Agriculture

Tanga is one of East Africa's largest agricultural producers, especially Citrus fruits. Agriculture is the biggest employer in Tanga Region. The coastal belt 0-15m above sea level covers most of Pangani district, a small coastal strip of Muheza district, Tanga and Mkinga districts. Crops grown in this Tanga coastal belt are coconuts, sisal, cashews, maize, cassava, rice and seaweed. Crops grown in the wet plains of Tanga are similar to the coastal belt minus the seaweed, but include cotton.

Administrative divisions

Districts

Tanga Region is divided into eleven districts, each administered by a council:

Districts of Tanga Region
Map	District	Population (2012 Census)	Population (2022 Census)
	Handeni District	276,646	384,353
	Handeni Town	79,056	108,968
	Kilindi District	236,833	398,391
	Korogwe District	242,038	272,870
	Korogwe Town	68,308	86,551
	Lushoto District	332,436	350,958
	Muheza District	204,461	238,260
	Mkinga District	118,065	146,802
	Pangani District	54,025	75,642
	Tanga City	273,332	393,429
	Bumbuli District	160,005	159,373
Total		2,045,205	2,615,597

Notable people

• George Kinyonga, musician
• Bill Nass, musician
• John Kijazi, Tanzanian politician
• Mbegha, 19th Century Sambaa King.
• Kimweri ye Nyumbai, 19th Century Sambaa King.
• Kimweri Mputa Magogo, Last Shambaa King of the Kilindi dynasty.
• Shabaan bin Robert, National Poet of Tanzania.
• Kleist Sykes, Political activist, one of the founding fathers of Tanganyika.
• Abdi Banda, Tanzanian football player.
• Sudhar Bhuchar, British actor.
• Ronald V. Clarke, British criminologist
• Gadiel Kamagi, Tanzanian football player
• Bashir Khanbhai, British politician
• Rashid Matumla, Tanzanian boxer
• Michael Riegels, British barrister
• Hassan Mwakinyo, Tanzanian boxer

References

1. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2020-02-26.
2. "Tanga Region Size".
3. 25,680 km (9,920 sq mi) for Burundi at "Area size comparison". Nations Online. 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
4. "Tanga Region Profile" (PDF). The Planning Commission, Dar es Salaam. 1997. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
5. ^ "Tanzania: Regions and Cities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
6. "Tanzania country profile" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-31. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
7. "Usambara Peaks". peakvisor. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
8. "Amboni Caves". Showcaves. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
9. "Amani Forest". Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
10. "Marineparks Tanzania" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
11. "Tanga climate and Weather". Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
12. ^ "2012 Population and Housing Census" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
13. Willis, Justin (1992). "The Makings of a Tribe: Bondei Identities and Histories". The Journal of African History. 33 (2): 191–208. ISSN 0021-8537. Archived from the original on 2021-10-24. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
14. "Tanga Region Profile" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
15. "Tanga Region - Councils". Tanga Region. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
16. "Tanga (Region, Tanzania) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2024-02-09.

External links

• Official website
• Tanga Region Socio-Economic Profile

v t e Regions of Tanzania
Mainland Tanzania	Arusha Dar es Salaam Dodoma Geita Iringa Kagera Katavi Kigoma Kilimanjaro Lindi Manyara Mara Mbeya Morogoro Mtwara Mwanza Njombe Pwani Rukwa Ruvuma Shinyanga Simiyu Singida Songwe Tabora Tanga
Zanzibar Archipelago	Mjini Magharibi Pemba North Pemba South Unguja North Unguja South

• Tanga Region
• Regions of Tanzania
• Tanga, Tanzania