Country Summary
This page presents high-level information for Tanzania's climate zones and its seasonal cycle for mean temperature and precipitation for the latest climatology, 1991-2020. Climate zone classifications are derived from the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system, which divides climates into five main climate groups divided based on seasonal precipitation and temperature patterns. The five main groups are A (tropical), B (dry), C (temperate), D (continental), and E (polar). All climates except for those in the E group are assigned a seasonal precipitation sub-group (second letter). Climate classifications are identified by hovering your mouse over the legend. A narrative overview of Tanzania's country context and climate is provided following the visualizations.
The United Republic of Tanzania is situated in East Africa between the latitudes of 1° and 12° S and longitudes 30° and 40° E. It is the largest country in East Africa spanning 945,087 square kilometers and boasts the highest point in Africa, with Mount Kilimanjaro standing 5,950 meters high. Highland areas dominate the country except for the coastal strip along the Indian Ocean. The central plateau sits 900-1,800 meters above sea level and is dotted with mountain ranges. Following two decades of sustained growth, Tanzania reached an important milestone in July 2020, when it formally graduated from low-income country to lower-middle-income country status. Tanzania’s growth is supported by its industrial, construction, and agricultural sectors. The country’s population is approximately 59.7 million (2020) people. Tanzania’s rapid population growth has caused the number of people living below the national poverty line to steadily increase. Because a large share of Tanzania’s population is close to the poverty line, even a mild economic shock can push numerous households into poverty, including impacts of climate change. Tanzania is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change on coastal zones, public health, energy supply and demand, infrastructure, water resources, agricultural production and availability of ecosystem goods and services. Tanzania is prone to risks from extreme weather events such as increased seasonal variation in rainfall and temperature, and frequent and prolonged droughts and floods.