As of 2024, the top 1% in Tanzania earned 18.15% of total national income, while the bottom 50% received just 12.95%. Tanzania’s income inequality has increased since 1980, when the top 1% share was 11.55%.
Key Income Distribution Metrics for Tanzania in 2024
In 2024, income in Tanzania was distributed as follows: the wealthiest 1% of the population captured 18.15% of total national income, which is slightly higher than the global average of 16.17%. Meanwhile, the bottom half of earners received 12.95% of income, slightly lower than the global average of 14.97%.
| Metric | Tanzania | Global Average |
|---|---|---|
| Top 1% Income Share | 18.15% | 16.17% |
| Top 10% Income Share | 51.37% | 45.21% |
| Bottom 50% Income Share | 12.95% | 14.97% |
How Has Income Inequality Changed in Tanzania?
Top 1% Income Share Trend (1980-2024)
The share of income going to Tanzania’s top 1% has increased over the past 44 years. In 1980, the top 1% captured 11.55% of national income. By 2024, this figure had risen by 6.60 percentage points to 18.15%.
Top 10% vs Bottom 50% Income Gap Over Time
The income gap between the top 10% and bottom 50% in Tanzania has widened over this period. In 1980, the top 10% earned 43.14% while the bottom 50% received 15.77%. By 2024, these figures shifted to 51.37% and 12.95% respectively.
| Year | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% | Gap (Top 10 – Bottom 50) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 11.55% | 43.14% | 15.77% | 27.37 pp |
| 1986 | 11.55% | 43.14% | 15.77% | 27.37 pp |
| 1992 | 11.68% | 43.39% | 15.64% | 27.75 pp |
| 1998 | 12.44% | 44.91% | 14.90% | 30.01 pp |
| 2004 | 14.65% | 47.75% | 13.90% | 33.85 pp |
| 2010 | 16.34% | 48.98% | 13.93% | 35.05 pp |
| 2016 | 17.86% | 50.94% | 13.15% | 37.79 pp |
| 2022 | 18.15% | 51.37% | 12.95% | 38.42 pp |
How Tanzania Compares Globally
Tanzania vs Africa Average
Compared to other countries in Africa, Tanzania’s top 1% income share of 18.15% is slightly higher than the regional average of 15.62%. The bottom 50% in Tanzania receives 12.95% of income, compared to the Africa average of 13.46%.
Where Tanzania Ranks Among All Countries
- Top 1% income concentration: Tanzania ranks 56th out of 184 countries (higher rank = more concentrated wealth at the top)
- Bottom 50% income share: Tanzania ranks 129th out of 184 countries (higher rank = larger share for the bottom half)
Countries with similar income inequality levels to Tanzania include Costa Rica's wealth gap, Cambodia's income inequality, Argentina's income inequality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income share of the top 1% in Tanzania?
As of 2024, the top 1% in Tanzania earned 18.15% of total national income. This level of concentration is considered high by international standards.
Is income inequality increasing or decreasing in Tanzania?
Income inequality in Tanzania has increased since 1980. The top 1% income share moved from 11.55% in 1980 to 18.15% in 2024.
What percentage of income goes to the bottom 50% in Tanzania?
In 2024, the bottom 50% of earners in Tanzania received 12.95% of total national income. This compares with the top 10% who captured 51.37%.
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Data source: World Inequality Database (WID). This dataset covers income distribution metrics for 199 countries from 1980 to 2024.