Imports of goods and services in Tanzania
Tanzania: Imports of goods and services was 20.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Imports of goods and services in Tanzania, 1990–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Tanzania recorded 20.0% for imports of goods and services in 2025.
The figure is down 7.4% on the previous year and down 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Tanzania peaked at 34.5% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 13.2%, in 2000.
Tanzania ranks 179th of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Imports of goods and services in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 25.8% | — |
| 1991 | 23.2% | -10.2% |
| 1992 | 27.1% | +17.0% |
| 1993 | 32.9% | +21.2% |
| 1994 | 30.0% | -8.6% |
| 1995 | 28.6% | -4.9% |
| 1996 | 22.0% | -23.0% |
| 1997 | 17.7% | -19.6% |
| 1998 | 16.0% | -9.3% |
| 1999 | 14.9% | -7.4% |
| 2000 | 13.2% | -11.3% |
| 2001 | 14.2% | +7.7% |
| 2002 | 13.2% | -6.9% |
| 2003 | 15.4% | +16.2% |
| 2004 | 17.6% | +14.4% |
| 2005 | 20.0% | +13.7% |
| 2006 | 24.4% | +21.9% |
| 2007 | 28.2% | +15.9% |
| 2008 | 29.6% | +4.7% |
| 2009 | 25.3% | -14.3% |
| 2010 | 28.0% | +10.6% |
| 2011 | 34.5% | +23.2% |
| 2012 | 32.0% | -7.3% |
| 2013 | 29.6% | -7.4% |
| 2014 | 27.3% | -7.9% |
| 2015 | 23.7% | -13.3% |
| 2016 | 19.1% | -19.4% |
| 2017 | 17.4% | -8.5% |
| 2018 | 17.9% | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 17.0% | -5.1% |
| 2020 | 14.5% | -14.9% |
| 2021 | 15.8% | +9.2% |
| 2022 | 19.6% | +24.0% |
| 2023 | 21.0% | +7.3% |
| 2024 | 21.6% | +2.7% |
| 2025 | 20.0% | -7.4% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 20.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 41.9%, 48% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 20.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.0%, 67% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 23.8% | 14.9% | 32.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.1% | 13.2% | 29.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.7% | 17.0% | 34.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.7% | 14.5% | 21.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More economy & growth data for Tanzania
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.67 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 6.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 2.26 million BoP, current US$ (2003)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0001 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2003)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0.0609 BoP, current US$ per person (2003)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.72 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 4.16 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0217 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 25.05 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate -14.24 % change on previous year (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services in Tanzania?
- Imports of goods and services in Tanzania was 20.0% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 34.5% in 2011.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.2% in 2000.
- How does Tanzania rank for imports of goods and services?
- Tanzania ranks 179th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Tanzania data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.