Description

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Context

In 2024 Tanzania recorded its hottest year since 1970 with extreme nighttime warming & fourth wettest year on record, driven by El Niño & Indian Ocean Dipole threatening food security & agriculture in region.

Key Highlights

Temperature Trends

Aspect	Details
Average National Temperature (2024)	24.3°C which is 0.7°C above long-term average making it hottest year since record-keeping began in 1970.
Nighttime Minimum Temperature	19.3°C which is 1.1°C above normal highlighting a pronounced warming trend at night.
Daytime Maximum Temperature	Averaged 28.8°C which is only 0.4°C above average showing disproportionate nighttime warming.
Regional Extremes	Lake Victoria basin, northeastern highlands, northern coast, Unguja & Pemba islands +1°C to +2°C anomaly in minimum temperatures. Central, inland coastal & western regions +0°C to +1°C anomaly.
Monthly Record-Breakers	July 2024 Highest anomaly of +1.1°C above average. February Third warmest February on record since 1970 (+1.5°C above average). May, June, November Warmest ever for their respective months in 55 years.
Minimum Temp Dominance	11 of 12 months in 2024 saw minimum temperature anomalies exceed maximum temperature anomalies.

Rainfall Patterns

Aspect	Details
Annual Rainfall	1,307.6 mm which is 285.2 mm (28%) above long-term average making 2024 wettest year in two decades.
Seasonal Rainfall (Nov 2023 – Apr 2024)	1,354.6 mm equaling 172% of long-term average wettest seasonal total since 1970.
January 2024	Wettest January on record particularly for eastern Tanzania rainfall over 200% of normal in many areas.
April & May 2024	Fifth wettest April since 1970. Ninth driest May showing increased variability post wet season.

Climatic Drivers & Anomalies

Climatic Driver	Impact in 2024
El Niño	Strong influence in causing above-average rainfall during Nov to Apr rainy season.
Positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)	Intensified wet season particularly in northeast & eastern Tanzania.
Climate Trend	Aligns with 2024 study in Nature projecting increased warm nights under RCP4.5 scenario.

Agricultural & Societal Impacts

Area	Impact
Food Security	Threatened due to erratic rainfall & temperature extremes especially affecting maize yield as highlighted in TMA’s 2017 projections.
Livelihood Vulnerability	80% of Tanzanians depend on agriculture making them extremely vulnerable to climate shocks.
Public Health	Nighttime heat increases risk of heat stress, vector-borne diseases & disrupted sleep cycles especially in children & elderly.

Tanzania

Category	Details
Country Name	United Republic of Tanzania
Capital	Dodoma (Official Capital since 1974)
Commercial Capital	Dar es Salaam (Largest city & major economic hub)
Location	East Africa, just south of Equator lying between 1°S & 12°S latitude
Coordinates	6°18′ S, 34°51′ E
Bordering Countries	North Kenya, Uganda West Rwanda, Burundi, DR Congo South Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique
Total Area	945,087 sq km (13th largest in Africa)
Coastline	Indian Ocean 1,424 km of coastal stretch
Major Islands	Unguja (Zanzibar), Pemba, Mafia Island

Topography & Natural Features

Feature	Details
Highest Point	Mount Kilimanjaro 5,895 m (World’s tallest free-standing mountain; dormant stratovolcano)
Lowest Point	Indian Ocean coastline Sea level
Major Plateaus	Central Plateau semi-arid, 1,000 to 1,500 meters elevation
Volcanic Features	Ngorongoro Crater, Ol Doinyo Lengai (active volcano)

Major Water Bodies

Water Body	Details
Lake Victoria	Largest lake in Africa; shared with Kenya & Uganda
Lake Tanganyika	World 2nd deepest lake, longest freshwater lake in world; biodiverse
Lake Nyasa (Malawi)	Third largest in Tanzania; known for cichlid diversity
Major Rivers	Rufiji (largest river system), Ruvuma, Pangani, Malagarasi, Wami, Kagera
Hydropower Dams	Mtera, Kidatu, Kihansi & planned Julius Nyerere Hydropower Station (on Rufiji)

Agriculture & Environment

Agricultural Dependency	Over 80% of population relies on agriculture
Major Crops	Maize (staple), cassava, rice, coffee, tea, cotton, sugarcane, cashews
Impact of Climate Change	Erratic rains, warming nights & droughts threaten maize yields, crop cycles & food security
Major Ecological Zones	Serengeti Plains, Eastern Arc Mountains, Miombo Woodlands, Coastal Forests & wetlands around Lakes Victoria & Tanganyika
Conservation Zones	17 national parks (Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Tarangire), Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Selous Game Reserve
Climate Vulnerability	Coastal areas sea level rise risk Highlands temperature sensitivity Central plateau desertification

Demographics & Social Indicators

Population (2024)	~67 million
Urbanization Rate	~37% (fast-growing cities like Mwanza, Arusha, Mbeya, Dar es Salaam)
Languages	Swahili (official), English (co-official), over 120 local languages
Religion	Christianity (~61%), Islam (~35%), Indigenous beliefs
Climate Risk Impact	Affects livelihoods, displaces rural populations, increases vector-borne diseases, threatens water & food security