# Katavi Region, Tanzania – Population, Districts & Map

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/katavi/

Region · Tanzania 

# Katavi Region

Katavi Region is a region of Tanzania. It had an estimated **776,274 people** in 2020 on 46,927 km² (about 17 per km²). Its main town is Mpanda. It is divided into 3 districts. 269 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 371 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 776,274people (2020)
- 46,927km²
- 3districts
- 371mapped services

## How many people live in Katavi Region?

Katavi Region had an estimated **776,274 people** in 2020 — 1.3% of Tanzania, 27th of 31 regions. There are 970 women for every 1,000 men (below the Tanzania figure of 1,003). Spread over 46,927 km², that is about **17 people per km²**, 30th of 31 regions.

48.2% of people are children under 15 and 2.2% are 65 or older; the median age is about 16 years (it is 18 across Tanzania). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 102 children and older people.

0–4 ****149,667**

5–9 ****121,684**

10–14 ****103,024**

15–19 ****85,275**

20–24 ****68,853**

25–29 ****56,979**

30–34 ****46,482**

35–39 ****37,942**

40–44 ****29,405**

45–49 ****20,736**

50–54 ****16,429**

55–59 ****12,724**

60–64 ****10,287**

65–69 ****7,134**

70–74 ****4,778**

75–79 ****2,716**

80+ ****2,159**

Source: [UNFPA via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-tza).

## Where is Katavi Region?

Katavi Region lies in [Tanzania](https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/). It borders 4 other regions: [Kigoma Region](https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/kigoma/), [Rukwa Region](https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/rukwa/), [Songwe Region](https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/songwe/) and [Tabora Region](https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/tabora/). By area it is the 6th largest of 31 regions in Tanzania. It covers 5.3% of [Tanzania](https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/). The centre of Katavi Region is about 472 km in a straight line from Dodoma, the capital. The centre point is at 6.3727° S, 31.4719° E.

Source: [Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics / UN OCHA ROSA via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-tza).

## Things to see in and around Katavi Region

OpenStreetMap lists 10 named sights in Katavi Region: 6 nature reserves; 4 attractions.

- Inyonga Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Katavi National Park · nature reserve
- Mlele Game Controlled Area · nature reserve
- Rukwa Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Rungwa River Game Controlled Area · nature reserve
- Ugalla River Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Air strip · attraction
- Beacon Tongwe east · attraction
- Hippo pool · attraction
- Open space-Mascania · attraction

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Katavi Region

- Time zoneUTC+3, no daylight saving · Africa/Dar_es_Salaam
- CurrencyShilling (TZS)
- Country calling code+255
- LanguagesSwahili, English, Arabic
- Plug typesType G · 230 V
- Driving sideLeft
- Postcode format5 digits (#####)

### Nearest airports

- Tabora Airport (TBO) · Tabora208 km
- Kalemie Airport (FMI) · Kalemie252 km

### Nearest railway station

Ndui (Litapunga), about 27 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 12.5 hours, sunrise around 06:34) and shortest in Jun (about 11.8 hours, sunrise around 07:01, sunset around 18:46).

Month Sunrise Sunset Daylight 

Jan 06:49 19:16 12.5 h 

Feb 06:59 19:17 12.3 h 

Mar 06:59 19:08 12.1 h 

Apr 06:55 18:53 12.0 h 

May 06:55 18:45 11.8 h 

Jun 07:01 18:46 11.8 h 

Jul 07:06 18:53 11.8 h 

Aug 07:02 18:55 11.9 h 

Sep 06:47 18:51 12.1 h 

Oct 06:32 18:46 12.2 h 

Nov 06:26 18:50 12.4 h 

Dec 06:34 19:03 12.5 h 

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Districts of Katavi Region

District People per km² Area km² Wards Services 

[Mlele District](https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/katavi/mlele/) 333,634 11 29,652 24 164 

[Mpanda District](https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/katavi/mpanda/) 295,772 17 16,953 9 86 

[Mpanda Urban District](https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/katavi/mpanda-urban/) 146,868 461 319 9 121 

Source: [Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics / UN OCHA ROSA via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-tza); [UNFPA via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-tza).

## Largest towns in Katavi Region

- Mpanda204,338
- Usevia17,742
- Karema12,630
- Inyonga11,790

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Populations as recorded in GeoNames, which may be older than the estimates above.

## Landscape and landmarks of Katavi Region

Named natural and historic features inside Katavi Region, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

88 rivers and streams; 2 lakes.

- Filongo
- Fungu
- Ibindi
- Ihelembe
- Ikaka
- Ikamba
- Ikoso
- Ilole
- Ipati
- Ipwaga
- Itimba
- Kabenga
- Kafufu
- Kalambo
- Kalulu
- Kalungu
- Kamba
- Kampisa
- Kasaka
- Kasenga
- Kassemue
- Katanta
- Katuma
- Kawankara

…and 66 more.

### Hills and mountains

132 hills; 2 mountains.

- Tundu Wa Kanyuni · 1,999 m
- Mwesi · 1,925 m
- Makomayo · 1,914 m
- Makoma · 1,912 m
- Kasiasilungwe · 1,908 m
- Rungwe · 1,889 m
- Sitebi · 1,836 m
- Kasimu · 1,833 m
- Sibesa Hill · 1,824 m
- Ipumba · 1,781 m
- Pasiasi · 1,778 m
- Kubusange · 1,765 m
- Kavunyanyele Hill · 1,763 m
- Itaba · 1,756 m
- Kaheta · 1,755 m
- Ikusu · 1,734 m
- Sifuta · 1,720 m
- Msunga · 1,687 m
- Sipila · 1,669 m
- Msika · 1,661 m
- Kamongo · 1,654 m
- Kasitousi · 1,637 m
- Mganje · 1,632 m
- Mpeta · 1,620 m

…and 110 more.

### Forests and nature

9 forest reserves; 1 wildlife reserve.

- Kabungu Forest Reserve
- Katavi Plain Game Reserve
- Mpanda North East Forest Reserve
- Msaginia Forest Reserve
- Mulele Hills Forest Reserve
- Nkamba Forest Reserve
- Nyonga Forest Reserve
- Rungwa River Forest Reserve
- Ugalla River Forest Reserve
- Uvinza Forest Reserve

### History

1 ruin.

- Old House Ruin

### Getting around

9 airfields; 1 airport.

- Kapapa Airfield, Mpanda
- Lugonesi
- Mishamo
- Mlambala
- Mlele
- Mpanda Airport
- Msima 1
- Msima 2
- Rungwa River
- Shama

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Katavi Region and the best time to visit

In Katavi Region, the warmest month is Oct (average 27 °C) and the coolest is Jul (21 °C). About 1,008 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Dec (208 mm) and the driest Jul (1 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **April to October**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 22 176 

Feb 23 136 

Mar 23 155 

Apr 22 106 

May 23 21 

Jun 22 2 

Jul 21 1 

Aug 24 1 

Sep 26 5 

Oct 27 35 

Nov 25 163 

Dec 23 208 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Katavi Region

Places mapped inside Katavi Region in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.

- Hospitals3
- Banks2
- Petrol pumps6
- Hotels46
- Schools290
- Colleges and universities2
- Pharmacies14
- Restaurants5
- Police stations3

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers

- Where is Katavi Region?In Tanzania
- What is the population of Katavi Region?776,274 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in Katavi Region?About 16 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of Katavi Region?About 17 people per km²
- What borders Katavi Region?Kigoma Region, Rukwa Region, Songwe Region and Tabora Region
- What is there to see in Katavi Region?Air strip, Beacon Tongwe east, Hippo pool, Inyonga Game Reserve
- What time zone is Katavi Region in?UTC+3
- What currency is used in Katavi Region?Shilling (TZS)
- What language is spoken in Katavi Region?Swahili, English, Arabic (main languages nationally)
- What is the largest town in Katavi Region?Mpanda
- What is the highest point in Katavi Region?Tundu Wa Kanyuni (1,999 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Katavi Region?April to October
- How many hospitals are in Katavi Region?3 mapped
- How many banks are in Katavi Region?2 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Katavi Region?6 mapped
- What is the P-code of Katavi Region?TZ23 (OCHA common operational dataset)