District · Mbeya Region
# Mbeya District

Mbeya District is a district of Tanzania in Mbeya Region. It had an estimated 372,045 people in 2020 on 2,814 km² (about 132 per km²). It is divided into 25 wards. 91 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 214 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 372,045 people (2020)
- 2,814 km²
- 25 wards
- 214 mapped services

## How many people live in Mbeya District?

Mbeya District had an estimated 372,045 people in 2020 — 15.8% of Mbeya Region, 56th of 168 districts. There are 1,071 women for every 1,000 men (above the Mbeya Region figure of 1,030). Spread over 2,814 km², that is about 132 people per km², 68th of 168 districts.

41.9% of people are children under 15 and 3.5% are 65 or older; the median age is about 18 years (it is 19 across Mbeya Region). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 83 children and older people.
- 0–4 55,200
- 5–9 50,813
- 10–14 49,945
- 15–19 43,679
- 20–24 33,038
- 25–29 26,875
- 30–34 23,317
- 35–39 20,850
- 40–44 16,820
- 45–49 15,383
- 50–54 9,461
- 55–59 7,753
- 60–64 6,064
- 65–69 5,128
- 70–74 3,647
- 75–79 2,349
- 80+ 1,723

Source: UNFPA via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO).

## Where is Mbeya District?

Mbeya District lies in Mbeya Region, Tanzania. It borders 8 other districts: Chunya District, Ileje District, Makete District, Mbarali District, Mbeya Urban District, Mbozi District, Rungwe District and Songwe District. By area it is the 92nd largest of 170 districts in Tanzania. It covers 7.4% of Mbeya Region. The centre of Mbeya District is about 405 km in a straight line from Dodoma, the capital. The centre point is at 8.9716° S, 33.3908° E.

Source: Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics / UN OCHA ROSA via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO).

## Things to see in and around Mbeya District

OpenStreetMap lists 1 named sights in Mbeya District: 1 zoo.
- Ifisi Zoo · zoo

Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

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

## Know before you go: Mbeya District
- Time zone UTC+3, no daylight saving · Africa/Dar_es_Salaam
- Currency Shilling (TZS)
- Country calling code +255
- Languages Swahili, English, Arabic
- Plug types Type G · 230 V
- Driving side Left
- Postcode format 5 digits (#####)

### Nearest airports
- Songwe Airport (MBI) · Mbeya 14 km

### Nearest railway station

Mbeya (Iyunga), about 5.0 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 12.6 hours, sunrise around 06:22) and shortest in Jun (about 11.6 hours, sunrise around 06:58, sunset around 18:34).

Source: GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03; OurAirports (public domain).

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.

## Wards of Mbeya District
| Ward | Area km² | Localities | Services |
| Bonde la Songwe | 103 | 6 | 18 |
| Igale | 60 | 5 | 6 |
| Igoma | 41 | 3 | 3 |
| Ihango | 167 | 1 | 3 |
| Ijombe | 78 | 8 | 12 |
| Ikukwa | 65 | 1 | 2 |
| Ilembo | 136 | 3 | 13 |
| Ilungu | 241 | 4 | 8 |
| Inyala | 102 | 4 | 9 |
| Isuto | 124 | 2 | 7 |
| Itawa | 110 | 0 | 7 |
| Itewe | 21 | 1 | 4 |
| Iwiji | 151 | 4 | 9 |
| Iwindi | 112 | 7 | 15 |
| Iyunga Mapinduzi | 45 | 2 | 4 |
| Lwanjiro | 323 | 4 | 3 |
| Maendeleo | 35 | 4 | 6 |
| Masoko | 50 | 1 | 5 |
| Mshewe | 456 | 9 | 8 |
| Nsalala | 15 | 0 | 5 |
| Santilya | 103 | 6 | 11 |
| Swaya | 53 | 1 | 7 |
| Tembela | 34 | 4 | 9 |
| Ulenje | 98 | 7 | 7 |
| Utengule Usongwe | 90 | 6 | 33 |

Source: Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics / UN OCHA ROSA via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO); GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features; Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

## Villages and localities in Mbeya District

Open gazetteers list 91 villages, towns and localities in Mbeya District. The largest with a recorded population: Utengule (50,000), Ulenje (12,219) and Ilembo (2,607). Settlements here lie between about 932 m and 2,278 m above sea level (median 1,897 m).
- Darajani
- Hatwelo
- Holeni
- Horongo
- Idiga Songwe
- Idugumbi
- Ifupa
- Igali
- Igoma
- Igoye
- Ihombe
- Ilembo
- Ilembo Usafwa
- Ileya
- Ilomba
- Imezu
- Inuka
- Inyala
- Ipinda
- Irambo
- Isale
- Isangala
- Isangate
- Isebe
- Isongole
- Isonso
- Isuto
- Iswago
- Itala
- Itambalila
- Itekenya
- Itete
- Itewe
- Iwala
- Iwalanje
- Iwindi
- Izumbwe
- Izumbwe I
- Izyira
- Kasale
- Kawetiri
- Kikondo
- Kimondo
- Kisanga
- Lusungo
- Makwenje
- Malangali
- Malowe
- Mantanji
- Mapogoro
- Masewe
- Mashese
- Matanji (Subvillage of Santilya)
- Mbalizi
- Mbonile
- Mjele
- Mkuyuni
- Mole
- Msanyila
- Mshewe
- Mtyeti (Subvillage of Santilya)
- Muvwa
- Mwampalala
- Mwanadasi
- Mwansanga
- Mwanzazi
- Mwaselela
- Mwashiwawala
- Mwatezi
- Ngoha
- Njelenje Village
- Njiapanda
- Nsambya
- Nsongwe Juu
- Nsongwe Matanjini
- Ntangano
- Nyalwela
- Santilya
- Shilanga
- Shisonta
- Shizuvi
- Shongo
- Simambwe
- Songwe
- Songwe Viwandani
- Soweto (Subvillage of Santilya)
- Ulenje
- Usoha Muungano
- Utambalila
- Utengule
- Wambishe

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features; © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

## Landscape and landmarks of Mbeya District

Named natural and historic features inside Mbeya District, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

5 rivers and streams.
- Magole
- Mbalizi
- Mlowa River
- Msanyila
- Sele

### Hills and mountains

8 hills; 5 mountains.
- Mbogo · 2,390 m
- Nyanuwa · 2,332 m
- Ngozi · 2,323 m
- Ndumbi · 1,976 m
- Pungulumo · 1,909 m
- Sijiji Hill · 1,899 m
- Hurusi Hill · 1,884 m
- Luwanjilo Hill · 1,884 m
- Chalangwa · 1,864 m
- Sanga Hill · 1,752 m
- Mpembe · 1,744 m
- Ntumba · 1,452 m
- Gulumbi · 1,146 m

### Forests and nature

8 forest reserves.
- Chuvwi Forest Reserve
- Ihoho Forest Reserve
- Irenga Forest Reserve
- Mbeya Range Forest Reserve
- Mpara Local Authority Forest Reserve
- Ndugumia Local Authority Forest Reserve
- Umalila Forest Reserve
- Usafwa North Forest Reserve

### Getting around

1 airport.
- Songwe Airport

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features.

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

## Weather in Mbeya District and the best time to visit

In Mbeya District, the warmest month is Oct (average 23 °C) and the coolest is Jul (16 °C). About 1,203 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Dec (277 mm) and the driest Sep (2 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are April to November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
| Month | Average °C | Rain mm |
| Jan | 20 | 247 |
| Feb | 20 | 195 |
| Mar | 20 | 210 |
| Apr | 19 | 109 |
| May | 18 | 21 |
| Jun | 16 | 8 |
| Jul | 16 | 5 |
| Aug | 18 | 3 |
| Sep | 21 | 2 |
| Oct | 23 | 25 |
| Nov | 22 | 101 |
| Dec | 21 | 277 |

Source: NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Mbeya District

Places mapped inside Mbeya District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.
- Hospitals 6
- Banks 2
- Petrol pumps 2
- Hotels 8
- Schools 191
- Colleges and universities 4
- Restaurants 1

Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

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

## Quick answers
- Where is Mbeya District? In Mbeya Region, Tanzania
- What is the population of Mbeya District? 372,045 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in Mbeya District? About 18 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of Mbeya District? About 132 people per km²
- What borders Mbeya District? Chunya District, Ileje District, Makete District, Mbarali District, Mbeya Urban District, Mbozi District, Rungwe District and Songwe District
- What is there to see in Mbeya District? Ifisi Zoo
- What time zone is Mbeya District in? UTC+3
- What currency is used in Mbeya District? Shilling (TZS)
- What language is spoken in Mbeya District? Swahili, English, Arabic (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Mbeya District? 91 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Mbeya District? Settlements lie between 932 m and 2,278 m
- What is the highest point in Mbeya District? Mbogo (2,390 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Mbeya District? April to November
- How many hospitals are in Mbeya District? 6 mapped
- How many banks are in Mbeya District? 2 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Mbeya District? 2 mapped
- What is the P-code of Mbeya District? TZ1202 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: District
- Area: 2,814.5 km²
- P-code: TZ1202
- Region: Mbeya Region

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Canonical: https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/mbeya/mbeya/ · Updated 2026-11-03 · Data: national censuses and statistics offices (sources named in each section); © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); Overture Maps; GeoNames; NASA POWER.