Region · Tanzania
# Ruvuma Region

Ruvuma Region is a region of Tanzania. It had an estimated 1,690,279 people in 2020 on 62,784 km² (about 27 per km²). Its main town is Songea. It is divided into 6 districts. 529 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 960 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 1,690,279 people (2020)
- 62,784 km²
- 6 districts
- 960 mapped services

## How many people live in Ruvuma Region?

Ruvuma Region had an estimated 1,690,279 people in 2020 — 2.9% of Tanzania, 18th of 31 regions. There are 1,011 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Tanzania figure of 1,003). Spread over 62,784 km², that is about 27 people per km², 29th of 31 regions.

42.0% of people are children under 15 and 3.4% are 65 or older; the median age is about 19 years (it is 18 across Tanzania). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 83 children and older people.
- 0–4 245,608
- 5–9 240,512
- 10–14 223,071
- 15–19 176,859
- 20–24 144,031
- 25–29 130,148
- 30–34 111,039
- 35–39 96,553
- 40–44 80,318
- 45–49 68,231
- 50–54 47,771
- 55–59 37,206
- 60–64 31,429
- 65–69 24,089
- 70–74 16,140
- 75–79 10,873
- 80+ 6,401

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

## Where is Ruvuma Region?

Ruvuma Region lies in Tanzania. It borders 4 other regions: Lindi Region, Morogoro Region, Mtwara Region and Njombe Region. By area it is the 4th largest of 31 regions in Tanzania. It covers 7.1% of Tanzania. The centre of Ruvuma Region is about 484 km in a straight line from Dodoma, the capital. The centre point is at 10.5051° S, 36.1723° 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 Ruvuma Region

OpenStreetMap lists 9 named sights in Ruvuma Region: 9 nature reserves.
- Chingoli Wildlife Management Area · nature reserve
- Kibanda Widlife Management Area · nature reserve
- Kisungule Widlife Management Area · nature reserve
- Liparamba Game Resserve · nature reserve
- Litumbandyosi-Gesimasowa Proposed Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Mbarangandu Wildlife Management Area · nature reserve
- Muhuwesi Nature Forest Reserve · nature reserve
- Mwambesi Nature Forest Reserve · nature reserve
- Nalika Widlife Management Area · nature reserve

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: Ruvuma Region
- 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 (#####)

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 12.7 hours, sunrise around 06:08) and shortest in Jun (about 11.5 hours, sunrise around 06:49, sunset around 18:20).
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
| Jan | 06:23 | 19:04 | 12.7 h |
| Feb | 06:36 | 19:02 | 12.4 h |
| Mar | 06:39 | 18:50 | 12.2 h |
| Apr | 06:39 | 18:31 | 11.9 h |
| May | 06:42 | 18:20 | 11.6 h |
| Jun | 06:49 | 18:20 | 11.5 h |
| Jul | 06:54 | 18:27 | 11.6 h |
| Aug | 06:47 | 18:32 | 11.8 h |
| Sep | 06:29 | 18:31 | 12.0 h |
| Oct | 06:11 | 18:30 | 12.3 h |
| Nov | 06:02 | 18:37 | 12.6 h |
| Dec | 06:08 | 18:52 | 12.7 h |

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.

## Districts of Ruvuma Region
| District | People | per km² | Area km² | Wards | Services |
| Mbinga District | 426,839 | 88 | 4,844 | 34 | 268 |
| Tunduru District | 360,350 | 20 | 18,427 | 35 | 170 |
| Songea Urban District | 290,520 | 502 | 579 | 21 | 137 |
| Namtumbo District | 234,713 | 11 | 21,775 | 18 | 136 |
| Songea District | 191,415 | 14 | 14,054 | 17 | 125 |
| Nyasa District | 186,442 | 61 | 3,066 | 15 | 124 |

Source: Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics / UN OCHA ROSA via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO); UNFPA via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO).

## Largest towns in Ruvuma Region
- Songea 286,285
- Mbinga 60,868
- Tunduru 48,000
- Kigonsera 22,155
- Maposeni 19,472
- Matiri 18,830
- Tingi 16,315
- Mahanje 15,009

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

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

## Landscape and landmarks of Ruvuma Region

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

### Water

131 rivers and streams; 1 lake.
- Chawisi
- Chokaa
- Gedeyeya
- Haisi
- Hanga
- Horobo
- Itoa
- Kilangila
- Kilindi
- Kiyoka
- Komboni
- Lake Liteho
- Ligenye
- Ligera
- Ligoma
- Lihutu
- Likawa
- Likonde
- Likuyu
- Likuyu
- Lilehangule
- Lilondi
- Litapwasi
- Litete

…and 108 more.

### Hills and mountains

83 hills.
- Lukukura · 1,708 m
- Mambanga · 1,620 m
- Lupiru · 1,583 m
- Kitesa · 1,559 m
- Nyanyamenda · 1,541 m
- Maramasi · 1,530 m
- Kinjeyi · 1,515 m
- Ujagaju · 1,497 m
- Kuvani · 1,484 m
- Ngomalampepo · 1,457 m
- Ulemero · 1,439 m
- Njiaya Panda · 1,434 m
- Pembe la Mbogu · 1,434 m
- Marara · 1,424 m
- Kihehe · 1,411 m
- Lunyanya · 1,391 m
- Kitumbaromo · 1,384 m
- Lipumba · 1,379 m
- Kipulila · 1,363 m
- Magazini · 1,341 m
- Ndondata · 1,341 m
- Chanyuki · 1,329 m
- Nyapi · 1,309 m
- Mahuka · 1,306 m

…and 59 more.

### Forests and nature

3 forest reserves.
- Muhuwesi Forest Reserve
- Mwambesi Forest Reserve
- Sasawara Forest Reserve

### Getting around

4 airfields; 1 airport.
- Liuli
- Matemanga
- Mbamba Bay
- Mbesa
- Songea 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 Ruvuma Region and the best time to visit

In Ruvuma Region, the warmest month is Nov (average 26 °C) and the coolest is Jul (18 °C). About 1,222 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (298 mm) and the driest Sep (3 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 | 23 | 298 |
| Feb | 23 | 222 |
| Mar | 22 | 230 |
| Apr | 21 | 119 |
| May | 20 | 38 |
| Jun | 18 | 11 |
| Jul | 18 | 5 |
| Aug | 20 | 4 |
| Sep | 23 | 3 |
| Oct | 25 | 16 |
| Nov | 26 | 70 |
| Dec | 24 | 207 |

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Ruvuma Region

Places mapped inside Ruvuma Region in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.
- Hospitals 20
- Banks 11
- Petrol pumps 3
- Hotels 23
- Schools 891
- Colleges and universities 4
- Pharmacies 1
- Restaurants 7

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 Ruvuma Region? In Tanzania
- What is the population of Ruvuma Region? 1,690,279 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in Ruvuma Region? About 19 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of Ruvuma Region? About 27 people per km²
- What borders Ruvuma Region? Lindi Region, Morogoro Region, Mtwara Region and Njombe Region
- What is there to see in Ruvuma Region? Chingoli Wildlife Management Area, Kibanda Widlife Management Area, Kisungule Widlife Management Area, Liparamba Game Resserve
- What time zone is Ruvuma Region in? UTC+3
- What currency is used in Ruvuma Region? Shilling (TZS)
- What language is spoken in Ruvuma Region? Swahili, English, Arabic (main languages nationally)
- What is the largest town in Ruvuma Region? Songea
- What is the highest point in Ruvuma Region? Lukukura (1,708 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Ruvuma Region? April to November
- How many hospitals are in Ruvuma Region? 20 mapped
- How many banks are in Ruvuma Region? 11 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Ruvuma Region? 3 mapped
- What is the P-code of Ruvuma Region? TZ10 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Region
- Area: 62,784.1 km²
- P-code: TZ10
- Main town: Songea

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