Region · Tanzania
# Shinyanga Region

Shinyanga Region is a region of Tanzania. It had an estimated 1,894,684 people in 2020 on 16,438 km² (about 115 per km²). Its main town is Shinyanga. It is divided into 5 districts. 574 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 1,044 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 1,894,684 people (2020)
- 16,438 km²
- 5 districts
- 1,044 mapped services

## How many people live in Shinyanga Region?

Shinyanga Region had an estimated 1,894,684 people in 2020 — 3.2% of Tanzania, 16th of 31 regions. There are 994 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Tanzania figure of 1,003). Spread over 16,438 km², that is about 115 people per km², 10th of 31 regions.

46.4% of people are children under 15 and 2.7% are 65 or older; the median age is about 17 years (it is 18 across Tanzania). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 96 children and older people.
- 0–4 338,308
- 5–9 289,177
- 10–14 251,724
- 15–19 219,094
- 20–24 177,546
- 25–29 133,546
- 30–34 109,689
- 35–39 93,023
- 40–44 78,448
- 45–49 54,577
- 50–54 43,630
- 55–59 30,115
- 60–64 25,019
- 65–69 19,541
- 70–74 14,452
- 75–79 9,266
- 80+ 7,529

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

## Where is Shinyanga Region?

Shinyanga Region lies in Tanzania. It borders 5 other regions: Geita Region, Mwanza Region, Simiyu Region, Singida Region and Tabora Region. By area it is the 23rd largest of 31 regions in Tanzania. It covers 1.9% of Tanzania. The centre of Shinyanga Region is about 386 km in a straight line from Dodoma, the capital. The centre point is at 3.7598° S, 33.2313° 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 Shinyanga Region

OpenStreetMap lists 4 named sights in Shinyanga Region: 3 attractions; 1 waterfall.
- CASCADA DE MIGUEL · waterfall
- Ibinzamata Fishi point · attraction
- Mazingira centre · attraction
- Shinyanga airport · attraction

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: Shinyanga 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 (#####)

### Nearest airports
- Shinyanga Airport (SHY) · Shinyanga 35 km
- Mwanza International Airport (MWZ) · Mwanza 150 km

### Nearest railway station

Shinyanga (Chamaguha), about 24 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 12.3 hours, sunrise around 06:32) and shortest in Jun (about 11.9 hours, sunrise around 06:49, sunset around 18:44).
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
| Jan | 06:46 | 19:05 | 12.3 h |
| Feb | 06:54 | 19:08 | 12.2 h |
| Mar | 06:52 | 19:00 | 12.1 h |
| Apr | 06:46 | 18:48 | 12.0 h |
| May | 06:44 | 18:41 | 11.9 h |
| Jun | 06:49 | 18:44 | 11.9 h |
| Jul | 06:55 | 18:50 | 11.9 h |
| Aug | 06:52 | 18:51 | 12.0 h |
| Sep | 06:39 | 18:44 | 12.1 h |
| Oct | 06:27 | 18:38 | 12.2 h |
| Nov | 06:23 | 18:40 | 12.3 h |
| Dec | 06:32 | 18:52 | 12.3 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 Shinyanga Region
| District | People | per km² | Area km² | Wards | Services |
| Kahama District | 639,206 | 95 | 6,759 | 35 | 245 |
| Shinyanga District | 407,334 | 114 | 3,572 | 26 | 211 |
| Kahama Township Authority District | 339,957 | 249 | 1,364 | 20 | 194 |
| Kishapu District | 320,311 | 77 | 4,186 | 20 | 164 |
| Shinyanga Urban District | 187,876 | 338 | 555 | 17 | 230 |

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 Shinyanga Region
- Kahama 453,654
- Shinyanga 139,727
- Old Shinyanga 23,747
- Songwa 23,618
- Mwadui 23,296
- Tinde 22,082
- Mhango 21,553
- Isaka 21,094
- Kishapu 16,371

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 Shinyanga Region

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

### Water

27 rivers and streams; 2 dams.
- Beledi
- Bufu River
- Buhusho
- Du Toit Dam
- Dungoshilo
- Gaga River
- Hundagi
- Isela
- Kagoji
- Kidalu
- Kigosi
- Kunze
- Magogo River
- Mango River
- Mgogo
- Mhala River
- Mimbi
- Minyanda River
- Mwahundia
- Mwamhule
- Mwandugolinda
- Mwashagi
- Nhumbu Dam
- Nhumbu River

…and 5 more.

### Hills and mountains

56 hills; 2 peaks.
- Jom · 1,358 m
- Mwamkumbi · 1,316 m
- Nyamhanga · 1,315 m
- Shigwa · 1,308 m
- Buganzo · 1,298 m
- Mungwe · 1,295 m
- Ihapula · 1,289 m
- Miyabi · 1,286 m
- Imalange · 1,276 m
- Igula · 1,271 m
- Nyankende · 1,269 m
- Usanda · 1,267 m
- Mwagalangkulu · 1,266 m
- Lugulu · 1,265 m
- Mega · 1,260 m
- Luhaga · 1,257 m
- Shareka · 1,254 m
- Busenda · 1,249 m
- Nundu · 1,247 m
- Igusa · 1,243 m
- Kayege · 1,242 m
- Nyambesi · 1,241 m
- Buhondo · 1,240 m
- Galukilo · 1,240 m

…and 34 more.

### Forests and nature

10 forest reserves.
- Boyoga Hill Forest Reserve
- Buyange Forest Reserve
- Lubaga Forest Reserve
- Manongno Forest Reserve
- Mwangilye Hill Forest Reserve
- Mwantine Forest Reserve
- Mwatunge Hill Forest Reserve
- Nindo Forest Reserve
- Nyamalanga Hill Forest Reserve
- Old Shinyanga Forest Reserve

### Getting around

3 airfields; 2 airports.
- Buzwagi Airport
- Mwadui
- Mwadui Airport
- Shinga Southeast
- Shinyanga 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 Shinyanga Region and the best time to visit

In Shinyanga Region, the warmest month is Oct (average 26 °C) and the coolest is Jul (22 °C). About 967 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Dec (184 mm) and the driest Jul (2 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are February and May to October.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
| Month | Average °C | Rain mm |
| Jan | 22 | 142 |
| Feb | 23 | 108 |
| Mar | 23 | 139 |
| Apr | 23 | 120 |
| May | 23 | 39 |
| Jun | 22 | 5 |
| Jul | 22 | 2 |
| Aug | 24 | 4 |
| Sep | 26 | 9 |
| Oct | 26 | 53 |
| Nov | 24 | 161 |
| Dec | 23 | 184 |

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Shinyanga Region

Places mapped inside Shinyanga Region in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.
- Hospitals 40
- Banks 22
- ATMs 2
- Petrol pumps 33
- Hotels 125
- Schools 763
- Colleges and universities 13
- Pharmacies 22
- Restaurants 19
- Police stations 5

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 Shinyanga Region? In Tanzania
- What is the population of Shinyanga Region? 1,894,684 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in Shinyanga Region? About 17 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of Shinyanga Region? About 115 people per km²
- What borders Shinyanga Region? Geita Region, Mwanza Region, Simiyu Region, Singida Region and Tabora Region
- What is there to see in Shinyanga Region? CASCADA DE MIGUEL, Ibinzamata Fishi point, Mazingira centre, Shinyanga airport
- What time zone is Shinyanga Region in? UTC+3
- What currency is used in Shinyanga Region? Shilling (TZS)
- What language is spoken in Shinyanga Region? Swahili, English, Arabic (main languages nationally)
- What is the largest town in Shinyanga Region? Kahama
- What is the highest point in Shinyanga Region? Jom (1,358 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Shinyanga Region? February and May to October
- How many hospitals are in Shinyanga Region? 40 mapped
- How many banks are in Shinyanga Region? 22 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Shinyanga Region? 2 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Shinyanga Region? 33 mapped
- What is the P-code of Shinyanga Region? TZ17 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Region
- Area: 16,438.5 km²
- P-code: TZ17
- Main town: Shinyanga

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