Tanzania's population to hit 120 million by 2050, fuelling construction demand
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Tanzania's population is projected to reach about 120 million by 2050, driving demand for housing, transport, commercial buildings and public infrastructure, Lands and Housing Minister Leonard Akwilapo said.
Tanzania's population is projected to reach about 120 million by 2050, driving demand for housing, transport networks, commercial and industrial buildings, hospitals, water and sanitation systems and other public infrastructure, the Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Dr Leonard Akwilapo, has said.
Dr Akwilapo said the growth presented both a challenge and an opportunity for investment, particularly in construction, real estate and infrastructure. He was speaking in Dar es Salaam on September 23, 2026, when he opened the 27th Buildexpo Tanzania 2026, a three-day international trade exhibition bringing together companies and professionals in building and construction products, equipment and machinery.
The minister said Tanzania needed to move beyond increasing construction volumes and focus on delivering buildings and infrastructure that are affordable, inclusive, productive and sustainable. “The important question before us is not simply whether we should build, but how we position ourselves to build better, inclusively, affordably, productively and sustainably in a transformative manner that meets the needs of our growing population,” he said.
He said Tanzania registered 925 investment projects worth more than $10.9 billion last year, reflecting the scale of opportunities emerging across the economy, and that the government would continue improving the business environment and strengthening public-private partnerships to attract more investment. With urbanisation and population growth reshaping the country, he said affordable and decent housing, sustainable human settlements, clean water, sanitation and hygiene should remain central to long-term development planning.
Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade) Trade Promotion Manager Deo Shayo said the government had identified construction and real estate as strategic sectors for economic growth, job creation and improved living standards, and was promoting public-private partnerships to attract more investment. The exhibition has attracted participants from more than 30 countries.