Tanzania Vision 2050
Vision 2050: Tanzania aims for a $1T economy, $7K per capita income, modern infrastructure, jobs, gender equality, and global competitiveness.
Tanzania’s new Development Vision 2050 outlines an ambitious national transformation plan: a 1 trillion USD economy by mid-century, raising per capita income from around 1,080 USD in 2020 to 7,000 USD, and securing upper-middle-income country status. This goal builds on the country’s strong record of economic performance with and 6.2% average annual GDP growth rate between 2002 and 2024, but aims higher, targeting performance closer to the 8% rate once envisaged in Vision 2025. To support this trajectory, fiscal reforms will need to lift the tax-to-GDP ratio from its current 11.9% to at least 15.1%, the regional average.
To provide clarity, the Vision is structured sector by sector, covering economic reforms, social development, infrastructure, environment, and governance, with measurable objectives and clear performance benchmarks.
Demography and Human Development
The challenge, and opportunity, lies in a population of 61.7 million, 43% of whom are under 15 years old. Vision 2050 sets out to eradicate extreme poverty and ensure that at least 50% of the workforce holds decent, formal-sector jobs. Social targets include raising life expectancy from 66 to 75 years, eliminating maternal and child mortality, ensuring 90% of children are developmentally on track by age five, and enabling at least 25% of Tanzanians to attain higher education.
Gender equality is central to the plan: by 2050, the aim is to narrow the gender gap index by 85%, putting Tanzania among Africa’s top performers in terms of gender parity. Vision 2050 also aims to deliver universal health coverage, along with nationwide access to safe water, sanitation, clean energy, and affordable housing.
Energy and Infrastructure Goals
On the infrastructure front, the plan foresees a jump in per capita electricity consumption from roughly 170 kWh to 3,000 kWh. Projects such as the 2,115 MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant are central to this expansion, alongside solar, wind, and geothermal development.
The plan also positions Tanzania as the leading trade and logistics hub in East and Central Africa, aiming to significantly reduce freight and insurance costs, which currently account for 35–45% of import values. This will be achieved through the modernization of ports, railways, roads, and airports, all integrated within a coherent national logistics framework.
Environmental Commitments
About 32% of Tanzania’s land is under conservation status. Vision 2050 aims to position the country among Africa’s top ten in climate resilience and environmental performance. With per capita renewable freshwater availability at 2,105 m³, the plan raises concerns over future water stress risks unless urgent actions are implemented
Strategic Sectors
Agriculture, which contributes to 26.5% of GDP and employs 65% of the workforce, will be transformed into a high-tech, value-added sector. Tourism, currently accounting for 25% of export earnings, will expand into ecotourism, cultural heritage, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions). Manufacturing (8.1% of GDP) is projected to grow by 8% annually, while the mining sector (9% of GDP) will shift to more processing of strategic minerals for the energy transition.
Other growth levers include the blue economy, financial services, consumer markets, and the sports and creative industries.
Governance and Monitoring
Implementation will be guided by a 25-year Long-Term Perspective Plan, with the National Planning Commission overseeing coordination. A system of high-frequency data collection and clear key performance indicators (KPIs) will track progress, supported by a framework of incentives and sanctions to ensure institutional accountability.
Conclusion
Tanzania’s Vision 2050 is more than a long-term plan, it is a national ambition to elevate the country into a modern, inclusive, and globally competitive economy. Grounded in consistent growth and demographic potential, the strategy combines structural reforms, social investment, and sectoral transformation to ensure resilience and prosperity over time.
Delivering on this vision will require sustained political will, effective governance, and a whole-of-society commitment. It also presents new avenues for international partnerships, with countries like France, to co-invest in infrastructure, green energy, innovation, and human capital.
As Tanzania moves forward, Vision 2050 provides a clear roadmap not only for economic advancement but also for social progress, redefining the country’s role on the regional and global stage.
