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How Tanzania can benefit from its population boom
Residents of Dar es Salaam at the Kariakoo market. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- Academics and economists urge the government to invest more in education and equip the youth with skills that will enable them to employ themselves and enhance their employability
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s rapid population growth could be a boon for the country, analysts say.
However, this is only be possible if the government focuses on equipping the youth with skills that will enable them to employ themselves and enhance their employability.
The advice follows projections that Tanzania’s population could potentially reach 140 million by 2050.
In its latest Tanzania Economic Update, which was unveiled last week, the World Bank projects that Tanzania’s population is poised to double every 23 years.
Driven by high fertility rates, the population is projected to balloon to nearly 140 million by 2050, the World Bank says, noting that the number signals an imminent surge in demand for social services and jobs.
The 2022 Population and Housing Census put Tanzania’s population at 61.7 million. This means that Tanzania’s population will have increased by 78.3 million by 2050, which is 26 years away.
University of Dodoma (Udom) lecturer Mwinuka Lutengano told The Citizen that rapid population growth in Tanzania presents a unique opportunity for the government to leverage the demographic dividend and enhance productivity across sectors.
“The youthful population presents immense potential to bolster workforce participation and fuel innovation – crucial elements for productivity enhancement,” he said.
Significant investments in education is key to equipping the expanding labour force with the skills needed for valuable economic contribution, Dr Lutengano added.
“Prioritising education, especially vocational training, can cultivate a skilled workforce capable of meeting the demands of modern industries and driving technological advancement.”
Additionally, fostering entrepreneurship through targeted interventions and putting in place a supportive business environment can amplify the impact of population growth on productivity.
“Empowering aspiring entrepreneurs with access to capital and mentorship programmes can stimulate the creation of new enterprises, thus driving job creation and economic diversification,” Dr Lutengano said.
Policy Research for Development (Repoa) executive director Donald Mmari urged the government to prioritise investment in youth education and skills development.
“By equipping them with market-relevant skills, we empower the next generation to contribute effectively to the workforce and foster self-reliance and productivity,” he said.
Dr Mmari added that confronting the structural barriers impeding transformative growth is also imperative.
“Enhancing infrastructure, streamlining regulations and promoting innovation are vital for sustaining our momentum towards inclusive and sustainable development.”
University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) lecturer and economist Wilhelm Ngasamiaku said viewing population growth as an opportunity rather than a challenge calls for concerted effort to elevate the quality of society.
“We must prioritise economic reforms aimed at creating jobs. Prioritising economic reforms aimed at generating jobs to accommodate the influx of working-age individuals into the labour market is paramount,” he said.
Dr Ngasamiaku added that Tanzania also needs to invest substantially in high-quality education.
“Investing substantially in high-quality education is essential as it forms the foundation of an innovative and skilled workforce that is essential for driving productivity and maintaining competitiveness in today’s dynamic economy.”
Dr Ngasamiaku said equally vital is the allocation of resources towards accessible and quality healthcare services.
“Allocating resources towards providing accessible and quality healthcare services is crucial as it not only promotes a healthy workforce, but also reduces dependency, thus boosting our economic resilience.”
For his part, Prof Abel Kinyondo of the Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE) emphasised the transformative impact of empowering youth with essential skills, saying such investment extends beyond economic growth to cultivate resilience and urgency within the younger generation.
“Through strategic investment in education, entrepreneurship and infrastructure, nations can harness the demographic dividend to shape a brighter future for generations to come.
“By equipping the youth with the requisite tools to navigate a rapidly changing global landscape, societies lay the foundation for sustainable progress.”
Prof Kinyondo said population growth is a driver of innovation and entrepreneurship in that it fosters a culture of competition and creativity and propels nations onto the global stage.
“By tapping into the creative energy and entrepreneurial spirit inherent in a burgeoning population, societies can unlock new avenues for prosperity and societal advancement.”
