Updated Feb 18, 2026
KEY STATS
1.1M
Population
175 km2
Area
22 Mbps
Internet
1,140m
Elevation
UTC+03:00
Timezone
MWZ (9km)
Airport
OVERVIEW
Lake Victoria's rocky shores cradle Mwanza, Tanzania's fishing port alive with sardine boats and hillside markets. Eastern African nomads embrace cheap lakeside pads, growing internet cafes, and boat trips to islands, all in a balmy tropical rhythm.
QUICK FACTS
Country
Tanzania
Region
Eastern Africa
Population
1.1M
Timezone
UTC+03:00
Elevation
1,140 m
Currency
TZS
Language
English
Airport
MWZ
GPS
-2.52, 32.90
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Tech
Internet at 22 Mbps — plan for offline work or find coworking spaces
Travel
MWZ airport just 9 km from the city center
Climate
Year-round average of 23C — near-ideal temperatures
INFRASTRUCTURE
4,672 total POIs
Above avg per capita
Average
Below avg
Food & Drink
Restaurants
127
Cafes
237
Bars
231
Fast Food
103
Shopping
Supermarkets
49
Convenience
2,079
Shopping Malls
8
Healthcare
Hospitals
56
Clinics
80
Pharmacies
191
Education
Schools
364
Universities
38
Libraries
23
Recreation
Parks
56
Playgrounds
23
Sports
46
Cinemas
8
Museums
2
Theatres
3
Transport
Bus Stops
75
Train Stations
2
Fuel Stations
65
Services
Banks
64
ATMs
22
Post Offices
3
Police
15
Fire Stations
1
Source: DropThe Database | dropthe.org
INTERNET SPEED
22 Mbps
Download
20 Mbps
Upload
47ms
Latency
765
Tests
221
Devices
2025-Q4
Last updated
CLIMATE
Best time to visit: Jan - Dec
23°
J
23°
F
23°
M
23°
A
22°
M
22°
J
22°
J
22°
A
22°
S
23°
O
23°
N
23°
D
18-28 C ideal
Warm/Cool
Extreme
Year avg: 22.6 C Range: 22.1 - 23 C Rain: 1,334 mm/year Sunshine: 3,860 h/year
CITY SCORES
92.8
Nomad Index
A
Livability
37.5
Culture
63.2
Overall
AIRPORT
MWZ
Mwanza International Airport
9 km from center
Very close — ~14 min ride
FUN FACTS
Mwanza City, also known as Rock City to the residents, is a port city and capital of Mwanza Region on the southern shore of Lake Victoria in north-western Tanzania.
It is also the second largest city in the Lake Victoria basin after Kampala, Uganda and ahead of Kisumu, Kenya at least in population size.
Within the East African community, Mwanza city is the fifth largest city after Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kampala.
It is slightly ahead of Kigali, Kisumu, and Bujumbura in the population of city proper limits.
Mwanza city is also the capital city of Mwanza Region, and is administratively divided into two municipal districts within that Region - Ilemela and Nyamagana.
EXTERNAL LINKS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Mwanza known for?
Lake Victoria's rocky shores cradle Mwanza, Tanzania's fishing port alive with sardine boats and hillside markets. Eastern African nomads embrace cheap lakeside pads, growing internet cafes, and boat trips to islands, all in a balmy tropical rhythm.
How fast is the internet in Mwanza?
Mwanza has an average download speed of 22 Mbps and upload speed of 20 Mbps, based on Ookla speed test data.
What is the weather like in Mwanza?
Mwanza has an average year-round temperature of approximately 22.6 degrees Celsius.
What airport serves Mwanza?
Mwanza is served by MWZ (Mwanza International Airport), approximately 9 km from the city center.
What is the population of Mwanza?
The population of Mwanza is approximately 1.1M.
What infrastructure does Mwanza have?
Mwanza has 4,672 mapped points of interest, including 127 restaurants, 56 hospitals, 364 schools.
What country is Mwanza in?
Mwanza is located in Tanzania.
