Covid-19 pushed three million Tanzanians into poverty, World bank report says
The World Bank's latest report says the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant increase in poverty in Tanzania, with at least three million people falling into economic hardship.
Released on March 12, 2024, in Dares Salaam, the 20th edition of the Tanzania Economic Update indicates that the number of Tanzanians living in poverty soared from 14 million in 2018 to 17 million by 2022.
Emmanuel Mungunasi, the World Bank's senior country economist, said during the report’s launch that while Tanzania has seen economic growth, it has mainly benefited modern sectors with limited employment opportunities for those in impoverished households.
"The pandemic has exacerbated poverty in Tanzania, pushing an additional 3 million people into hardship. This underscores the critical need for adequate healthcare and a robust social protection system," Mr Mungunasi was quoted by Tanzanian local media The Citizen.
According to the report, the situation only worsened over time, with an additional 300,000 individuals falling into poverty by December 2023, bringing the total to 17.3 million. Despite the presence of the pandemic and external tensions such as regional conflicts, Tanzania managed to sustain economic growth.
