Democracy in Tanzania

Democracy Ratings

Freedom House 2018

Score:

4 out of 7

(where lower scores are more democratic)

Freedom Status:

Partly Free

EIU Democracy Index 2017

Score:

5.47 out of 10

(where higher scores are more democratic)

World Ranking:

91

Polity IV 2016

Score:

3

(from -10 to 10, where higher scores are more democratic)

Category:

Closed Anocracy

 

Political System

System of Government Presidential
Presidential Electoral System Two-round system

(unless over 50% of vote secured)

Last Presidential Election 2015
Next Presidential Election 2020
Presidential Term Limits Two, five-year terms
System of Appointment to Legislature

First past the post

Last Legislative Election

2015

Next Legislative Election

2020

Number of Seats in Legislature 357
Female quota, representation in lower house Yes: reserved seats

Results

Last presidential election (2015)
Candidate (Party) Votes (%)
1st round 2nd round not needed
John Magufuli 58
Edward Lowassa 39.97
Anna Elisha Mghwira 0.65
Lutalosa Yembe 0.43
Hashim Rungwe Spunda 0.32
Machmillan Elifatio Lyimo 0.05
Janken Malik Kasambala 0.05
Fahmi Nassoro Dovutwa 0.05

 

Last legislative election (2015)    
Party Votes (%) Seats
Chama Cha Mapinduzi 55 252
Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo 32 70
Civic United Front 9 42
Alliance for Change and Transparency 2 1
NCCR–Mageuzi 2 1
Chama cha Ukombozi wa Umma 0 0
Democratic Party 0 0
United Democratic Party 0 0
Tanzania Labour Party 0 0
ADA–TADEA 0 0
Alliance for Democratic Change 0 0
Chama cha Haki na Ustawi 0 0
Alliance for Tanzania Farmers Party 0 0
United People’s Democratic Party 0 0
Jahazi Asilia 0 0
Progressive Party of Tanzania – Maendeleo 0 0
Chama Cha Kijamii 0 0
National League for Democracy 0 0
Union for Multiparty Democracy 0 0
Sauti ya Umma 0 0
National Reconstruction Alliance 0 0
Demokrasia Makini 0 0

 

Tanzania on DiA

How African countries respond to fake news and hate speech

9 December 2021

Lisa Garbe, Lisa-Marie Selvik, Pauline Lemaire

Remembering not to forget: Tanzania’s 2020 General Elections

28 October 2021

Nicodemus Minde, Aikande Kwayu & Deus Valentine

Why we shouldn't expect rapid democratic progress in Tanzania

23 April 2021

Nic Cheeseman, Alitalali Amani, Hilary Matfess

How Social Media is Changing Politics in Africa

23 February 2021

Maggie Dwyer and Thomas Molony

Adapting to climate change while combatting COVID-19 in East Africa

9 February 2021

Jackson Wachira & Shazia Chaudhry

Next Resistance Bureau show on Tanzania, 2 Sept!

29 August 2020

Democracy in Africa

PODCAST: Democracy in times of crisis

1 May 2020

Democracy in Africa

How do dictators keep power in Africa?

27 February 2019

Yonatan Morse