Which city became Tanzania's official capital in 1974?

Which city became Tanzania’s official capital in 1974? Dodoma. In 1974, Tanzania’s government announced that the national capital would move from coastal Dar es Salaam to the more centrally located city of Dodoma.

The decision was intended to spread economic development beyond the crowded commercial coast, strengthen Tanzania’s central region, and place the capital closer to the country’s geographic heartland. Dodoma was already an established town and transport crossroads, making it more practical than building a completely new city.

The change was gradual rather than immediate. Dar es Salaam remained Tanzania’s largest commercial and maritime centre, and many government functions stayed there for decades. Dodoma is therefore sometimes confused with Dar es Salaam, which continues to be the country’s economic capital. The government’s administrative presence in Dodoma expanded significantly in the 21st century, reinforcing its role as the national capital.