{"id":43,"date":"2024-04-04T09:24:25","date_gmt":"2024-04-04T09:24:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/tanzania\/?p=43"},"modified":"2026-08-01T00:13:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T00:13:32","slug":"iringa-region","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/tanzania\/iringa-region\/","title":{"rendered":"Iringa Region"},"content":{"rendered":"

Iringa Region (Swahili: Mkoa wa Iringa) sits in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania, on the escarpment above the Great Ruaha River. The 2022 census recorded a population of 1,192,728, up from 941,238 in 2012. The regional capital is Iringa town, and the region contains most of Ruaha National Park, the second largest national park in the country.<\/p>\n

Districts of Iringa Region<\/h2>\n

Iringa Region is administered through five councils, grouped under the districts of Iringa, Kilolo and Mufindi. Populations below are from the 2022 census.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
District<\/th>\nCouncil type<\/th>\nPopulation (2022 census)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Iringa Rural<\/td>\nDistrict council<\/td>\n315,354<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mufindi<\/td>\nDistrict council<\/td>\n288,996<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kilolo<\/td>\nDistrict council<\/td>\n263,559<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Iringa<\/td>\nMunicipal council<\/td>\n202,490<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mafinga<\/td>\nTown council<\/td>\n122,329<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Towns and Villages in Iringa Region<\/h2>\n

The settlements below are grouped by council. Iringa is the regional capital and Mafinga the second town; Ilula, Izazi, Makungu and Malangali are the other centres with recorded town populations.<\/p>\n

Iringa Municipal<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Iringa<\/li>\n
  • Mapanda<\/li>\n
  • Nduli<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Iringa Rural<\/h3>\n
      \n
    • Chamamba<\/li>\n
    • Chole<\/li>\n
    • Dededi<\/li>\n
    • Holo<\/li>\n
    • Ibowola<\/li>\n
    • Idegesi<\/li>\n
    • Idodi<\/li>\n
    • Ifuguru<\/li>\n
    • Ifunda<\/li>\n
    • Igawa<\/li>\n
    • Igohungila<\/li>\n
    • Igula<\/li>\n
    • Iheme<\/li>\n
    • Ihimbu<\/li>\n
    • Ikengeza<\/li>\n
    • Ikorongo<\/li>\n
    • Ikwavila<\/li>\n
    • Ilolo<\/li>\n
    • Ilusi<\/li>\n
    • Imalagosi<\/li>\n
    • Isaka<\/li>\n
    • Isanga<\/li>\n
    • Isenga<\/li>\n
    • Isere<\/li>\n
    • Ismani<\/li>\n
    • Isombe<\/li>\n
    • Itunundu<\/li>\n
    • Iwawi<\/li>\n
    • Iwowo<\/li>\n
    • Izazi<\/li>\n
    • Kalenga<\/li>\n
    • Kangaro<\/li>\n
    • Kanzu<\/li>\n
    • Kibadaga<\/li>\n
    • Kidete<\/li>\n
    • Kiganga<\/li>\n
    • Kikoga<\/li>\n
    • Kikorue<\/li>\n
    • Kikwata<\/li>\n
    • Kilala<\/li>\n
    • Kilambakitali<\/li>\n
    • Kilewele<\/li>\n
    • Kimande<\/li>\n
    • Kinangala<\/li>\n
    • Kipengele<\/li>\n
    • Kipera<\/li>\n
    • Kiponzelo<\/li>\n
    • Kisanga<\/li>\n
    • Kisere<\/li>\n
    • Kisilwa<\/li>\n
    • Kitisi<\/li>\n
    • Kiwere<\/li>\n
    • Lihanika<\/li>\n
    • Luganga<\/li>\n
    • Lukila<\/li>\n
    • Lungwa<\/li>\n
    • Luteme<\/li>\n
    • Maboga<\/li>\n
    • Magangamatitu<\/li>\n
    • Magombwe<\/li>\n
    • Magoya<\/li>\n
    • Mahongoro<\/li>\n
    • Makombe<\/li>\n
    • Makuka<\/li>\n
    • Makuluge<\/li>\n
    • Makutupa<\/li>\n
    • Malenga Malkali<\/li>\n
    • Manyomwe<\/li>\n
    • Mapogoro<\/li>\n
    • Masatu<\/li>\n
    • Maturia<\/li>\n
    • Mawande<\/li>\n
    • Mbagi<\/li>\n
    • Mbogeko<\/li>\n
    • Mdonya<\/li>\n
    • Mganga<\/li>\n
    • Migole<\/li>\n
    • Mkulula<\/li>\n
    • Mkwambi<\/li>\n
    • Mlambalasi<\/li>\n
    • Mlengi<\/li>\n
    • Mloa<\/li>\n
    • Mondomera<\/li>\n
    • Mpanga<\/li>\n
    • Msilwa<\/li>\n
    • Msimbi<\/li>\n
    • Mtovelisusi<\/li>\n
    • Mugama<\/li>\n
    • Muhale<\/li>\n
    • Muhigiti<\/li>\n
    • Mukombe<\/li>\n
    • Musombe<\/li>\n
    • Muwhana<\/li>\n
    • Mwanzaga<\/li>\n
    • Nanzapile<\/li>\n
    • Ndembera<\/li>\n
    • Ndewerwa<\/li>\n
    • Ndolera<\/li>\n
    • Ndonya<\/li>\n
    • Ngajira<\/li>\n
    • Nunda<\/li>\n
    • Nyakawangala<\/li>\n
    • Nyalengi<\/li>\n
    • Nyamono<\/li>\n
    • Nyamsitu<\/li>\n
    • Nyangai<\/li>\n
    • Nyangano<\/li>\n
    • Nyangolo<\/li>\n
    • Nyongamiho<\/li>\n
    • Nzihi<\/li>\n
    • Pambagora<\/li>\n
    • Runda<\/li>\n
    • Sasamambo<\/li>\n
    • Segerere<\/li>\n
    • Tanangozi<\/li>\n
    • Tulasimba<\/li>\n
    • Tungamarenga<\/li>\n
    • Ulete<\/li>\n
    • Wasa<\/li>\n
    • Weno<\/li>\n
    • Weru<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Kilolo<\/h3>\n
        \n
      • Beku<\/li>\n
      • Bomalangombe<\/li>\n
      • Dabaga<\/li>\n
      • Ibaka<\/li>\n
      • Iboumu<\/li>\n
      • Ibumu<\/li>\n
      • Idale<\/li>\n
      • Idayi<\/li>\n
      • Ifiga<\/li>\n
      • Ifua<\/li>\n
      • Ifuenga<\/li>\n
      • Ifunda<\/li>\n
      • Igunda<\/li>\n
      • Igwamutwa<\/li>\n
      • Ikimba<\/li>\n
      • Illindi<\/li>\n
      • Ilole<\/li>\n
      • Ilula<\/li>\n
      • Image<\/li>\n
      • Imagi<\/li>\n
      • Ipalamwa<\/li>\n
      • Ipeta<\/li>\n
      • Ipokera<\/li>\n
      • Isenyi<\/li>\n
      • Isere<\/li>\n
      • Itami<\/li>\n
      • Itanga<\/li>\n
      • Itele<\/li>\n
      • Ivuma<\/li>\n
      • Iwenge<\/li>\n
      • Iyogi<\/li>\n
      • Kadarege<\/li>\n
      • Katia<\/li>\n
      • Kidika<\/li>\n
      • Kidodi<\/li>\n
      • Kihulula<\/li>\n
      • Kilanze<\/li>\n
      • Kilolo<\/li>\n
      • Kilumbwa<\/li>\n
      • Kimenya<\/li>\n
      • Kimilawonga<\/li>\n
      • Kipelele<\/li>\n
      • Kiperebetu<\/li>\n
      • Kirefu<\/li>\n
      • Kisada<\/li>\n
      • Kisega<\/li>\n
      • Kokoto<\/li>\n
      • Kumwanzi<\/li>\n
      • Lihogoha<\/li>\n
      • Lofi<\/li>\n
      • Lohomero<\/li>\n
      • Lubungu<\/li>\n
      • Lugalu<\/li>\n
      • Luwala<\/li>\n
      • Lyanika<\/li>\n
      • Magunga<\/li>\n
      • Magungu<\/li>\n
      • Mahe<\/li>\n
      • Mahongole<\/li>\n
      • Mala<\/li>\n
      • Malambala<\/li>\n
      • Malambo<\/li>\n
      • Malangale<\/li>\n
      • Masenga<\/li>\n
      • Matambo<\/li>\n
      • Matanana<\/li>\n
      • Matassi<\/li>\n
      • Mazabika<\/li>\n
      • Mazombe<\/li>\n
      • Mbugani<\/li>\n
      • Mdahira<\/li>\n
      • Mgowero<\/li>\n
      • Migu<\/li>\n
      • Mipande<\/li>\n
      • Mkombagulu<\/li>\n
      • Mlale<\/li>\n
      • Mlama<\/li>\n
      • Mlolo<\/li>\n
      • Mlundi<\/li>\n
      • Msambatwa<\/li>\n
      • Msanza<\/li>\n
      • Msata<\/li>\n
      • Mtandika<\/li>\n
      • Muhaga<\/li>\n
      • Muhanye<\/li>\n
      • Mutanga<\/li>\n
      • Mwino<\/li>\n
      • Ndege<\/li>\n
      • Ndene<\/li>\n
      • Nduge<\/li>\n
      • Ngagau<\/li>\n
      • Nguruhe<\/li>\n
      • Nyakawanga<\/li>\n
      • Nyanzwa<\/li>\n
      • Tenguka<\/li>\n
      • Udekwa<\/li>\n
      • Ugowa<\/li>\n
      • Uhominyi<\/li>\n
      • Ukwama<\/li>\n
      • Ulevi<\/li>\n
      • Uwindi<\/li>\n
      • Virunde<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Mafinga Town<\/h3>\n
          \n
        • Mafinga<\/li>\n
        • Namapalo<\/li>\n
        • Sao Hill<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Mufindi<\/h3>\n
            \n
          • Fiwaga<\/li>\n
          • Ibangi<\/li>\n
          • Iberege<\/li>\n
          • Idunda<\/li>\n
          • Ifwagi<\/li>\n
          • Igrumiti<\/li>\n
          • Igunga<\/li>\n
          • Ihalimba<\/li>\n
          • Ihanzutwa<\/li>\n
          • Iheme<\/li>\n
          • Ihoanza<\/li>\n
          • Ihongole<\/li>\n
          • Ikwega<\/li>\n
          • Ikweha<\/li>\n
          • Kalinga<\/li>\n
          • Kasanga<\/li>\n
          • Kibada<\/li>\n
          • Kibau<\/li>\n
          • Kibengu<\/li>\n
          • Kidete<\/li>\n
          • Kihanga<\/li>\n
          • Kinoga<\/li>\n
          • Kipako<\/li>\n
          • Kiwere<\/li>\n
          • Kwakibike<\/li>\n
          • Loduma<\/li>\n
          • Lugolu<\/li>\n
          • Lumiko<\/li>\n
          • Maganga<\/li>\n
          • Makongoni<\/li>\n
          • Makungu<\/li>\n
          • Malangali<\/li>\n
          • Mbaramaziwa<\/li>\n
          • Mbwanga<\/li>\n
          • Mgunga<\/li>\n
          • Msombe<\/li>\n
          • Mufindi<\/li>\n
          • Mwote<\/li>\n
          • Nyariguge<\/li>\n
          • Ukami<\/li>\n
          • Ulila<\/li>\n
          • Uluwani<\/li>\n
          • Umbamba<\/li>\n
          • Ungenza<\/li>\n
          • Usambuzi<\/li>\n
          • Waga<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Other localities<\/h3>\n
              \n
            • Choga<\/li>\n
            • Irangi<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Geography<\/h2>\n

              Iringa Region covers 35,503 km\u00b2 and holds about 34 people per km\u00b2, one of the lower densities in mainland Tanzania. Morogoro Region borders it to the east, Njombe to the south, Mbeya to the west, and Dodoma and Singida to the north.<\/p>\n

              Land runs from about 900 m in the Ruaha valley to 2,300 m on the Udzungwa ridges, and the escarpment climbs as much as 800 m in a single face. That relief splits the region into three farming zones: a highland belt with 500 to 1,500 mm of rain, a midland belt with 600 to 1,000 mm, and a dry lowland belt with 500 to 600 mm. The Great Ruaha and Little Ruaha are the main rivers, and the Mtera Dam on the Great Ruaha holds back a reservoir on the Dodoma boundary that feeds a hydroelectric station. Ruaha National Park fills the north-west of the region and is known for large elephant herds and more than 400 recorded bird species. Part of Udzungwa Mountains National Park lies in Kilolo District.<\/p>\n

              Economy and Local Life<\/h2>\n

              Farming accounts for about 85 percent of the region’s output. Maize is the dominant crop, planted on roughly 245,000 hectares, followed by beans, Irish potatoes and sunflower. Ismani and Kalenga in Iringa Rural are the maize belt; Kilolo grows vegetables and tomatoes for the Dar es Salaam market.<\/p>\n

              Mufindi District is the tea district. Estates around Mufindi and Kibena process green leaf for export, and Sao Hill outside Mafinga is the largest softwood plantation in Tanzania, feeding sawmills, a pulp mill and treated-pole yards. Mafinga has grown around that timber trade. Livestock keeping, beekeeping and tourism lodges on the Ruaha park boundary round out the local economy. The Hehe are the largest ethnic group, with Bena and Kinga communities in the south.<\/p>\n

              Iringa town sits on a plateau above the Little Ruaha and was founded as a German garrison in 1896, during the campaign against Chief Mkwawa of the Hehe. The Isimila Stone Age site, about 20 km south-west of the town, holds Acheulean tools and eroded sandstone pillars, and is open to visitors.<\/p>\n

              Getting There<\/h2>\n

              The T1, the highway from Dar es Salaam to Mbeya and the Zambian border, runs straight through Iringa Region past Ilula, Iringa town and Mafinga. It is the main freight route to Zambia, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, so buses run frequently in both directions. The T5 heads north from Iringa to Dodoma along the Great Ruaha and past Mtera.<\/p>\n

              Nduli Airport, about 12 km north of Iringa town, takes scheduled and charter flights, and airstrips inside Ruaha National Park serve safari traffic. No railway crosses the region; the nearest railhead is Makambako in Njombe Region, on the TAZARA line.<\/p>\n

              FAQ<\/h2>\n

              How many districts are in Iringa Region?<\/h3>\n

              Three districts, Iringa, Kilolo and Mufindi, administered through five councils: Iringa Rural, Mufindi, Kilolo, Iringa Municipal and Mafinga Town.<\/p>\n

              What is the population of Iringa Region?<\/h3>\n

              The 2022 census recorded a population of 1,192,728, compared with 941,238 in 2012.<\/p>\n

              What is the capital of Iringa Region?<\/h3>\n

              Iringa town, run by Iringa Municipal Council, which held a population of 202,490 in 2022.<\/p>\n

              What is Iringa known for?<\/h3>\n

              Ruaha National Park, tea and timber from Mufindi, and the history of the Hehe. Chief Mkwawa fought German forces from his fortress at Kalenga, about 15 km west of Iringa town, until his death in 1898.<\/p>\n

              What villages are in Iringa Region?<\/h3>\n

              The list above covers close to 280 towns and villages across all five councils, from Idodi and Kalenga in Iringa Rural to Ipalamwa and Udekwa in Kilolo.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Iringa Region (Swahili: Mkoa wa Iringa) sits in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania, on the escarpment above the Great Ruaha River. The 2022 census recorded a population of 1,192,728, up from 941,238 in 2012. The regional capital is Iringa town, and the region contains most of Ruaha National Park, the second largest national park in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"Iringa Region: Districts, Towns & Villages","_seopress_titles_desc":"Iringa Region has 5 councils and a 2022 census population of 1,192,728, capital Iringa town. Full list of towns and villages in each district.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-tanzania","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/tanzania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/tanzania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/tanzania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/tanzania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/tanzania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/tanzania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82,"href":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/tanzania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43\/revisions\/82"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/tanzania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/tanzania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/tanzania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}