Tanzania: Country Profile

Research & Recommendations

Freedom in the World 2026

PR Political Rights	6 40
CL Civil Liberties	22 60

Last Year's Score & Status

35 100 Not Free

A country or territory’s Freedom in the World status depends on its aggregate Political Rights score, on a scale of 0–40, and its aggregate Civil Liberties score, on a scale of 0–60. See the methodology.

Overview

Tanzania held regular multiparty elections after its transition from a one-party state in the early 1990s, though the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has retained power for over 60 years. Samia Suluhu Hassan became president in 2021 upon the death of President John Magufuli, who had cracked down on critics in the opposition, media, and civil society. After a brief period of liberalization President Hassan has engaged in similarly repressive tactics. She was reelected in a 2025 poll in which major opposition figures were banned from competing and hundreds of people were killed in a violent crackdown on dissent.

Read the full Tanzania Report

Previous Reports: 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026

Freedom in the World 2026 Policy Recommendations

Read all recommendations

Strengthen democratic coordination and collective action in a contested global order

Democratic resilience will increasingly depend on stronger coordination among countries that share a commitment to freedom, the rule of law, and accountable governance.

Reimagine international democracy assistance to help reverse the global decline in freedom

International support for democratic institutions, civil society, and independent media has been associated with modest but meaningful improvements in democratic governance, and it is far less costly than the military outlays necessitated by rising authoritarian aggression.

Prioritize engagement with younger generations in the digital spaces where civic identity is now formed

Young people are increasingly dissatisfied with democracy—not because they reject its principles, but because they see institutions failing to deliver on them. Programmatic work should create clear pathways for meaningful political participation, from voting and policy engagement to community organizing and public leadership, so that young people can translate their expectations into agency.