Tanzania Frontier

Economy & industry overview

Tanzania is a lower-middle-income economy in East Africa with a nominal GDP of approximately USD 79 billion as of 2024. The economy is driven by agriculture (roughly 23% of GDP), services (around 48%), and industry (around 29%), with key activities including tourism, mining, manufacturing, and financial services. Tanzania has sustained real GDP growth in the 5–6% range in recent years, supported by public investment, agricultural output, and a growing financial sector. The Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE), established in 1996 and operational since 1998, serves as the country's primary capital market. Inflation has remained relatively contained, projected by the IMF at around 3% for 2024, reflecting stable monetary policy by the Bank of Tanzania.

Key sectors

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Macro

GDP nominal, USD	$78.84B
GDP growth real, annual	5.4%
Inflation annual	3.1%
Population people	73.0M
GDP per capita USD	$1,080
Market cap total listed, USD	$6.30B
Market cap / GDP	8.0%
Unemployment	2.6%
Listed companies	28
Exchange	Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE)

Data year: 2024. Sources: World Bank, IMF World Economic Outlook October 2024, Bank of Tanzania, Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), DSE Annual Market Statistics 2024, TanzaniaInvest, Macrotrends (ILO modelled unemployment), African Development Bank African Economic Outlook 2024, Fitch Ratings, African-Markets.com.

Local exchange & access

Exchange	Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange
Code	DSE
Website	dse.co.tz
Currency	TZS

Local broker access

Direct retail access to the DSE for non-resident foreign investors is legally permitted but operationally limited. Investors must open a securities account through a DSE-licensed broker-dealer. Foreign ownership is generally permitted in listed equities subject to sector caps. Settlement is in Tanzanian Shillings (TZS). Repatriation of capital and dividends is allowed under the Tanzania Investment Act. There are no US-listed single-country Tanzania ETFs; exposure is typically gained via sub-Saharan Africa or broad frontier-market funds. Specialist frontier-market fund managers (e.g., Wegen Capital, Duet Africa) have historically held DSE positions. International retail brokers generally do not offer direct DSE access; a local licensed intermediary is required.

Global brokers with foreign-market access

• Interactive Brokers — Direct access to 90+ markets worldwide, including many emerging exchanges.
• Saxo Bank — Multi-market access across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
• Charles Schwab (Global) — Foreign ordinary shares on select markets; US-listed ADRs and ETFs.
• Fidelity International Trading — International stock trading on a number of developed and emerging markets.

Listed for convenience only — not a recommendation. Available markets, fees and onboarding rules differ by broker and by your country of residence.

Relocation & residency

Foreign-investor access

Foreign nationals can obtain a Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) Certificate of Incentives linked to a qualifying investment, which facilitates a Class C Residence Permit. Minimum capital requirements vary by sector. Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous region, has its own investment authority (ZIPA) and permit regime. Standard non-investor visas include tourist and business categories. Long-term residency for non-investors is administratively complex and assessed case-by-case by the Immigration Department.