Manyara Region (Mkoa wa Manyara in Swahili) is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The regional capital is the town of Babati. According to the 2012 national census, the region had a population of 1,425,131, which was lower than the pre-census projection of 1,497,555. For 2002–2012, the region's 3.2 percent average annual population growth rate was tied for the third highest in the country. which is the largest ethnic group in the region.
Administration
The regional commissioner of the Manyara Region is Queen Curthbet Sendiga .
Economy
Residents of the Manyara Region are mostly farmers. The region's economy is based on the mining of Tanzanite gems on the Mererani Hills in the north on the border with the Arusha Region. Other sources of income are from tourism in the Tarangire National Park, which is entirely located in the region, and Lake Manyara National Park.
Transport
Road
One paved road passes through the western part of Manyara Region. Paved trunk road T14 from Singida connects with trunk road T5 in Babati town. Trunk road T5 from Dodoma to Arusha passes through the region; it is paved from Arusha up to Dodoma.
Administrative divisions
Districts
Manyara Region is divided into six districts, each administered by a council:
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="7" | Districts of Manyara Region
|- style="text-align:center;"
! Map
! style="width: 10em" | District
! style="width: 6em" | Population<br>(2012 Census)
|-
| rowspan=7 | 300px
| Babati District
| style="text-align:right;" | 312,392
|-
| Babati Town
| style="text-align:right;" | 93,108
|-
| Hanang District
| style="text-align:right;" | 275,990
|-
| Kiteto District
| style="text-align:right;" | 244,669
|-
| Mbulu District
| style="text-align:right;" | 320,279
|-
| Simanjiro District
| style="text-align:right;" | 178,693
|-
| Total
| style="text-align:right;" | 1,425,131
|}
Notable people
- Gabriel Geay, Long distance runner, national record in Marathon from Babati District
- John Stephen Akhwari, Athlete from Mbulu District, Manyara
- Zakayo Malekwa, Athlete, Javelin national record holder
- Fabiano Joseph Nassi, Athlete from Babati, Manyara.
- Gidamis Shahanga, Athlete from Katesh, Hanang District, Manyara
- Frederick Sumaye, 7th Tanzanian Prime Minister
See also
- List of protected areas of Tanzania