Dodoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dodoma
Jiji la Dodoma (Swahili)
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   From top to bottom:
Gaddafi mosque in Viwandani ward, Street in Tambukareli ward, Nyerere square in Viwandani ward |
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| Nickname(s):
The Capital City
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 Dodoma
Location in Tanzania
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| Country |  Tanzania |
| Region | Dodoma |
| Area | |
| • Land | 2,576 km2 (995 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,120 m (3,670 ft) |
| Population
(2022 census)
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| • Total | 3,085,625 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| Area code(s) | 026 |
Dodoma is the official capital city of Tanzania. Its name means "It has sunk" in the Gogo language. It is also the main city for the Dodoma Municipal Council and the entire Dodoma Region. In 2022, about 765,179 people lived there.
In 1974, the Tanzanian government decided to move the country's capital from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma. This move was planned for social and economic reasons. It also helped make the capital more central within the country. Dodoma officially became the capital in 1996.
Many of the original plans for Dodoma were completed in the 21st century. In May 2023, the new State House (the President's official home) was opened in Dodoma. This event confirmed that many government duties had moved to the city. However, Dar es Salaam is still Tanzania's main city for business and trade.
Contents
Where is Dodoma Located?
Dodoma is right in the middle of Tanzania. It is about 453 kilometres (281 mi) west of the old capital, Dar es Salaam. The city is also about 441 kilometres (274 mi) south of Arusha, which is the home of the East African Community. Dodoma covers an area of about 2,669 square kilometres (1,031 sq mi). About 625 square kilometres (241 sq mi) of this area is developed for city life.
What is the History of Dodoma?
Dodoma started as a small market town called Idodomya. In 1907, German colonists founded the modern city. They built it while working on the Tanzanian central railway. The city was designed with separate areas for Europeans and local people.
Why Did Dodoma Become the Capital?
After Tanzania became independent, the government wanted a more central capital. In 1974, they announced the move from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma. This was to help the central region grow and to make the capital more accessible. The Dodoma region had a good climate and space to grow. It was also seen as a good place for a capital that could connect with rural areas.
The government wanted the new capital to show Tanzania's values. They also wanted to avoid problems like too many people, pollution, and traffic jams. They chose Dodoma because it was already a town at a major crossroads. It also had existing buildings, which would lower building costs.
Dodoma was planned to be a "chief village in a nation of villages." It was designed to feel natural and easy to walk around. It followed a "garden city" idea, with green areas separating different parts of the city.
Recent Developments in Dodoma
For many years, the plans for Dodoma did not fully happen. Government offices and embassies stayed in Dar es Salaam. But in 2006, the Chinese government built a new parliament building in Dodoma. In 2023, the new State House was also opened. This shows that more government functions are now in Dodoma.
Dodoma's development is part of a bigger idea. It helps build a new national identity for Tanzania after colonial rule. Other countries like Nigeria (with Abuja) and Botswana (with Gaborone) have done similar projects.
Who Lives in Dodoma?
Dodoma is home to many different groups of people. This is because it is a government center. The original groups living there are the Gogo, Rangi, and Sandawe. There are also small groups of people from India.
In 2022, the city of Dodoma had a population of 765,179 people. The total population of the wider Dodoma region was 3,085,625.
What is the Climate Like?
Dodoma has a semi-arid climate. This means it is often warm or hot all year. The average high temperatures are quite steady. However, the average low temperatures can drop to about 13 °C (55.4 °F) in July.
The city gets about 610 millimetres or 24 inches of rain each year. Most of this rain falls during the wet season, from December to April. The rest of the year is usually dry.
| Climate data for Dodoma (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 35.3 (95.5) |
36.0 (96.8) |
33.5 (92.3) |
32.7 (90.9) |
32.9 (91.2) |
31.7 (89.1) |
31.1 (88.0) |
34.1 (93.4) |
33.8 (92.8) |
36.1 (97.0) |
36.0 (96.8) |
36.4 (97.5) |
36.4 (97.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29.7 (85.5) |
29.8 (85.6) |
29.6 (85.3) |
28.8 (83.8) |
28.2 (82.8) |
27.4 (81.3) |
26.6 (79.9) |
27.5 (81.5) |
29.2 (84.6) |
30.8 (87.4) |
31.5 (88.7) |
30.6 (87.1) |
29.1 (84.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 24.1 (75.4) |
24.2 (75.6) |
23.7 (74.7) |
23.3 (73.9) |
22.7 (72.9) |
20.9 (69.6) |
20.3 (68.5) |
21.0 (69.8) |
22.3 (72.1) |
24.1 (75.4) |
24.9 (76.8) |
24.5 (76.1) |
23.0 (73.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 19.3 (66.7) |
19.2 (66.6) |
19.0 (66.2) |
18.4 (65.1) |
17.1 (62.8) |
15.1 (59.2) |
14.2 (57.6) |
14.9 (58.8) |
15.9 (60.6) |
17.5 (63.5) |
18.8 (65.8) |
19.3 (66.7) |
17.4 (63.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 15.7 (60.3) |
15.4 (59.7) |
13.5 (56.3) |
14.5 (58.1) |
10.3 (50.5) |
8.9 (48.0) |
7.6 (45.7) |
9.3 (48.7) |
11.1 (52.0) |
13.0 (55.4) |
14.4 (57.9) |
14.4 (57.9) |
7.6 (45.7) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 140.4 (5.53) |
116.8 (4.60) |
111.1 (4.37) |
43.8 (1.72) |
4.8 (0.19) |
0.2 (0.01) |
0.2 (0.01) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.00) |
6.0 (0.24) |
27.8 (1.09) |
143.3 (5.64) |
594.5 (23.41) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 9.9 | 8.4 | 7.7 | 4.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 7.9 | 41.6 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 66 | 68 | 70 | 68 | 63 | 60 | 59 | 58 | 55 | 53 | 55 | 63 | 62 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Deutscher Wetterdienst (extremes and humidity), Tokyo Climate Center (mean temperatures 1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
Education in Dodoma
Dodoma has several universities. These include the Open University of Tanzania, which has branches in many cities. There is also St Johns University of Tanzania, run by the Anglican Church. The University of Dodoma is another large university with about 35,000 students. Both St Johns and the University of Dodoma opened in 2007. Other universities are Mipango University and CBE.
The Anglican Church also runs an international school called Canon Andrea Mwaka School ("CAMS"). CAMS was started in 1950 and teaches children from nursery to high school. It follows the English National curriculum and prepares students for IGCSE exams. About 280 students attend this school.
How to Get Around Dodoma
Airport and Flights
Dodoma Airport is located north of the city center. It is managed by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority. Currently, only small planes fly there. These flights are operated by companies like Precision Air and Air Tanzania. In 2019, plans were announced to build a much larger airport outside the city.
Railway and Trains
Dodoma has a railway station near Kikuyu Avenue. The Central Railway Line passes through here. This line connects Dodoma with Dar es Salaam in the east, about 465 kilometres (289 mi) away. In 2019, a study was started to plan a local train network for Dodoma.
Public Transport and Roads
Local public transport, called daladalas, serves Dodoma. The Cairo-Cape Town Highway also goes through the city. A major highway connects Dodoma to Dar es Salaam through Morogoro. To the west, roads lead to Mwanza and Kigoma. The Great North Road links Dodoma with Babati and Arusha to the north, and with Iringa and other southern towns.
Sports in Dodoma
The city has a football (soccer) team called Dodoma Jiji FC. This team plays in the Tanzanian Premier League. It used to be called Polisi Dodoma and is run by the city council. Other older football clubs include CDA and Waziri Mkuu. Basketball is also becoming more popular in Dodoma.
Stadium
The main sports venue in the city is the Jamhuri Stadium, located on School Avenue.
Places to Worship
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Anglican Cathedral of Holy Spirit
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Dodoma Sunni Masjid (Nunge Mosque)
Dodoma has many places of worship for different faiths. There are Christian churches like the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dodoma and the Anglican Church of Tanzania. You can also find Muslim mosques, including the Sunni Masjid and the Gaddafi Mosque. The city also has a Hindu temple and a Sikh Gurudwara.
Gallery
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Dodoma Railway Station
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Dodoma Airport
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A hostel at the University of Dodoma
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Roundabout in Dodoma
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Nyerere's statue in Dodoma
Sister Cities
Dodoma is connected with other cities around the world. These are called "sister cities" or "twin towns." They share cultural and educational links. Dodoma's sister cities are:
See also
In Spanish: Dodoma para niños
