Dar dominates general insurance market

DODOMA: DAR ES SALAAM has accounted for 71.6 per cent of the country’s general insurance market in 2025, generating 819.7bn/- in gross written premiums (GWP), as the insurance sector continues to expand nationwide.

According to the Annual Insurance Market Performance Report for 2025, Unguja Urban West ranked second, contributing 121bn/-, equivalent to 10.6 per cent of total general insurance premiums, followed by Arusha, which recorded 70.2bn/- or 6.1 per cent.

Together, the three regions accounted for 88.3 per cent of the market, highlighting the geographical concentration of insurance business.

At the zonal level, the Eastern Zone dominated the general insurance market, generating 835bn/-, equivalent to 72.9 per cent of total premiums.

Unguja Zone followed with 126.9bn/-, representing 11.1 per cent, while the Northern Zone recorded 78.7bn/-, accounting for 6.9 per cent.

Nationally, the general insurance market generated 1.145tri/- in gross written premiums during the year, according to the report, which highlights the sector’s contribution to the country’s economic development.

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Speaking during the launch of the report recently in Dodoma, Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA) Commissioner of Insurance, Dr Baghayo Saqware, said the insurance sector continued to expand in 2025, with growth in capital, investments, assets, premiums, employment and the number of people benefiting from insurance services.

Dr Saqware said the sector’s net capital increased from 697.4bn/- in 2024 to 1.89tri/- in 2025, while investments rose from 1.41tri/- to 2.24tri/- over the same period.

He added that total assets increased from 2.14tri/- to 4.06tri/-, while gross written premiums across the insurance market rose from 1.52tri/- in 2024 to 2.55tri/- in 2025, reflecting an expansion in the industry’s financial capacity and business activity.

The number of insurance policyholders and beneficiaries also increased from 25.9 million in 2024 to 26.8 million in 2025, representing growth of approximately 3.5 per cent.

Of the total, 8.7 million were policyholders, while 18.1 million were beneficiaries. Formal employment in the insurance sub-sector recorded a substantial increase, rising from 6,434 people in 2024 to 15,398 in 2025, equivalent to growth of approximately 139.3 per cent.

On other performance indicators, Dr Saqware said premiums in general insurance grew by 44 per cent, health insurance by 38.6 per cent and life insurance by 14 per cent.

Reinsurance and Takaful insurance recorded growth of 0.3 per cent. He said TIRA is working to complete the National Insurance Policy and improve the laws and regulations governing the industry to strengthen its development.