Comprehensive Enterprise Survey-2025
Tanzania, 2026
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Reference ID
TZA-NBS-CES-2025-v01.
Producer(s)
National Bureau of Statistics, Office of the Chief Government Statistician
Metadata
Created on
Oct 16, 2026
Last modified
Oct 16, 2026
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Identification
Survey ID Number
TZA-NBS-CES-2025-v01.
Title
Comprehensive Enterprise Survey-2025
Translated Title
Utafiti wa Kina wa Shughuli za Kibiashara
Country
| Name | Country code |
|---|---|
| UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA | URT |
Study type
Enterprise Census [en/census]
Series Information
The Comprehensive Enterprise Survey (CES) 2025 is the first nationwide survey of its kind conducted in Tanzania to provide comprehensive information on the characteristics, structure, performance and operating conditions of enterprises. The survey was implemented by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Government Statistician (OCGS) and other stakeholders, covering Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. The 2025 survey represents the first round (Round 1) of the CES programme. It is intended to establish a baseline for understanding enterprise activities and to support evidence-based economic planning, private-sector development and the production of official economic statistics. Future rounds may be conducted periodically, subject to national statistical priorities and available resources
Abstract
The 2025 Comprehensive Enterprise Survey (CES) provides a broad picture of the structure and scale of the formal business sector in Tanzania. The survey covered 36,228 establishments, comprising 28,383 small, 6,335 medium and 1,510 large establishments. Wholesale and Retail Trade accounted for the largest number of establishments (13,314), followed by Manufacturing (11,886) and Accommodation and Food Service Activities (5,962). Annual turnover was estimated at TZS 172,033.7 billion, with Manufacturing contributing the largest share at TZS 47,202.2 billion, followed by Transportation and Storage (TZS 35,870.4 billion), Wholesale and Retail Trade (TZS 33,493.8 billion) and Construction (TZS 28,457.4 billion).
Employment, markets and business resources reveal important differences by establishment size and sector. Large establishments accounted for a substantial share of employment in sectors such as Manufacturing, Construction, Information and Communication, and Administrative and Support Services, while small establishments were more prominent in Wholesale and Retail Trade and Accommodation and Food Services. Domestic markets remained the main source of sales, while participation in international markets increased with establishment size, with direct exports accounting for 11.7 percent of sales among large establishments compared with 0.3 percent among small establishments. Financing remained largely dependent on internal resources, which accounted for 88.0 percent of operating capital among small establishments, 83.9 percent among medium and 80.2 percent among large establishments.
The survey also highlights key constraints affecting business operations and future growth. Access to finance was the most frequently reported main business obstacle, cited by 48.0 percent of establishments, followed by tax rates (13.6 percent) and electricity (10.7 percent). Electricity reliability remains a significant concern, with 71.8 percent of establishments experiencing power outages, while access to formal banking services increased substantially with establishment size. Innovation and technology adoption also remain important areas for development, with 9.6 percent of establishments introducing new or improved products or services during 2022–2024. Overall, the findings point to the importance of strengthening access to finance, reliable electricity and infrastructure, skills, innovation and technology, gender inclusion, trade facilitation, and efficient business-government interactions as key areas for supporting the growth and competitiveness of Tanzania's formal business sector.accounted for relatively small shares
Employment, markets and business resources reveal important differences by establishment size and sector. Large establishments accounted for a substantial share of employment in sectors such as Manufacturing, Construction, Information and Communication, and Administrative and Support Services, while small establishments were more prominent in Wholesale and Retail Trade and Accommodation and Food Services. Domestic markets remained the main source of sales, while participation in international markets increased with establishment size, with direct exports accounting for 11.7 percent of sales among large establishments compared with 0.3 percent among small establishments. Financing remained largely dependent on internal resources, which accounted for 88.0 percent of operating capital among small establishments, 83.9 percent among medium and 80.2 percent among large establishments.
The survey also highlights key constraints affecting business operations and future growth. Access to finance was the most frequently reported main business obstacle, cited by 48.0 percent of establishments, followed by tax rates (13.6 percent) and electricity (10.7 percent). Electricity reliability remains a significant concern, with 71.8 percent of establishments experiencing power outages, while access to formal banking services increased substantially with establishment size. Innovation and technology adoption also remain important areas for development, with 9.6 percent of establishments introducing new or improved products or services during 2022–2024. Overall, the findings point to the importance of strengthening access to finance, reliable electricity and infrastructure, skills, innovation and technology, gender inclusion, trade facilitation, and efficient business-government interactions as key areas for supporting the growth and competitiveness of Tanzania's formal business sector.accounted for relatively small shares
Kind of Data
Sample survey data [ssd]
Unit of Analysis
The basic unit of analysis and observation for the CES 2025 is the establishment.an establishment is defined as an economic activity with independent ownership or legal management that carries out one or more economic activities at a recognised physical location
Version
Version Description
v0.1
Version Date
2026-07-20
Scope
Notes
The target population for survey comprised economically active, registered business establishments operating during the 2025 reference year and engaged in the economic activities classified according to the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities, Revision 4 (ISIC Rev. 4). These included accommodation and food service activities; administrative and support service activities; construction; information and communication; manufacturing; professional, scientific and technical activities; wholesale and retail trade; transportation and storage; and other service activities.
The survey focused on establishments with five or more persons engaged and covered Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, excluding establishments with more than 50 percent government ownership. Government establishments generally operate under a different institutional and financing framework from private and other market-oriented businesses, with their activities often guided by public service objectives rather than commercial considerations.
The survey focused on establishments with five or more persons engaged and covered Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, excluding establishments with more than 50 percent government ownership. Government establishments generally operate under a different institutional and financing framework from private and other market-oriented businesses, with their activities often guided by public service objectives rather than commercial considerations.
Topics
| Topic | Vocabulary | URI |
|---|---|---|
| International Standard Industrial Classification | (ISIC) Revision 4. | Link |
| Management practices | ||
| Competition and market condition | ||
| Employment: full-time workers |
Keywords
| Keyword |
|---|
| Comprehensive Enterprise Survey (CES) |
| Revenue and turnover |
| Business characteristics |
| Access to finance and credit |
| Business constraints |
| Green economy and environmental practice |
| Gender and youth employment |
| Business growth and performance |
Coverage
Geographic Coverage
The CES 2025 geographically covered Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar. Nationally all the regions were covered by the survey. The Unit of observation was an establishment and data are coded by region and other administrative code/identifiers are available in the dataset.
Universe
The survey covered private establishments operating in Tanzania during the reference year 2025, engaging 5 or more persons, and classified under ISIC Rev. 4.
Producers and sponsors
Primary investigators
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| National Bureau of Statistics | Government of the United Republic of Tanzania |
| Office of the Chief Government Statistician | Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar |
Producers
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| NAtional Bureau of Statistics | Government of the United Republic of Tanzania | Producer |
| The office of the Chief Government Statistician | Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar | Producer |
Funding Agency/Sponsor
| Name | Abbreviation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Government of the United Republic of Tanzania | URT | Financing Supporting |
| World Bank | WB | Financing Supporting |
Other Identifications/Acknowledgments
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| President's Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) | Government of the United Republic of Tanzania | Coordination of regional and local government authorities during field operations |
| Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) | Government of the United Republic of Tanzania | technical collaboration |
| Ministry of Water | Government of the United Republic of Tanzania | technical collaboration |
| Ministry of Energy | Government of the United Republic of Tanzania | technical collaboration |
| Small Industrial Development Organization | Government of the United Republic of Tanzania | technical collaboration |
| Confederation of Tanzania Industries | Government of the United Republic of Tanzania | technical collaboration |
| United Nations Industrial Development Organisation | technical collaboration |
Sampling
Sampling Procedure
The CES 2025 sampling frame was developed from the 2023/2024 Statistical Business Register. The sampling frame contained information required for stratification, sample allocation, establishment identification and field operations. In particular, the principal variables used in the sample design were: geographical location, establishment size and economic activity. These variables were used to form the sampling strata and to ensure that the sample adequately represented establishments with different geographical, structural and economic characteristics. The resulting location-by-economic-activity-by-size strata constituted the basic domains for sample allocation and selection.
Response Rate
The survey covered 9,889 establishments in Tanzania, comprising 8,624 establishments from Mainland Tanzania and 1,265 from Zanzibar. In Mainland Tanzania, the establishments included 512 large, 1,800 medium, and 6,312 small establishments. In Zanzibar, the sample comprised of 58 large, 198 medium and 1,009 small establishments. Overall, 9,497 establishments completed the survey, while 321 establishments refused to participate, resulting in a response rate of 96.7 percent. The high response rate was largely attributed to effective field coordination, monitoring, and active engagement with respondents throughout the data collection period.
Weighting
The use of sampling in the Comprehensive Enterprise Survey (CES) 2025 required the application of weights to ensure that the results obtained from sampled establishments could be appropriately expanded to represent the target population. The weighting procedure took into account the survey design and the different probabilities of selection of establishments within the defined sampling strata.
The CES weight consisted of two main components: the raising factor and the grossing factor. The raising factor accounted for the probability of selection of an establishment into the sample, while the grossing factor adjusted the weighted results to account for eligible establishments that were selected but did not provide usable responses
The CES weight consisted of two main components: the raising factor and the grossing factor. The raising factor accounted for the probability of selection of an establishment into the sample, while the grossing factor adjusted the weighted results to account for eligible establishments that were selected but did not provide usable responses
Data Collection
Dates of Data Collection
| Start | End | Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-11 | 2026-05-10 | Main data collection |
Data Collection Mode
Computer Assisted Personal Interview [capi]
Supervision
Data collection was supervised by regional coordinators and field supervisors from NBS and OCGS. Supervisors monitored enumerators, reviewed completed questionnaires, conducted quality control checks, and ensured compliance with survey procedures through regular field visits.
Data Collection Notes
Prior data collection, training of enumerators and supervisors was conducted to equip them with necessary skills and interview techniques. Enumerators were trained on the questionnaire, concepts, interview procedures, use of the electronic data-collection application and quality-control requirements before fieldwork. Data collection was carried out between March and May, 2026 for both Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. The CAPI system incorporated programmed checks, skip patterns and consistency controls to minimize errors during data collection. Enumerators were also required to review completed interviews before submitting to supervisors. Supervisors and quality-control personnel monitored fieldwork progress and reviewed submitted questionnaires to identify incomplete interviews, inconsistencies, unusual values and other potential data-quality problems.
Data Collectors
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| National Bureau of Statistics | NBS | Government of Tanzania |
| Office of the Chief Government Statistician | OCGS | Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar |
Questionnaires
Questionnaires
The CES questionnaire was designed to collect comprehensive information on the characteristics, operations and performance of business establishments. It was structured into modules covering establishment identification and general information, employment, purchases, operating costs, goods purchased for resale, sales and distribution, income, green economy, business disputes and management systems, competition, and other relevant aspects of business operations.
Data Processing
Data Editing
Data editing involved both automated and manual validation procedures. Completed questionnaires were checked for completeness, consistency, logical errors, missing values, and outliers. Identified issues were corrected through data verification with field teams and respondents before the final dataset was prepared for analysis.
Other Processing
Data were collected electronically using a Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) application on tablets. Built-in validation rules, skip patterns, and consistency checks minimized data entry errors. The data were synchronized to a central server, cleaned, validated, weighted, and analyzed to produce the final statistical results.
Data Appraisal
Estimates of Sampling Error
Sampling errors were calculated for selected key indicators, including standard errors, coefficients of variation, design effects, and design factors. The calculations considered the survey design and sampling weights, and results are presented in the CES report
Data Appraisal
Data quality was assessed through completeness and consistency checks, outlier detection, and comparison with existing administrative and historical industrial data to ensure reliability
Access policy
Contacts
| Name | Affiliation | URL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Survey Coordinator | National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) | daniel.masolwa@nbs.go.tz | Link |
| Survey Coordinator | Office of the Chief Government Statistician | fadhil.hassan@ocgs.go.tz | Link |
| Survey Director | National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) | veronica.mwangoka@nbs.go.tz | Link |
| Survey Director | Office of the Chief Government Statistician | nuru.masoud@ocgs.go.tz | Link |
| Field Coordinator | National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) | ramadhan.suleiman@nbs.go.tz | Link |
| Field Coordinator | Office of the Chief Government Statistician | haji.ame@ocgs.go.tz | Link |
Confidentiality
This Survey is conducted in accordance with the Statistics Act Cap 351 R.E. 2023 Tanzania Mainland and Statistics Act, No. 9, 2007 of Zanzibar. According to the Acts, all information supplied will be treated STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. The information will be used to provide aggregate statistics for statistical purposes only
Access conditions
NBS and OCGS considered three levels of accessibility:
1) Public use files, accessible by all
2) Licensed datasets, accessible under certain conditions
3) Datasets only accessible on location, for certain datasets
The dataset has been anonymized and available as a public use dataset. It accessible to all for statistical and research purposes only, under the following terms and conditions:
1. The data and other material will not be redistributed or sold to other individuals, institutions, or organization without the written agreement of the National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician .
2. The data will be used for statistical and scientific research purposes only. They will be used solely for reporting of aggregated information, and not for investigation of specific individuals or organizations.
3. No attempt will be made to produce links among dataset provided by the National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician , or among data from the (National Bureau of Statistics) and other datasets that could identify individuals or organizations.
4. No attempt will be made to re-identify respondents, and no use will be made of the identify of any person or establishment discovered inadvertently. Any such discovery would immediately be reported to the National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician .
5. Any books, articles, conference papers, theses, dissertations, reports, or other publications that employ data obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician will cite the source of data in accordance with the Citation Requirement provided with each dataset.
1) Public use files, accessible by all
2) Licensed datasets, accessible under certain conditions
3) Datasets only accessible on location, for certain datasets
The dataset has been anonymized and available as a public use dataset. It accessible to all for statistical and research purposes only, under the following terms and conditions:
1. The data and other material will not be redistributed or sold to other individuals, institutions, or organization without the written agreement of the National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician .
2. The data will be used for statistical and scientific research purposes only. They will be used solely for reporting of aggregated information, and not for investigation of specific individuals or organizations.
3. No attempt will be made to produce links among dataset provided by the National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician , or among data from the (National Bureau of Statistics) and other datasets that could identify individuals or organizations.
4. No attempt will be made to re-identify respondents, and no use will be made of the identify of any person or establishment discovered inadvertently. Any such discovery would immediately be reported to the National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician .
5. Any books, articles, conference papers, theses, dissertations, reports, or other publications that employ data obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Chief Government Statistician will cite the source of data in accordance with the Citation Requirement provided with each dataset.
Citation requirements
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and Office of the Chief Government Statistician (OCGS) in United Republic of Tanzania . The Comprehensive enterprise Survey 2025 version 1 - Dodoma, Tanzania: NBS & OCGS
Disclaimer and copyrights
Disclaimer
The user of the data acknowledges that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Office of the Chief Government Statistician (OCGS), as the original collectors and authorized distributors of the data, bear no responsibility for any use of the data or for any interpretations, conclusions, or inferences derived from such use.
Copyright
© 2026, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and Office of the Chief Government Statistician (OCGS), COmprehensive Enterprise Survey 2025 (CES023). All rights reserved.ISBN-978-9976-5570-9-1
Metadata production
DDI Document ID
TZA-NBS-CES-2025-v01
Producers
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Bureau of Statistics | NBS | Ministry of Finance and Planning | Data Producer |
| Office of the Chief Government Statistician | OCGS | President’s Office- Finance and Planning | Data Producer |
Date of Metadata Production
2026-07-31
DDI Document version
Version 1.0