Rukwa is one of the 26 regions

Regions of Tanzania

Tanzania is divided into 26 regions.-See also:* list of Tanzanian regions by area ranks the regions by their total area, land area, and water area.* Districts of Tanzania* ISO 3166-2:TZ-External links:*...

 of Tanzania

Tanzania

The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...

. Sumbawanga

Sumbawanga

Sumbawanga is a city located in western Tanzania. It is the capital of Rukwa Region. The regional population is approximately 150,000 based on a 2002 census.Many people living in Sumbawanga are Fipa, called so for the native language also spoken there...

 serves as the region's capital. The region is bordered to the north by Kigoma

Kigoma Region

Kigoma is one of Tanzania's 26 administrative regions. The regional capital is Kigoma. It is bordered to the North by the Kagera Region, to the East by the Shinyanga and Tabora Regions, to the South by the Rukwa Region, to the West by Lake Tanganyika which forms a border with the Democratic...

 and Tabora

Tabora Region

Tabora Region is one of the regions of Tanzania. Its capital is Tabora town. Tabora region is famous for its distinguishable honey and timber activities....

 Regions, to the east by Mbeya Region

Mbeya Region

Mbeya is one of Tanzania's 26 administrative regions. The regional capital is Mbeya. It is bordered to the northwest by Tabora Region, to the northeast by Singida Region, to the East by Iringa Region, to the South by Zambia and Malawi and to the West by Rukwa Region...

, to the south by Zambia

Zambia

Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....

 and to the west by Lake Tanganyika

Lake Tanganyika

Lake Tanganyika is an African Great Lake. It is estimated to be the second largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, and the second deepest, after Lake Baikal in Siberia; it is also the world's longest freshwater lake...

 which forms a border between the region and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...

.

According to the 2002 Tanzania National Census, the population of the region was 1,141,743. the region was established in year 1975 by President Nyerere by taking Mpanda from Tabora and Sumbawanga from Mbeya region. Its name comes from Lake Rukwa, which harbours the largest population of crocodiles in the nation. It is the region of the FIPA Society, who involve themselves in agriculture and livestock keeping.

Districts

Rukwa Region is administratively divided into 4 districts: Mpanda

Mpanda

Mpanda is one of the 4 districts of the Rukwa Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the Northwest by the Kigoma Region, to the Northeast by the Tabora Region, to the East by the Mbeya Region, to the Southeast by the Sumbawanga Urban District, to the Southwest by the Nkansi District and to the West...

, Nkansi

Nkansi

Nkansi is one of the 4 districts of the Rukwa Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the North by the Mpanda District, to the East by the Sumbawanga Urban District, to the South by the Sumbawanga Rural District and to the West by Lake Tanganyika....

, Sumbawanga Urban

Sumbawanga Urban

Sumbawanga Urban is one of the 4 districts of the Rukwa Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the North by Lake Rukwa, to the East by the Mbeya Region, to the South by the Sumbawanga Rural District and to the west by the Nkansi District...

 and Sumbawanga Rural

Sumbawanga Rural

Sumbawanga Rural is one of the 4 districts of the Rukwa Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the Northeast by the Sumbawanga Urban District, to the South by Zambia and to the Northwest by the Nkansi District....

.

Rukwa Region is administratively divided into 4 districts: Mpanda, Nkansi, Sumbawanga Urban and Sumbawanga Rural.