Tanzania has strengthened its position as one of Africa’s leading destinations for mining investment after being ranked fourth on the continent in the latest global survey assessing mining jurisdictions.
According to the Annual Survey of Mining Companies 2025 released by the Fraser Institute, Tanzania ranked 34th out of 68 jurisdictions worldwide in the Investment Attractiveness Index (IAI), a benchmark used globally by exploration firms and investors to determine where to allocate capital for mineral exploration and project development.
Within Africa, Tanzania placed fourth, behind Botswana, Morocco and Zambia, reinforcing the country’s growing competitiveness in attracting international mining investment.
The report also indicates a steady improvement in Tanzania’s score over the past three years, signalling increasing investor confidence in the country’s mining environment.
Tanzania’s score rose to 68.04 in 2025, up from 62.75 in 2024 and 46.38 in 2023, reflecting stronger perceptions among global investors regarding both the country’s mineral potential and its policy environment.
The Investment Attractiveness Index combines two key components that influence investment decisions in the mining industry. These are the mineral potential of a jurisdiction and the policy framework governing mining activities.
According to the report, mineral potential carries a 60 percent weighting, while the policy framework accounts for 40 percent, providing an overall assessment of how attractive a location is for mineral exploration and development.
Tanzania also performed strongly in the Best Practices Mineral Potential Index, which evaluates the geological attractiveness of a jurisdiction assuming the presence of the most favourable mining policies.
In this category, Tanzania ranked 15th globally with a score of 75.00, highlighting the country’s significant geological endowment and the scale of mineral resources that remain available for exploration.
The survey conducted by the Fraser Institute is widely regarded as one of the most influential global assessments of mining investment destinations.
For the 2025 edition, questionnaires were distributed to 2,304 executives and experts from exploration and mining companies worldwide.
Respondents reported combined exploration spending of approximately $4.2 billion in 2025, indicating strong global interest in mineral exploration.
For Tanzania, the improved ranking reflects ongoing government efforts to strengthen the mining sector and position it as a key pillar of economic growth.
The government has in recent years implemented reforms aimed at improving the investment climate, strengthening geological research and attracting large-scale investment into mineral exploration and development.
Economists and stakeholders in the mining industry have also praised Samia Suluhu Hassan for promoting policies that have helped improve Tanzania’s investment environment.
Analysts say the continued inflow of mining investment could further expand the sector’s contribution to the economy through increased exports, industrial development and employment creation as Tanzania works to unlock the full value of its mineral resources.
