Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has consolidated its position as a leading destination for mining investment in Africa after ranking fourth on the continent in the latest global survey of mining companies.
The ranking appears in the Annual Survey of Mining Companies 2025 released by the Fraser Institute, which assesses the attractiveness of jurisdictions for mineral exploration and mining investment across the world.
According to the report, Tanzania placed 34th globally out of 68 jurisdictions assessed under the Investment Attractiveness Index (IAI), an indicator widely used by investors and exploration firms to determine where to allocate capital for mineral exploration and development projects.
Within Africa, Tanzania emerged as the fourth most attractive destination for mining investment, trailing Botswana, Morocco and Zambia.
The position reflects the country’s growing competitiveness in attracting international exploration capital and mining investments.
The report further highlights a steady improvement in Tanzania’s performance over the past three years.
The country’s IAI score rose to 68.04 points in 2025, up from 62.75 points recorded in 2024 and 46.38 points in 2023.
This upward trend indicates increasing investor confidence in Tanzania’s mining sector as well as improved perceptions of the country’s regulatory environment and geological potential.
The Investment Attractiveness Index combines two key factors that influence investors’ decisions: mineral potential and the policy framework governing the mining sector.
According to the Fraser Institute, mineral potential accounts for 60 percent of the index score.
This component evaluates the geological prospects of a jurisdiction, including the likelihood of discovering commercially viable mineral deposits.
The remaining 40 percent reflects the policy framework, which considers factors such as government regulations, taxation, infrastructure, political stability, security of tenure and the overall ease of doing business in the mining sector.
By combining these elements, the index provides an overall picture of how attractive a particular jurisdiction is for exploration and mining investment.
Beyond the general investment index, Tanzania also performed strongly in the Best Practices Mineral Potential Index, which measures the geological attractiveness of a jurisdiction assuming the existence of the most favourable policies and regulations.
In this category, Tanzania ranked 15th globally with a score of 75.00 points, underscoring the country’s significant geological potential and the abundance of mineral resources that continue to attract exploration interest.
The survey involved 2,304 respondents drawn from executives and professionals working in mineral exploration and mining companies around the world. Participants were asked to evaluate jurisdictions based on their investment experiences and perceptions of policy and geological prospects.
The Fraser Institute survey is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive assessments of global mining investment climates.
Governments and investors often use its findings to benchmark the competitiveness of different mining jurisdictions.
Tanzania’s improved ranking signals growing recognition of the country’s efforts to strengthen the investment climate in the mining sector.
Industry observers say the results reflect ongoing reforms aimed at improving regulatory predictability, encouraging exploration activities and enhancing collaboration between the government and investors.
The country is endowed with a wide range of mineral resources, including gold, diamonds, nickel, coal, rare earth elements and critical minerals that are increasingly sought after in global energy transition technologies.
Over the past decade, Tanzania has remained one of Africa’s major gold producers, while also positioning itself to attract investment in new mineral discoveries and value addition.
Stakeholders in the sector say improved geological data, policy stability and infrastructure development are among factors contributing to the country’s rising profile in global mining investment rankings.
The latest survey also commended Tanzania’s leadership for promoting a favourable environment for investment, with President Samia Suluhu Hassan receiving praise from respondents for policies aimed at strengthening investor confidence and improving relations between the government and mining companies.
Analysts note that maintaining policy consistency and expanding exploration activities will be critical for Tanzania to sustain its upward trajectory in future rankings.
As global demand for minerals continues to grow, particularly those linked to clean energy technologies, Tanzania’s strong geological potential and improving investment climate may position it as an increasingly important destination for mining capital in Africa and beyond.
