Mtwara Region

Mtwara Region (Mkoa wa Mtwara in Swahili) is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions, with its capital as the municipality of Mtwara. Mtwara Region is home to one of the most influential peoples in Tanzania, the Makonde. Mtwara is home to Tanzania's 3rd president Benjamin Mkapa and is home to a number of influential artists. The boundary with Mozambique to the south is formed by the Ruvuma River. To the west, Mtwara is bordered by Ruvuma Region, to the north by Lindi Region, and to the east is the Indian Ocean.

Mtwara Region is known for being the nation's largest producer of cashew nuts. According to the 2012 national census, the region had a population of 1,270,854, which was lower than the pre-census projection of 1,374,767. For 2002-2012, the region's 1.2 percent average annual population growth rate was the 26th highest in the country. It was also the fourteenth most densely populated region with 76 people per square kilometer.