The city is the location of the regional headquarters of Shinyanga Region as well as the district headquarters of Shinyanga Urban District.

[2] This location lies approximately 475 kilometres (295 mi), by road, northwest of Dodoma, the capital city of Tanzania.

The 2012 national census listed the population of Shinyanga Municipal Council at 161,391.

Shinyanga Airport is located 8 km (5.0 miles) along Mwanza road in Ibadakuli Area.

The region has a forest restoration program which is well documented by the Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Environment Programme and the Global Partnership on Forest Landscape Restoration.