[2] The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of Burundi.

Earliest inhabitants are the Bantu who broke into several ethical groups; The Sambaa, Digo, Bondei, Nguu, Segeju and Zigua communities.

In the Middle Ages the Swahili settled into city states like Tongoni and Mshembo and Pangani on the Tangan coast.

Tanga Region receives annual precipitation level of 1,100 to 1,400 millimeters, often raining in April to May during the Wet season.

The average temperature range during the hot months of December to March is a high of 32 and a low of 26 degrees C. In comparison, the average temperature range during the cooler months of May to October is a high of 28 and a low of 20 degrees C.[12] Tanga Region's population in 2012 was around 2,045,205.

Lastly the Ngulu people are native on the southwestern corner of Tanga Region's Kilindi District.

[14] Other smaller ethnic groups in Tanga Region include Mbugu and Pare people.

More recently in history, immigrants from other parts of the country and abroad have found economic opportunities in Tanga Region, including Indians and Arabs.

Tanga is one of East Africa's largest agricultural producers, especially Citrus fruits.

Crops grown in this Tanga coastal belt are coconuts, sisal, cashews, maize, cassava, rice and seaweed.

Crops grown in the wet plains of Tanga are similar to the coastal belt minus the seaweed, but include cotton.