As in much of sub-Saharan Africa, Tanzania has attained rapid economic growth
accompanied by only marginal reductions in poverty. Is this mismatch between high economic
growth and less significant poverty reduction due to how growth and poverty are measured and
reconciled, or more substantial underlying factors? Applying the first order dominance approach
to multi-dimensional welfare comparisons, this paper seeks to gain a greater understanding of the
evolution of poverty in Tanzania over time and space. Analysis of welfare indicators among four
population groups in the regions, zones, and urban/rural areas of Tanzania reveal broad-based
improvements in well-being between 1990 and 2010.