The 2012 National Tanzania Census states the population for Ilala as 1,220,611 (doubling from the 2002 census) with an area of 273 km2. Ilala contains the area commonly referred to as ‘downtown’ where much of the commerce, trade, banking, and government offices are located, but also extends further west to flood-prone wards. Sharebacks were conducted in 21 wards and 90 sub wards in Ilala District.