Germany has enjoyed good relations with Tanzania since 1961 and is valued as a reliable partner. An examination of Germany’s colonial era (1885-1918) is an important issue in German-Tanzanian relations: During a visit to Tanzania at the end of 2023, Federal President Steinmeier asked for forgiveness for the atrocities committed during the period. Moreover, Minister of State Katja Keul chose to make addressing Germany's colonial past the focal point of her visit in March 2024.

The Federal Government supports the work of the German political foundations, churches and non-governmental organisations in Tanzania. The focus of cultural and social exchanges includes cooperation between universities and the awarding of German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarships, the promotion of German as a foreign language at the Goethe-Institut and in schools, as well as numerous town twinning arrangements. Another priority, arising from the two countries’ common history, is cultural preservation and cooperation in the museum sector.

Tanzania is one of Germany’s most important partners for development cooperation projects. Since President Samia Hassan’s assumption of office, the underlying conditions for German-Tanzanian cooperation have improved. The focus is on biodiversity, water security, health and good governance. Alongside the United States, Germany is the largest donor to nature and environmental protection projects in Tanzania. In 2018, the East African nation ratified the Paris Agreement and submitted its first nationally determined contribution in July 2021. In recent years, it has therefore become clear that climate justice plays a central role in domestic policy-making, although the government is increasingly viewing nature conservation as a means to promote tourism. As part of feminist foreign and development policy, the advancement of women and gender equality has been underlined as a policy goal.

Furthermore, Tanzania and the Federal Republic of Germany maintain close trade relations. The bilateral volume of trade is around 366 million euro. Tanzania’s main imports from Germany are machinery, chemical products and foodstuffs, and its main exports include drinks, tobacco, raw materials and food.