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Background:
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Shortly
after independence, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to
form the nation of Tanzania in 1964. One-party rule came
to an end in 1995 with the first democratic elections
held in the country since the 1970s. Zanzibar's
semi-autonomous status and popular opposition have led
to two contentious elections since 1995, which the
ruling party won despite international observers' claims
of voting irregularities. |
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Location:
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Eastern
Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and
Mozambique |
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Geographic coordinates:
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6 00 S,
35 00 E |
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total:
945,087 sq km
land: 886,037 sq km
water: 59,050 sq km
note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and
Zanzibar |
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Area - comparative:
|
slightly
larger than twice the size of California |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
3,861 km
border countries: Burundi 451 km, Democratic
Republic of the Congo 459 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475
km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km,
Zambia 338 km |
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Coastline:
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1,424 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
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Climate:
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varies
from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands |
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Terrain:
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plains
along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m |
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Natural resources:
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hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds,
gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 4.52%
permanent crops: 1.08%
other: 94.4% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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1,550 sq
km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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flooding
on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought
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Environment - current issues:
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soil
degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction
of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent
droughts affected marginal agriculture; wildlife
threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially for
ivory |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
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Geography - note:
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Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa; bordered by
three of the largest lakes on the continent: Lake
Victoria (the world's second-largest freshwater lake) in
the north, Lake Tanganyika (the world's second deepest)
in the west, and Lake Nyasa in the southwest |
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Population:
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36,766,356
note: estimates for this country explicitly take
into account the effects of excess mortality due to
AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher
infant mortality and death rates, lower population and
growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be
expected (July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 44% (male 8,100,216/female 8,074,171)
15-64 years: 53.4% (male 9,665,957/female
9,963,772)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 418,080/female
544,160) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
|
total:
17.62 years
male: 17.36 years
female: 17.89 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.83%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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38.16
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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16.71
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-3.11
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
98.54 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 107.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 88.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 45.24 years
male: 44.56 years
female: 45.94 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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5.06
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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8.8%
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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1.6
million (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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160,000
(2003 est.) |
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree
of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, Rift Valley fever
and plague are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)
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Nationality:
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noun:
Tanzanian(s)
adjective: Tanzanian |
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Ethnic groups:
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mainland
- native African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting
of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian,
European, and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, native African,
mixed Arab and native African |
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Religions:
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mainland
- Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%;
Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim |
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Languages:
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Kiswahili
or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in
Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of
commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic
(widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages
note: Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of
the Bantu people living in Zanzibar and nearby coastal
Tanzania; although Kiswahili is Bantu in structure and
origin, its vocabulary draws on a variety of sources,
including Arabic and English, and it has become the
lingua franca of central and eastern Africa; the first
language of most people is one of the local languages
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic
total population: 78.2%
male: 85.9%
female: 70.7% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania
conventional short form: Tanzania
former: United Republic of Tanganyika and
Zanzibar |
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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Dar es
Salaam; note - legislative offices have been transferred
to Dodoma, which is planned as the new national capital;
the National Assembly now meets there on regular basis
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Administrative divisions:
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26
regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Kagera,
Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Manyara, Mara, Mbeya,
Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South,
Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Singida, Tabora, Tanga,
Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzibar North, Zanzibar
Urban/West |
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Independence:
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26 April
1964; Tanganyika became independent 9 December 1961
(from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became
independent 19 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika
united with Zanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United
Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United
Republic of Tanzania 29 October 1964 |
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National holiday:
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Union Day
(Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964) |
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Constitution:
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25 April
1977; major revisions October 1984 |
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Legal system:
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based on
English common law; judicial review of legislative acts
limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23
November 1995); Vice President Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN
(since 5 July 2001); note - the president is both chief
of state and head of government
head of government: President Benjamin William
MKAPA (since 23 November 1995); Vice President Dr. Ali
Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001); note - the president
is both chief of state and head of government
note: Zanzibar elects a president who is head of
government for matters internal to Zanzibar; Amani Abeid
KARUME was elected to that office on 29 October 2000
cabinet: Cabinet ministers, including the prime
minister, are appointed by the president from among the
members of the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected
on the same ballot by popular vote for five-year terms;
election last held 29 October 2000 (next to be held 30
October 2005); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Benjamin William MKAPA
reelected president; percent of vote - Benjamin William
MKAPA 71.7%, Ibrahim Haruna LIPUMBA 16.3%, Augustine
Lyatonga MREME 7.8%, John Momose CHEYO 4.2% |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (274 seats - 232
elected by popular vote, 37 allocated to women nominated
by the president, five to members of the Zanzibar House
of Representatives; members serve five-year terms); note
- in addition to enacting laws that apply to the entire
United Republic of Tanzania, the Assembly enacts laws
that apply only to the mainland; Zanzibar has its own
House of Representatives to make laws especially for
Zanzibar (the Zanzibar House of Representatives has 50
seats, directly elected by universal suffrage to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 29 October 2000 (next to be
held 30 October 2005)
election results: National Assembly - percent of
vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CCM 244, CUF 16,
CHADEMA 4, TLP 3, UDP 2, Zanzibar representatives 5;
Zanzibar House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - CCM 34, CUF 16 |
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Judicial branch:
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Permanent
Commission of Enquiry (official ombudsman); Court of
Appeal (consists of a chief justice and four judges);
High Court (consists of a Jaji Kiongozi and 29 judges
appointed by the president; holds regular sessions in
all regions); District Courts; Primary Courts (limited
jurisdiction and appeals can be made to the higher
courts) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Chama Cha
Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Party of Democracy and
Development) or CHADEMA [Bob MAKANI]; Chama Cha
Mapinduzi or CCM (Revolutionary Party) [Benjamin William
MKAPA]; Civic United Front or CUF [Ibrahim LIPUMBA];
Democratic Party (unregistered) [Christopher MTIKLA];
Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Augustine Lyatonga MREME];
United Democratic Party or UDP [John CHEYO] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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ACP,
AfDB, AU, C, EADB, FAO, G- 6, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW,
SADC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMSIL,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Andrew Mhando DARAJA
chancery: 2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6125
FAX: [1] (202) 797-7408 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Robert V. ROYALL
embassy: 140 Msese Road, Kinondoni District, Dar
es Salaam
mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
telephone: [255] (22) 2666-010 through 2666-015
FAX: [255] (22) 2666-701, 2668-501 |
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Flag description:
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divided
diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower
hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is
green and the lower triangle is blue |
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Economy - overview:
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Tanzania
is one of the poorest countries in the world. The
economy depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts
for almost half of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and
employs 80% of the work force. Topography and climatic
conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 4%
of the land area. Industry traditionally featured the
processing of agricultural products and light consumer
goods. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund,
and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate
Tanzania's out-of-date economic infrastructure and to
alleviate poverty. Growth in 1991-2002 featured a pickup
in industrial production and a substantial increase in
output of minerals, led by gold. Recent banking reforms
have helped increase private sector growth and
investment. Continued donor assistance and solid
macroeconomic policies supported real GDP growth of
nearly 6% in 2004. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$23.71
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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5.8%
(2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $700 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 43.2%
industry: 17.2%
services: 39.6% (2004 est.) |
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Labor force:
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19
million (2004 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% (2002 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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NA |
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Population below poverty line:
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36% (2002
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 30.1% (1993) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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38.2
(1993) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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5.4%
(2004 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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16.2% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $1.985 billion
expenditures: $2.074 billion, including capital
expenditures of NA (2004 est.) |
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Public debt:
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5% of GDP
(2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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coffee,
sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from
chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves, corn,
wheat, cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables;
cattle, sheep, goats |
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Industries:
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agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal
twine), diamond, gold and iron mining, soda ash, oil
refining, shoes, cement, apparel, wood products,
fertilizer, salt |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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8.4%
(1999 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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2.727
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 18.9%
hydro: 81.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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2.566
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
|
30
million kWh (2002) |
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Oil - production:
|
0 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
|
17,000
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
|
NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Oil - proved reserves:
|
0 bbl (1
January 2002) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
|
11.33
billion cu m (1 January 2002) |
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Current account balance:
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$-327.4
million (2004 est.) |
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Exports:
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$1.248
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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gold,
coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton |
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Exports - partners:
|
India
9.1%, Spain 8.3%, Netherlands 6.4%, Japan 5.8%, UK 5%,
China 4.8%, Kenya 4.7% (2004) |
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Imports:
|
$1.972
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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consumer
goods, machinery and transportation equipment,
industrial raw materials, crude oil |
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Imports - partners:
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South
Africa 13.1%, China 8.1%, India 6.6%, Kenya 5.6%, UAE
5.5%, US 4.9%, UK 4.8%, Bahrain 4.1% (2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|
$2.175
billion (2004 est.) |
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Debt - external:
|
$7.321
billion (2004 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
|
$1.2
billion (2001) |
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Currency (code):
|
Tanzanian
shilling (TZS) |
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Currency code:
|
TZS |
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Exchange rates:
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Tanzanian
shillings per US dollar - 1,089.33 (2004), 1,038.42
(2003), 966.58 (2002), 876.41 (2001), 800.41 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 July -
30 June |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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149,100
(2003) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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891,200
(2003) |
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Telephone system:
|
general assessment: fair system operating below
capacity and being modernized for better service; VSAT
(very small aperture terminal) system under construction
domestic: trunk service provided by open-wire,
microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and
fiber-optic cable; some links being made digital
international: country code - 255; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1
Atlantic Ocean) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 12, FM
11, shortwave 2 (1998) |
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Radios:
|
8.8
million (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
|
3 (1999)
|
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Televisions:
|
103,000
(1997) |
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Internet country code:
|
.tz |
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Internet hosts:
|
5,534
(2003) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
|
6 (2000)
|
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Internet users:
|
250,000
(2003) |
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Railways:
|
total:
3,690 km
narrow gauge: 969 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,721 km
1.000-m gauge (2004) |
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Highways:
|
total:
88,200 km
paved: 3,704 km
unpaved: 84,496 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
|
Lake
Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa principal
avenues of commerce with neighboring countries; rivers
not navigable (2004) |
|
Pipelines:
|
gas 29
km; oil 866 km (2004) |
|
Ports and harbors:
|
Dar es
Salaam, Mtwara, Zanzibar City |
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Merchant marine:
|
total:
11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 25,481 GRT/31,011 DWT
by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum
tanker 4
registered in other countries: 1 (2005) |
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Airports:
|
123 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
|
total:
11
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total:
112
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 60
under 914 m: 33 (2004 est.) |
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Military branches:
|
Tanzanian
People's Defense Force (JWTZ): Army, Naval Wing, Air
Defense Command (includes Air Wing), National Service
|
|
Military service age and obligation:
|
15 years
of age for voluntary military service; 18 years of age
for compulsory military service upon graduation from
secondary school; conscript service obligation - 2 years
(2004) |
|
Manpower available for military service:
|
males
age 18-49: 7,422,869 (2005 est.) |
|
Manpower fit for military service:
|
males
age 18-49: 3,879,630 (2005 est.) |
|
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
|
$20.6
million (2004) |
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
0.2%
(2004) |
|
Disputes - international:
|
disputes
with Malawi over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake
Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant
|
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Refugees and internally displaced persons:
|
refugees (country of origin): 447,877 (Burundi)
153,155 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) 3,036
(Somalia) (2004) |
|
Illicit drugs:
|
growing
role in transshipment of southwest and southeast Asian
heroin and south American cocaine destined for south
African, European, and US markets and of south Asian
methaqualone bound for southern Africa; money laundering
remains a problem |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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