1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 945,090 sq km land: 886,040 sq km water: 59,050 sq km note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar
Area--comparative
slightly larger than twice the size of California
Climate
varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands
Coastline
1,424 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m
Environment--current issues
soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture
Environment--international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geographic coordinates
6 00 S, 35 00 E
Geography--note
Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa
Irrigated land
1,500 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 3,402 km border countries: Burundi 451 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km
Land use
arable land: 3% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 40% forests and woodland: 38% other: 18% (1993 est.)
Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique
Map references
Africa
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
the tsetse fly; flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought
Natural resources
hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel
Terrain
plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 44% (male 6,926,149; female 6,967,416) 15-64 years: 53% (male 8,030,141; female 8,437,978) 65 years and over: 3% (male 415,074; female 494,062) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
40.37 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
16.75 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
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
Infant mortality rate
95.27 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguju (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
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 46.17 years male: 43.85 years female: 48.57 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic total population: 67.8% male: 79.4% female: 56.8% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Tanzanian(s) adjective: Tanzanian
Net migration rate
-2.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
31,270,820 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
2.14% (1999 est.)
Religions
mainland--Christian 45%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 20; Zanzibar--more than 99% Muslim
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
5.4 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
25 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Singida, Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzibar North, Zanzibar Urban/West, Ziwa Magharibi note: Ziwa Magharibi may have been renamed Kagera
Capital
Dar es Salaam note: some government offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which is planned as the new national capital; the National Assembly now meets there on regular basis
Constitution
25 April 1977; major revisions October 1984
Country name
conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania conventional short form: Tanzania former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar
Data code
TZ
Executive branch
chief of state: President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23 November 1995); Vice President Omar Ali JUMA (since 23 November 1995); 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 Omar Ali JUMA (since 23 November 1995); 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; Dr. Salmin AMOUR was elected to that office on 22 October 1995 in a popular election 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-19 November 1995 (next to be held NA October 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: percent of vote--Benjamin William MKAPA 62%, MREMA 28%, LIPUMBA 6%, CHEYO 4%
Flag description
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
Government type
republic
Independence
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
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G6, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mustafa Salim NYANG'ANYI chancery: 2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles R. STITH embassy: 285 Toure Drive, Dar es Salaam (temporary location) mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
Judicial branch
Court of Appeal; High Court, judges appointed by the president Political parties and leaders: Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM
Legal system
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
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-19 November 1995 (next to be held NA October 2000) election results: National Assembly: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--CCM 186, CUF 24, NCCR-Mageuzi 16, CHADEMA 3, UDP 3;
National holiday
Union Day, 26 April (1964)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Zanzibar House of Representatives
percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--CCM 26, CUF 24
Economy
Agriculture--products
coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves (Zanzibar), corn, wheat, cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats
Budget
revenues: $700 million expenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)
Currency
1 Tanzanian shilling (TSh) = 100 cents
Debt--external
$8.3 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient
$860.9 million (1995)
Economy--overview
Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for 56% of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 90% of the work force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry accounts for 15% of GDP and is mainly limited to processing agricultural products and light consumer goods. The economic recovery program announced in mid-1986 has generated notable increases in agricultural production and financial support for the program by bilateral donors. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's deteriorated economic infrastructure. Growth in 1991-98 has featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of minerals, led by gold. Natural gas exploration in the Rufiji Delta looks promising and production could start by 2002. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private sector growth and investment. Short-term economic progress also depends on curbing corruption.
Electricity--consumption
1.82 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
1.82 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 12.09% hydro: 87.91% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
Tanzanian shillings (TSh) per US$1--668.3 (February 1999), 664.67 (1998), 612.12 (1997), 579.98 (1996), 574.76 (1995), 509.63 (1994)
Exports
$952 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities
coffee, manufactured goods, cotton, cashew nuts, minerals, tobacco, sisal (1996)
Exports--partners
India 9.8%, Germany 8.9%, Japan 7.8%, Malaysia 6.5%, Rwanda 5.2%, Netherlands 4.7% (1997)
Fiscal year
1 July--30 June
GDP
purchasing power parity--$22.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 56% industry: 15% services: 29% (1996 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$730 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
3.8% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 30.2% (1993)
Imports
$1.46 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities
consumer goods, machinery and transportation equipment, industrial raw materials, crude oil
Imports--partners
South Africa 12.9%, Kenya 9.6%, UK 8.7%, Saudi Arabia 6.6%, Japan 4.9%, China 4.6% (1997)
Industrial production growth rate
0.4% (1995 est.)
Industries
primarily agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine), diamond and gold mining, oil refining, shoes, cement, textiles, wood products, fertilizer, salt
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
13.5% (1998)
Labor force
13.495 million
Labor force--by occupation
agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 10% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line
51.1% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 12, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios
740,000 (1994 est.)
Telephone system
fair system operating below capacity domestic: open wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones
88,000 (1994)
Television broadcast stations
4 (1998)
Televisions
60,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Airports
129 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 119 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 65 under 914 m: 35 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 88,200 km paved: 3,704 km unpaved: 84,496 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,618 GRT/26,321 DWT ships by type: cargo 2, oil tanker 2, passenger-cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Pipelines
crude oil 982 km Ports and harbors: Bukoba, Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, Kilwa Masoko, Lindi, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pangani, Tanga, Wete, Zanzibar
Railways
total: 3,569 km (1995) narrow gauge: 2,600 km 1.000-m gauge; 969 km 1.067-m gauge note: the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia (of which 969 km are in Tanzania and 891 km are in Zambia) is not a part of Tanzania Railways Corporation; because of the difference in gauge, this system does not connect to Tanzania Railways
Waterways
Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Lake Nyasa
Military and Security
Military branches
Tanzanian People's Defense Force or TPDF (includes Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary Police Field Force Unit, Militia
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$21 million (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
0.2% (FY98/99)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 7,119,106 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 4,120,617 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
dispute with Malawi over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
Illicit drugs
growing role in transshipment of Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for European and US markets and of South Asian methaqualone bound for Southern Africa