2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

25 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Kagera, 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

Age structure

0-14 years: 44.3% (male 7,988,898; female 7,938,979) 15-64 years: 53.1% (male 9,429,959; female 9,634,102) 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 405,803; female 524,713) (2003 est.)

Area

land

886,037 sq km

note

includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar

total

945,087 sq km

water

59,050 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than twice the size of California

Background

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. Geography Tanzania

Birth rate

39.5 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Capital

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

Climate

varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands

Coastline

1,424 km

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

Death rate

17.38 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Kilimanjaro 5,895 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Nuclear Test Ban

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

Executive branch

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

Geographic coordinates

6 00 S, 35 00 E

Geography - note

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 People Tanzania

Government type

republic

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

7.8% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

140,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1.5 million (2001 est.)

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

Infant mortality rate

female

93.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

113.29 deaths/1,000 live births

total

103.68 deaths/1,000 live births

Irrigated land

1,550 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

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

total

3,861 km

Land use

arable land

4.24%

other

94.74% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

1.02%

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

Legal system

based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Life expectancy at birth

female

45.83 years (2003 est.)

male

43.33 years

total population

44.56 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic

female

70.7% (2003 est.) Government Tanzania

male

85.9%

total population

78.2%

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

Median age

female

17.7 years (2002)

male

17.2 years

total

17.5 years

National holiday

Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964)

Nationality

adjective

Tanzanian

noun

Tanzanian(s)

Natural hazards

flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought

Natural resources

hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel

Net migration rate

-4.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population

35,922,454

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 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

1.72% (2003 est.)

Religions

mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Terrain

plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south

Total fertility rate

5.24 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves, corn, wheat, cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats

Airports

123 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

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

total

11

under 914 m

1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

112 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 60

under 914 m

34 (2002) Military Tanzania

Budget

expenditures

$1.38 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY 00/01 est.)

revenues

$1.01 billion

Currency

Tanzanian shilling (TZS)

Currency code

TZS

Debt - external

$6.8 billion (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Andrew Mhando DARAJA

Disputes - international

disputes with Malawi over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant

Distribution of family income - Gini index

38.2 (1993)

Economic aid - recipient

$963 million (1997)

Economy - overview

Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts for 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. Oil and gas exploration and development played an important role in this growth. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private sector growth and investment. Continued donor support and solid macroeconomic policies should support continued real GDP growth of 5% in 2003.

Electricity - consumption

2.752 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

50 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

2.906 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

18.9%

hydro

81.1%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Exchange rates

Tanzanian shillings per US dollar - NA (2002), 876.41 (2001), 800.41 (2000), 744.76 (1999), 664.67 (1998)

Exports

$863 million f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities

gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton

Exports - partners

India 15.2%, Japan 12.4%, Netherlands 9.2%, UK 6.8%, Belgium 6.5%, Kenya 5.9%, Germany 4.8% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 797-7408

[255] (22) 2666-701, 2668-501

telephone

[1] (202) 939-6125

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Communications Tanzania

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 Economy Tanzania

GDP

purchasing power parity - $20.42 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

48.1%

industry

15.4%

services

36.5% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $600 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.1% (2002 est.)

Highways

paved

3,704 km

total

88,200 km

unpaved

84,496 km (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

30.1% (1993)

lowest 10%

2.8%

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 This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$1.67 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Imports - commodities

consumer goods, machinery and transportation equipment, industrial raw materials, crude oil

Imports - partners

South Africa 12.7%, China 7.9%, Kenya 6.6%, India 6.3%, UK 6%, Japan 4.5%, US 4%, Australia 4% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate

8.4% (1999 est.)

Industries

agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine), diamond and gold mining, oil refining, shoes, cement, textiles, wood products, fertilizer, salt

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.8% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, EADB, ECA, FAO, G- 6, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.tz

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

6 (2000)

Internet users

300,000 (2002) Transportation Tanzania

Judicial branch

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)

Labor force

13.495 million

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% (2002 est.)

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)

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

elections

last held 29 October 2000 (next to be held NA October 2005)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 2 (2002 est.)

total

10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 30,781 GRT/33,805 DWT

Military branches

Tanzanian People's Defense Force (including Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary Police Field Force Unit (including Police Marine Unit and Police Air Wing), territorial militia

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$19.68 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.2% (FY02) Transnational Issues Tanzania

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

8,477,193 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

4,911,235 (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

11.33 billion cu m (37257)

Oil - consumption

17,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (37257)

Pipelines

gas 5 km; oil 866 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

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 MREMA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [John CHEYO]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population below poverty line

36% (2002 est.)

Ports and harbors

Bukoba, Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, Kilwa Masoko, Lindi, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pangani, Tanga, Wete, Zanzibar

Radio broadcast stations

AM 12, FM 11, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios

8.8 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

2,721 km 1.000-m gauge; 969 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)

total

3,690 km

Telephone system

domestic

trunk service provided by open-wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and fiber-optic cable; some links being made digital

general assessment

fair system operating below capacity and being modernized for better service; VSAT (very small aperture terminal) system under construction

international

satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

127,000 (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

30,000 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

3 (1999)

Televisions

103,000 (1997)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Waterways

note

Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa are principal avenues of commerce between Tanzania and its neighbors on those lakes