2010 Edition

Background

Shortly after achieving independence from Britain in the early 1960s, 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.

Area

land

885,800 sq km

total

947,300 sq km

water

61,500 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

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, 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

135 cu m/yr (2000)

total

5.18 cu km/yr (10%/0%/89%)

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

Irrigated land

1,840 sq km (2003)

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

4.23%

other

94.61% (2005)

permanent crops

1.16%

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

flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought

volcanism

Tanzania experiences limited volcanic activity; Ol Doinyo Lengai (elev. 2,962 m, 9,718 ft) has emitted lava in recent years; other historically active volcanoes include Kieyo and Meru

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

91 cu km (2001)

Age structure

0-14 years: 43% (male 8,853,529/female 8,805,810) 15-64 years: 54.1% (male 10,956,133/female 11,255,868) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 513,959/female 663,233) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

33.44 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

12.31 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

6.8% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

mainland - African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, African, mixed Arab and African

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

6.2% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

96,000 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1.4 million (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

61.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

75 deaths/1,000 live births

total

68.13 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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; 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

female

54.03 years (2010 est.)

male

50.99 years

total population

52.49 years

Literacy

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

female

62.2% (2002 census)

male

77.5%

total population

69.4%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies (2009)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria and plague

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Median age

female

18.5 years (2010 est.)

male

18 years

total

18.3 years

Nationality

adjective

Tanzanian

noun

Tanzanian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

41,892,895 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

2.032% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

5 years (1999)

male

5 years

total

5 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female 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

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.31 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

25% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

6 48 S, 39 17 E

name

Dar es Salaam

time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: legislative offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which is planned as the new national capital, and the National Assembly now meets there on a regular basis; the Executive Branch with all ministries and diplomatic representation remains located in Dar es Salaam

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

local long form

Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania

local short form

Tanzania

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Alfonso E. LENHARDT

embassy

686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani, Dar es Salaam

FAX

[255] (22) 266-8238, 266-8373

mailing address

P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam

telephone

[255] (22) 266-8001

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Mwandaidi Sinare MAAJAR

FAX

[1] (202) 797-7408

telephone

[1] (202) 939-6125

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December 2005); Vice President Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Jakaya KIKWETE elected president; percent of vote - Jakaya KIKWETE 61.2%, Wilbrod SLAA 26.3%, Ibrahim LIPUMBA 8.1%, other 4.5%

elections

president and vice president elected on the same ballot by popular vote for five-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held on 31 October 2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December 2005); Vice President Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001) note: Zanzibar elects a president who is head of government for matters internal to Zanzibar; Ali Mohamed SHEIN elected to that office on 31 October 2010, sworn in 3 November 2010

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; the banner combines colors found on the flags of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; green represents the natural vegetation of the country, gold its rich mineral deposits, black the native Swahili people, and blue the country's many lakes and rivers, as well as the Indian Ocean

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, AU, C, EAC, EADB, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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)

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 members elected by popular vote, 37 allocated to women nominated by the president, 5 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; members elected by universal suffrage to serve five-year terms)

election results

National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CCM 206, CUF 19, CHADEMA 5, other 2, women appointed by the president 37, Zanzibar representatives 5 Zanzibar House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CCM 30, CUF 19; 1 seat was nullified with a rerun to take place soon

elections

last held on 14 December 2005 (next to be held on 31 October 2010)

National anthem

lyrics/music

collective/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA note: adopted 1961; the anthem, which is also a popular song in Africa, shares the same melody with that of Zambia, but has different lyrics; the melody is also incorporated into South Africa's anthem

name

"Mungu ibariki Afrika" (God Bless Africa)

National holiday

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

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) [Jakaya Mrisho KIKWETE]; Civic United Front or CUF [Ibrahim LIPUMBA]; Democratic Party [Christopher MTIKLA] (unregistered); Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Augustine Lyatonga MREME]; United Democratic Party or UDP [John CHEYO]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Economic and Social Research Foundation or ESRF; Free Zanzibar; Tanzania Media Women's Association or TAMWA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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

Central bank discount rate

3.7% (31 December 2009) 15.99% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15.03% (31 December 2009 est.) 14.98% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.523 billion (2010 est.) -$1.746 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$7.576 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $6.879 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

34.6 (2000) 38.2 (1993)

Economy - overview

Tanzania is one of the world's poorest economies in terms of per capita income, however, Tanzania average 7% GDP growth per year between 2000 and 2008 on strong gold production and tourism. The economy depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts for more than one-fourth of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs about 60% of the work force. The World Bank, the IMF, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's aging economic infrastructure, including rail and port infrastructure that are important trade links for inland countries. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private-sector growth and investment, and the government has increased spending on agriculture to 7% of its budget. Continued donor assistance and solid macroeconomic policies supported a positive growth rate, despite the world recession. In 2008, Tanzania received the world's largest Millennium Challenge Compact grant, worth $698 million. Dar es Salaam used fiscal stimulus and loosened monitary policy to ease the impact of the global recession. GDP growth in 2009-10 was a respectable 6% per year due to high gold prices and increased production.

Electricity - consumption

3.182 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

200 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

3.786 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Tanzanian shillings (TZS) per US dollar - 1,423.3 (2010), 1,320.3 (2009), 1,178.1 (2008), 1,255 (2007), 1,251.9 (2006)

Exports

$3.809 billion (2010 est.) $3.365 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton

Exports - partners

India 8.51%, China 7.55%, Japan 7.12%, Netherlands 6.21%, UAE 5.71%, Germany 5.17% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

41.6%

industry

18.1%

services

38.4% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,500 (2010 est.) $1,400 (2009 est.) $1,400 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6.4% (2010 est.) 6% (2009 est.) 7.4% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$22.43 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$62.22 billion (2010 est.) $58.48 billion (2009 est.) $55.17 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 26.9% (2000)

Imports

$6.334 billion (2010 est.) $5.834 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

India 13.97%, China 13.71%, South Africa 7.8%, Kenya 6.89%, UAE 4.65%, Japan 4.34% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

7% (2010 est.)

Industries

agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine); diamond, gold, and iron mining, salt, soda ash; cement, oil refining, shoes, apparel, wood products, fertilizer

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.2% (2010 est.) 12.1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

17.4% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

21.86 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

80%

industry and services

20% (2002 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2009) $1.293 billion (31 December 2008) $541.1 million (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

560.7 million cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

560.7 million cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

6.513 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

34,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

28,070 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

36% (2002 est.)

Public debt

23.3% of GDP (2010 est.) 21.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.687 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $3.206 billion (31 December 2009 est.) note: excludes gold

Stock of broad money

$7.44 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $6.65 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$4.163 million (31 December 2010 est.) $3.878 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$3.394 billion (31 December 2010 est) $2.972 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Broadcast media

a state-owned TV station and multiple privately-owned TV stations; state-owned national radio station supplemented by more than 40 privately-owned radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code

.tz

Internet hosts

24,182 (2010)

Internet users

678,000 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line telephone network inadequate with less than 1 connection per 100 persons; mobile-cellular service, aided by multiple providers, is increasing rapidly; trunk service provided by open-wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and fiber-optic cable; some links being made digital

general assessment

telecommunications services are marginal; system operating below capacity and being modernized for better service; small aperture terminal (VSAT) system under construction

international

country code - 255; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

173,552 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

17.677 million (2010)

Airports

124 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

9 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

115 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 63 under 914 m: 33 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 4, cargo 43, carrier 4, chemical tanker 2, container 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 15

foreign-owned

1 (UAE 1)

registered in other countries

3 (Honduras 1, Panama 2) (2010)

total

72

Pipelines

gas 254 km; oil 888 km; refined products 8 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar

Railways

narrow gauge

969 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,720 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

total

3,689 km

Roadways

paved

4,741 km

total

78,892 km

unpaved

74,151 km (2007)

Transportation - note

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Indian Ocean are high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

Waterways

Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa are principal avenues of commerce with neighboring countries; rivers are not navigable (2009)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 9,683,768 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 5,667,987 females age 16-49: 5,690,331 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

500,941 (2010 est.)

male

498,815

Military branches

Tanzanian People's Defense Force (Jeshi la Wananchi la Tanzania,

JWTZ)

Army, Naval Wing (includes Coast Guard), Air Defense Command (includes Air Wing), National Service (2007)

Military expenditures

0.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

Disputes - international

Tanzania still hosts more than a half-million refugees, more than any other African country, mainly from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite the international community's efforts at repatriation; disputes with Malawi over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant

Illicit drugs

targeted by traffickers moving hashish, Afghan heroin, and South American cocaine transported down the East African coastline, through airports, or overland through Central Africa; Zanzibar likely used by traffickers for drug smuggling; traffickers in the past have recruited Tanzanian couriers to move drugs through Iran into East Asia. page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

352,640 (Burundi); 127,973 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2007)