2019 Edition

Background

Shortly after achieving independence from Britain in the early 1960s, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the United Republic of Tanzania in 1964. In 1995, the country held its first democratic elections since the 1970s. Zanzibar maintains semi-autonomy and participates in national elections; popular political opposition on the isles led to four contentious elections since 1995, in which the ruling party claimed victory despite international observers' claims of voting irregularities.

Area

Land

885,800 sq km

Total

947,300 sq km

Water

61,500 sq km

Area Comparative

more than six times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than twice the size of California

Climate

varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands

Coastline

1,424 km

Elevation

Highest Point

Kilimanjaro (highest point in Africa) 5,895 m

Lowest Point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Mean Elevation

1,018 m

Environment Current Issues

water polution; improper management of liquid waste; indoor air pollution caused by the burning of fuel wood or charcoal for cooking and heating is a large environmental health issue; soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory; loss of biodiversity; solid waste disposal

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

Geographic Coordinates

6 00 S, 35 00 E

Geography Note

Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa and one of only three mountain ranges on the continent that has glaciers (the others are Mount Kenya and the Ruwenzori Mountains); 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 (Lake Malawi) in the southwest

Irrigated Land

1,840 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

Border Countries

Burundi 589 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 479 km, Kenya 775 km, Malawi 512 km, Mozambique 840 km, Rwanda 222 km, Uganda 391 km, Zambia 353 km

Total

4,161 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

43.7% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

14.3% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

2.3% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

27.1% (2011 est.)

Forest

37.3% (2011 est.)

Other

19% (2011 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

flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; droughtvolcanism: limited volcanic activity; Ol Doinyo Lengai (2,962 m) 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

Population Distribution

the largest and most populous East African country; population distribution is extremely uneven, but greater population clusters occur in the northern half of country and along the east coast

Terrain

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

Age Structure

0 14 Years

43.4% (male 12,159,482 /female 11,908,654)

15 24 Years

20.03% (male 5,561,922 /female 5,543,788)

25 54 Years

30.02% (male 8,361,460 /female 8,284,229)

55 64 Years

3.51% (male 872,601 /female 1,074,480)

65 Years And Over

3.04% (male 706,633 /female 978,094) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

35.3 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

13.7% (2015)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

38.4% (2015/16)

Current Health Expenditure

4.1% (2016)

Death Rate

7.5 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Demographic Profile

Tanzania has the largest population in East Africa and the lowest population density; almost a third of the population is urban. Tanzania’s youthful population – about two-thirds of the population is under 25 – is growing rapidly because of the high total fertility rate of 4.8 children per woman. Progress in reducing the birth rate has stalled, sustaining the country’s nearly 3% annual growth. The maternal mortality rate has improved since 2000, yet it remains very high because of early and frequent pregnancies, inadequate maternal health services, and a lack of skilled birth attendants – problems that are worse among poor and rural women. Tanzania has made strides in reducing under-5 and infant mortality rates, but a recent drop in immunization threatens to undermine gains in child health. Malaria is a leading killer of children under 5, while HIV is the main source of adult mortalityFor Tanzania, most migration is internal, rural to urban movement, while some temporary labor migration from towns to plantations takes place seasonally for harvests. Tanzania was Africa’s largest refugee-hosting country for decades, hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees from the Great Lakes region, primarily Burundi, over the last fifty years. However, the assisted repatriation and naturalization of tens of thousands of Burundian refugees between 2002 and 2014 dramatically reduced the refugee population. Tanzania is increasingly a transit country for illegal migrants from the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region who are heading to southern Africa for security reasons and/or economic opportunities. Some of these migrants choose to settle in Tanzania.

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

6 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

16.6 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

93.4 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

87.4 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

45.5% of population

Improved Total

55.6% of population

Improved Urban

77.2% of population

Unimproved Rural

54.5% of population

Unimproved Total

44.4% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

22.8% of population

Education Expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2014)

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

4.6% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

24,000 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

1.6 million (2018 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

36.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

40.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

38.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

64.6 years

Male

61.6 years

Total Population

63.1 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

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

Female

73.1% (2015)

Male

83.2%

Total Population

77.9%

Major Infectious Diseases

Animal Contact Diseases

rabies (2016)

Degree Of Risk

very high (2016)

Food Or Waterborne Diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)

Vectorborne Diseases

malaria, dengue fever, and Rift Valley fever (2016)

Water Contact Diseases

schistosomiasis and leptospirosis (2016)

Major Urban Areas Population

262,000 Dodoma (legislative capital) (2018), 6.368 million DAR ES SALAAM (administrative capital), 1.061 million Mwanza (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

524 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

18.2 years

Male

17.6 years

Total

17.9 years (2018 est.)

Mother's Mean Age at First Birth

19.8 years (2015/16 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Tanzanian

Noun

Tanzanian(s)

Net Migration Rate

-0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

8.4% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.04 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

55,451,343 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

2.74% (2018 est.)

Religions

Christian 61.4%, Muslim 35.2%, folk religion 1.8%, other 0.2%, unaffiliated 1.4% (2010 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

8.3% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

15.6% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

31.3% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

91.7% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

84.4% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

68.7% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

8 years (2013)

Male

8 years

Total

8 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.02 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

1.01 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

0.81 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.72 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Total Population

1 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

4.71 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

4.6% (2014 est.)

Male

3.1%

Total

3.9%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

5.22% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

34.5% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

31 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Geita, Iringa, Kagera, Kaskazini Pemba (Pemba North), Kaskazini Unguja (Zanzibar North), Katavi, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Kusini Pemba (Pemba South), Kusini Unguja (Zanzibar Central/South), Lindi, Manyara, Mara, Mbeya, Mjini Magharibi (Zanzibar Urban/West), Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Njombe, Pwani (Coast), Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Simiyu, Singida, Songwe, Tabora, Tanga

Capital

Geographic Coordinates

6 48 S, 39 17 E

Name

Dar es Salaam (administrative capital), Dodoma (legislative capital); note - Dodoma was designated the national capital in 1996 and serves as the meeting place for the National Assembly; Dar es Salaam remains the de facto capital, the country's largest city and commercial center, and the site of the executive branch offices and diplomatic representation; the government contends that it will complete the transfer of the executive branch to Dodoma by 2020

Time Difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

Citizenship By Birth

no

Citizenship By Descent Only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Tanzania; if a child is born abroad, the father must be a citizen of Tanzania

Dual Citizenship Recognized

no

Residency Requirement For Naturalization

5 years

Constitution

Amendments

proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments to constitutional articles including those on sovereignty of the United Republic, the authorities and powers of the government, the president, the Assembly, and the High Court requires two-thirds majority vote of the mainland Assembly membership and of the Zanzibar House of Representatives membership; House of Representatives approval of other amendments is not required; amended several times, last in 2017 (2019)

History

several previous; latest adopted 25 April 1977; note - progress enacting a new constitution drafted in 2014 by the Constituent Assembly stalled

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

United Republic of Tanzania

Conventional Short Form

Tanzania

Etymology

the country's name is a combination of the first letters of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, the two states that merged to form Tanzania in 1964

Former

German East Africa, Trust Territory of Tanganyika, 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Inmi PATTERSON (since 5 July 2017)

Embassy

686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani, Dar es Salaam

Fax

[255] (22) 229-4970 or 4971

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam

Telephone

[255] (22) 229-4000

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

Chancery

1232 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Wilson Mutagaywa MASILINGI (since 17 September 2015)

Fax

[1] (202) 797-7408

Telephone

[1] (202) 939-6125

Executive Branch

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly

Chief Of State

President John MAGUFULI, Dr. (since 5 November 2015); Vice President Samia Suluhu HASSAN (since 5 November 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

Election Results

John MAGUFULI elected president; percent of vote - John MAGUFULI (CCM) 58.5%, Edward LOWASSA (CHADEMA) 40%, other 1.5%

Elections Appointments

president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 25 October 2015 (next to be held in October 2020); prime minister appointed by the president

Head Of Government

President John MAGUFULI, Dr. (since 5 November 2015); Vice President Samia Suluhu HASSAN (since 5 November 2015); note - Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa MAJALIWA (since 20 November 2015) has authority over the day-to-day functions of the government, is the leader of government business in the National Assembly, and is head of the Cabinet

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

presidential republic

Independence

26 April 1964 (Tanganyika united with Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar); 29 October 1964 (renamed United Republic of Tanzania); notable earlier dates: 9 December 1961 (Tanganyika became independent from UK-administered UN trusteeship); 10 December 1963 (Zanzibar became independent from UK)

International Law Organization Participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International Organization Participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, EAC, EADB, EITI, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial Branch

Highest Courts

Court of Appeal of the United Republic of Tanzania (consists of the chief justice and 14 justices); High Court of the United Republic for Mainland Tanzania (consists of the principal judge and 30 judges organized into commercial, land, and labor courts); High Court of Zanzibar (consists of the chief justice and 10 justices)

Judge Selection And Term Of Office

Court of Appeal and High Court justices appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission for Tanzania, a judicial body of high level judges and 2 members appointed by the national president; Court of Appeal and High Court judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 60, but terms can be extended; High Court of Zanzibar judges appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Commission of Zanzibar; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65

Subordinate Courts

Resident Magistrates Courts; Kadhi courts (for Islamic family matters); district and primary courts

Legal System

English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation

Legislative Branch

Description

unicameral National Assembly or Parliament (Bunge) (393 seats; 264 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 113 women indirectly elected by proportional representation vote, 5 indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the Zanzibar House of Representatives, 10 appointed by the president, and 1 seat reserved for the attorney general; members serve a 5-year term); note - in addition to enacting laws that apply to the entire United Republic of Tanzania, the National Assembly enacts laws that apply only to the mainland; Zanzibar has its own House of Representatives or Baraza La Wawakilishi (82 seats; 50 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 20 women directly elected by proportional representation vote, 10 appointed by the Zanzibar president, 1 seat for the House speaker, and 1 ex-officio seat for the attorney general; elected members serve a 5-year term)

Election Results

National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CCM 55%, Chadema 31.8%, CUF 8.6%, other 4.6%; seats by party - CCM 253, Chadema 70, CUF 42, other 2; composition as of September 2018 - men 245, women 145, percent of women 37.2% Zanzibar House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - NA

Elections

Tanzania National Assembly and Zanzibar House of Representatives - elections last held on 25 October 2015 (next National Assembly election to be held in October 2020; next Zanzibar election either October 2020 or March 2021); note the Zanzibar Electoral Commission annulled the 2015 election; repoll held on 20 March 2016

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

collective/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA

Name

"Mungu ibariki Afrika" (God Bless Africa)

National Holiday

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

National Symbol S

Uhuru (Freedom) torch, giraffe; national colors: green, yellow, blue, black

Political Parties And Leaders

Alliance for Change and Transparency (Wazalendo) or ACT [Zitto KABWE] Alliance for Democratic Change or ADC [Miraji ABDALLAH] Civic United Front (Chama Cha Wananchi) or CUF [Ibrahim LIPUMBA] National Convention for Construction and Reform-Mageuzi or NCCR-M [James Francis MBATIA] National League for Democracy Party of Democracy and Development (Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo) or Chadema [Freeman MBOWE] Revolutionary Party (Chama Cha Mapinduzi) or CCM [John MAGUFULI] Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Augustine MREMA] United Democratic Party or UDP [John Momose CHEYO]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

Expenditures

8.818 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

7.873 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-1.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

31 December 2009

3.7%

31 December 2010

8.25%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

15.96%

31 December 2017

17.62%

Current Account Balance

2016

-$2.137 billion

2017

-$1.464 billion

Debt External

31 December 2016

$15.21 billion

31 December 2017

$17.66 billion

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

2000

34.6

2007

37.6

Economy Overview

Tanzania has achieved high growth rates based on its vast natural resource wealth and tourism with GDP growth in 2009-17 averaging 6%-7% per year. Dar es Salaam used fiscal stimulus measures and easier monetary policies to lessen the impact of the global recession and in general, benefited from low oil prices. Tanzania has largely completed its transition to a market economy, though the government retains a presence in sectors such as telecommunications, banking, energy, and mining.The economy depends on agriculture, which accounts for slightly less than one-quarter of GDP and employs about 65% of the work force, although gold production in recent years has increased to about 35% of exports. All land in Tanzania is owned by the government, which can lease land for up to 99 years. Proposed reforms to allow for land ownership, particularly foreign land ownership, remain unpopular.The financial sector in Tanzania has expanded in recent years and foreign-owned banks account for about 48% of the banking industry's total assets. Competition among foreign commercial banks has resulted in significant improvements in the efficiency and quality of financial services, though interest rates are still relatively high, reflecting high fraud risk. Banking reforms have helped increase private-sector growth and investment.The World Bank, the IMF, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's aging infrastructure, including rail and port, which provide important trade links for inland countries. In 2013, Tanzania completed the world's largest Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) grant, worth $698 million, but in late 2015, the MCC Board of Directors deferred a decision to renew Tanzania’s eligibility because of irregularities in voting in Zanzibar and concerns over the government's use of a controversial cybercrime bill.The new government elected in 2015 has developed an ambitious development agenda focused on creating a better business environment through improved infrastructure, access to financing, and education progress, but implementing budgets remains challenging for the government. Recent policy moves by President MAGUFULI are aimed at protecting domestic industry and have caused concern among foreign investors.

Exchange Rates

2013

1,654

2014

1,989.7

2015

2,177.1

2016

2,177.1

2017

2,243.8

Currency

Tanzanian shillings (TZS) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$5.697 billion

2017

$4.971 billion

Exports Commodities

gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton

Exports Partners

India 21.8%, South Africa 17.9%, Kenya 8.8%, Switzerland 6.7%, Belgium 5.9%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 5.8%, China 4.8% (2017)

Fiscal Year

1 July - 30 June

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

18.1% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

12.5% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

62.4% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-20.5% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

36.1% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

-8.7% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

23.4% (2017 est.)

Industry

28.6% (2017 est.)

Services

47.6% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$51.76 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$3,000

2016

$3,100

2017

$3,200

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$143.3 billion

2016

$153.3 billion

2017

$162.5 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

7%

2016

7%

2017

6%

Gross National Saving

2015

24.9% of GDP

2016

23.1% of GDP

2017

25% of GDP

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

Highest 10

29.6% (2007)

Lowest 10

2.8%

Imports

2016

$8.464 billion

2017

$7.869 billion

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

India 16.5%, China 15.8%, UAE 9.2%, Saudi Arabia 7.9%, South Africa 5.1%, Japan 4.9%, Switzerland 4.4% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

12% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

5.2%

2017

5.3%

Labor Force

24.89 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

66.9%

Industry

6.4%

Services

26.6% (2014 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

31 December 2010

$1.264 billion

31 December 2011

$1.539 billion

31 December 2012

$1.803 billion

Population Below Poverty Line

22.8% (2015 est.)

Public Debt

2016

38% of GDP

2017

37% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$4.067 billion

31 December 2017

$5.301 billion

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$4.641 billion

31 December 2017

$5.002 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

NA

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

NA

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$9.616 billion

31 December 2017

$9.045 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$4.641 billion

31 December 2017

$5.002 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

15.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2014

10.3%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

14.57 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification Rural Areas

17% (2017)

Electrification Total Population

33% (2017)

Electrification Urban Areas

65% (2017)

Population Without Electricity

39 million (2017)

Electricity Consumption

5.682 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

55% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

40% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

6% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

102 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

1.457 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

6.699 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

3.115 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

3.115 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

6.513 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

72,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

67,830 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

3 (2017 est.)

Total

1,848,167

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 (2019)

Internet Country Code

.tz

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

13% (July 2016 est.)

Total

6,822,754

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 and exceeds 74 telephones per 100 persons; trunk service provided by open-wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and fiber-optic cable; some links being made digital (2018)

General Assessment

telecommunications services are marginal; system operating below capacity and being modernized for better service; 2 fixed-line operators and 8 operational mobile networks; unfortunate high tariffs on telecoms; mobile penetration is 83%; 3G/LTE services (2018)

International

country code - 255; landing points for the EASSy, SEACOM/Tata TGN-Eurasia, and SEAS fiber-optic submarine cable system linking East Africa with the Middle East; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

less than 1 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

127,094

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

74 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

39,953,860

Airports

166 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

4 (2013)

2 438 To 3 047 M

2 (2013)

914 To 1 523 M

2 (2013)

Over 3 047 M

2 (2013)

Total

10 (2013)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

24 (2013)

914 To 1 523 M

98 (2013)

Over 3 047 M

1 (2013)

Total

156 (2013)

Under 914 M

33 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

5H (2016)

Merchant Marine

By Type

bulk carrier 6, container ship 9, general cargo 184, oil tanker 41, other 89 (2018)

Total

329

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

2,337,440 mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

1,239,707 (2015)

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

17 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

5 (2015)

Pipelines

311 km gas, 891 km oil, 8 km refined products (2013)

Ports And Terminals

Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar

Railways

Narrow Gauge

1,860 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)

Total

4,567 km (2014)

Roadways

Paved

10,025 km (2015)

Total

87,581 km (2015)

Unpaved

77,556 km (2015)

Waterways

(Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) are the principal avenues of commerce with neighboring countries; the rivers are not navigable) (2011)

Maritime Threats

The International Maritime Bureau reports that shipping in territorial and offshore waters in the Indian Ocean remain at risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships, especially as Somali-based pirates extend their activities south; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen.

Military And Security Forces

Tanzania People's Defense Forces (TPDF or Jeshi la Wananchi la Tanzania, JWTZ): Land Forces Command, Naval Forces Command, Air Force Command, National Building Army (Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa, JKT), People's Militia (Reserves) (2019)

Military Expenditures

2014

1.05% of GDP

2015

1.13% of GDP

2016

1.14% of GDP

2017

1.18% of GDP

2018

1.21% of GDP

Military Service Age And Obligation

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; 6-year commitment (2019)

Disputes International

dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River; Malawi contends that the entire lake up to the Tanzanian shoreline is its territory, while Tanzania claims the border is in the center of the lake; the conflict was reignited in 2012 when Malawi awarded a license to a British company for oil exploration in the lake

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

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

163,629 (Burundi), 73,169 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2019)

Trafficking In Persons

Current Situation

Tanzania is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; the exploitation of young girls in domestic servitude continues to be Tanzania’s largest human trafficking problem; Tanzanian boys are subject to forced labor mainly on farms but also in mines and quarries, in the informal commercial sector, in factories, in the sex trade, and possibly on small fishing boats; Tanzanian children and adults are subjected to domestic servitude, other forms of forced labor, and sex trafficking in other African countries, the Middle East, Europe, and the US; internal trafficking is more prevalent than transnational trafficking and is usually facilitated by friends, family members, or intermediaries with false offers of education or legitimate jobs; trafficking victims from Burundi, Kenya, South Asia, and Yemen are forced to work in Tanzania’s agricultural, mining, and domestic service sectors or may be sex trafficked

Tier Rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Tanzania does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, Tanzania was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; the government adopted a three-year national action plan and implementing regulations for the 2008 anti-trafficking law; authorities somewhat increased their number of trafficking investigations and prosecutions and convicted one offender, but the penalty was a fine in lieu of prison, which was inadequate given the severity of the crime; the government did not operate any shelters for victims and relied on NGOs to provide protective services (2015)

Terrorist Groups Foreign Based

aim(s): attract Tanzanian recruits to support terrorist operations in Kenya and Somalia area(s) of operation: maintains minimal clandestine footprint in key cities (2018)