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Tanzania Quick
Facts
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Legend:
Definition
Field
Listing
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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
note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and
Zanzibar
water: 59,050 sq km
land: 886,037 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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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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exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 4.24%
permanent crops: 1.02%
other: 94.74% (1998 est.) |
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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,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban |
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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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37,187,939
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 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 44.6% (male 8,338,764; female
8,247,789)
15-64 years: 52.5% (male 9,674,951; female
9,847,084)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 483,760; female
595,591) (2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.6% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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39.12 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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13.02 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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77.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 51.7 years
female: 52.67 years (2002 est.)
male: 50.76 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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5.33 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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8.09% (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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1.3 million (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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140,000 (1999 est.) |
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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), 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 |
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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: 67.8%
male: 79.4%
female: 56.8% (1995 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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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 |
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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; Prime
Minister Frederick SUMAYE (since NA) does not function
as the 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; Prime
Minister Frederick SUMAYE (since NA) does not function
as the 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
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%
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 NA
October 2005); prime minister appointed by the president |
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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)
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) |
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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 or CHADEMA [Bob MAKANI,
chairman]; Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM (Revolutionary
Party) [Benjamin William MKAPA, chairman]; Civic United
Front or CUF [Ibrahim LIPUMBA, chaiman]; Democratic
Party (unregistered) [Reverend Christopher MTIKLA];
National Convention for Construction and Reform or NCCR
[James MBATIA, secretary general]; Tanzania Labor Party
or TLP [Augustine Lyatonga MREMA, chairman]; Union for
Multiparty Democracy or UMD [leader NA]; 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, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G- 6, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, 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, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
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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
FAX: [1] (202) 797-7408
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6125 |
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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 is heavily dependent 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 is mainly limited to
processing agricultural products and light consumer
goods. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund,
and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate
Tanzania's deteriorated economic infrastructure. Growth
in 1991-2001 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. Continued donor support and solid
macroeconomic policies should support steady real GDP
growth of 5% in 2002 and 2003. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $22.1 billion (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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5% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $610 (2001 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 48%
industry: 17%
services: 35% (2000 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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51% (1991 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by
percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 30% (1993) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini
index:
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38 (1993) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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5% (2001 est.) |
fossil fuel: 18%
hydro: 82%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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2.616 billion kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - imports:
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45 million kWh (2000) |
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Agriculture - products:
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coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made
from chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves
(Zanzibar), corn, wheat, cassava (tapioca), bananas,
fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats |
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Exports:
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$827 million f.o.b. (2001) |
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Exports - commodities:
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gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton (2000) |
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Exports - partners:
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UK 22.0%, India 14.8%, Germany 9.9%, Netherlands 6.9%
(2000) |
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Imports:
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$1.55 billion f.o.b. (2001) |
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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 11.5%, Japan 9.3%, UK 7.0%, Australia 6.2%
(2000) |
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Debt - external:
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$6.8 billion (2000 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$963 million (1997) (1997) |
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Currency:
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Tanzanian shilling (TZS) |
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Currency code:
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TZS |
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Exchange rates:
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Tanzanian shillings per US dollar - 924.70 (January
2002), 876.41 (2001), 800.41 (2000), 744.76 (1999),
664.67 (1998), 612.12 (1997) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 July - 30 June |
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