Tanzania

republicIndependence 26 April 1964

Tanzania as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 97 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalDar es Salaam
Position6 00 S, 35 00 E
Area945,090 sq km
LocationEastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya
1997

Every edition of Tanzania

Populationas each edition published it
29.46 million July 1997 est. · 25.97m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.6% 1997 est. · 2.56% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 17.5 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
41.71 years 1997 est. · 44 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
5.58 children per woman 1997 est. · 7.1 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
104.8 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 107 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$650 1995 est. · $260 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
3.5% 1995 est. · 4.5% in 1993

Geography

Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya | and Mozambique

18 fields

Land useshare of 945,090 sq km

arable land 3%permanent crops 1%permanent pastures 40%forests and woodland 38%other 18% (1993 est.)irrigated 1,500 sq km (1993 est.)
Area
945,090sq km
land: 886,040 sq kmwater: 59,050 sq kmnote: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibarslightly larger than twice the size of California
Coastline
1,424km
exclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Highest point
5,895m
Kilimanjarolowest point : Indian Ocean 0 m
Land boundaries
3,402km
border countries: Burundi 451 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km

Location

Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique

Geographic coordinates

6 00 S, 35 00 E

Climate

varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands

Terrain

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

Natural resources

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

Natural hazards

the tsetse fly; flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season

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, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
Desertification

Geography - note

Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa

People

15 fields
Population
29,460,753
(July 1997 est.)growth rate: 1.6% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth
40.92Death
19.84Net migration
-5.09

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1997 est.)41.71
40.34 · 43.13
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)67.8%
79.4% · 56.8%
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition : age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic

Religions

mainland - Christian 45%Muslim 35%indigenous beliefs 20%note: Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim

Age structure

0-14 years:
45% (male 6,597,703; female 6,638,333)
15-64 years:
52% (male 7,496,133; female 7,868,581)
65 years and over:
3% (male 399,747; female 460,256) (July 1997 est.)

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:
0.87 male(s)/female
total population:
0.97 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate

104.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.58 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Nationality

noun :
Tanzanian(s)
adjective:
Tanzanian

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) note: Zanzibar - Arab, native African, mixed Arab and native African

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 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

Government

Republic; President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 22 November 1995); President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 22 November 1995)

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

62%
Benjamin William MKAPA 62%MREMA 28%LIPUMBA 6%CHEYO 4%election last held 29 October-19 November 1995 (next to be held NA October 2000)

Country name

conventional long form :
United Republic of Tanzania
conventional short form:
Tanzania
former:
United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar

National capital

Dar es Salaam note: some government offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which is planned as the new national capital by the end of the 1990s

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

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

National holiday

Union Day, 26 April (1964)

Constitution

25 April 1977; major revisions October 1984

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
  • President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 22 November 1995);
  • Vice President Omar Ali JUMA (since 22 November 1995);
  • note the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:
  • President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 22 November 1995);
  • Vice President Omar Ali JUMA (since 22 November 1995);
  • note the president is both chief of state and head of government
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%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (274 seats, 232 directly elected; members serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 29 October-19 November 1995 (next to be held NA October 2000)
election results :
  • percent of vote by party - NA;
  • seats by party - CCM 186, opposition parties 46;
  • note - of the 42 seats which are not elected, some are filled by presidential appointment and others are designated by law for specific officials

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal; High Court

Political parties and leaders

  • Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM (Revolutionary Party) [Benjamin William MKAPA];
  • Civic United Front or CUF [Seif Sharif HAMAD];
  • National Convention for Construction and Reform or NCCR [Lyatonga (Augustine) MREMA];
  • Union for Multiparty Democracy or UMD [Abdullah FUNDIKIRA];
  • Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo or CHADEMA [Edwin I. M. MTEI, chairman];
  • Democratic Party (unregistered) [Reverend MTIKLA];
  • United Democratic Party or UDP [John CHEYO]

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G- 6, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, SADC, UN, UNAVEM III, 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
telephone:
[1] (202) 939-6125

FAX

[1] (202) 797-7408

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador J. Brady ANDERSON
embassy:
36 Laibon Road (off Bagamoyo Road), Dar es Salaam
mailing address:
P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
telephone:
[255] (51) 66010 through 66015

FAX

[255] (51) 66701

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 is one of the poorest countries in the | world.

22 fields
Real growth rate
3.5%
(1995 est.)industrial production growth: 7.7% (1994)
Labor force
13.495million
by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 10% (1995 est.)
Debt - external
$7.4billion
(1994 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1994 est.)

agriculture 57%industry 17%services 26% (1994 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$495 millionExpenditures
$631 million (1990 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $118 million

Economy - overview

Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for 57% 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 17% 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 1991-96 has featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of minerals, led by gold. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private sector growth and investment.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $18.9 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $650 (1995 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity - capacity

440,000 kW (1994)

Electricity - production

1.91 billion kWh (1994)

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

total value:
$679 million (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities:
coffee, cotton, cashew nuts, cloves, tobacco, sisal
partners:
India, Germany, Belgium, UK, Japan, Netherlands, Kenya, Hong Kong, US

Imports

total value:
$1.69 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery and transportation equipment, cotton piece goods, crude oil, foodstuffs
partners :
UK, Germany, Italy, Japan, US, Kenya, China

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency

1 Tanzanian shilling (TSh) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Tanzanian shillings (TSh) per US$1 - 597.27 (January 1997), 579.98 (1996), 574.76 (1995), 509.63 (1994), 405.27 (1993), 297.71 (1992)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Communications

6 fields
Fixed lines
137,000
(1989 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)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 12, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios

640,000 (1992 est.)

Televisions

45,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

9 fields

Merchant marine, 8 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1996 est.)

cargo 3oil tanker 2passenger-cargo 2roll-on/roll-off cargo 1

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m
28
over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m : 6 914 to 1,523 m: 1

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 New 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

Highways

total:
88,000 km
paved:
3,696 km
unpaved :
84,304 km (1994 est.)

Waterways

Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Lake Nyasa

Pipelines

crude oil 982 km

Ports and harbors

Bukoba, Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, Lindi, Mkoani, Mtwara, Musoma, Mwanza, Tanga, Wete, Zanzibar

Airports

110 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 71 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m : 56 (1996 est.)

Military

Tanzanian People's Defense Force or TPDF (includes | Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary Police Field Force Unit, | Militia

5 fields

Military branches

Tanzanian People's Defense Force or TPDF (includes Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary Police Field Force Unit, Militia

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 6,630,336 (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

  • dispute with Malawi over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi);
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo-Tanzania-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it has been informally reported that the indefinite section of the Democratic Republic of the Congo-Zambia boundary has been settled

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 THAILAND

Central Intelligence Agency. “Tanzania.” The World Factbook 1997. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/tanzania/1997.

How to cite ← 1996 edition 1998 edition →