Tanzania

United Republic of Tanzania

republicIndependence 26 April 1964

Tanzania as the 2002 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 114 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
Area945,087 sq km
LocationEastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique
Populationas each edition published it
37.19 million July 2002 est. · 25.97m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.6% 2002 est. · 2.56% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 17.5 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
51.7 years 2002 est. · 44 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
5.33 children per woman 2002 est. · 7.1 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
77.85 deaths per 1,000 live births 2002 est. · 107 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$610 2001 est. · $260 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
5% 2001 est. · 4.5% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 945,087 sq km

arable land 4.24%permanent crops 1.02%other 94.74% (1998 est.)irrigated 1,550 sq km (1998 est.)
Area
945,087sq km
note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibarwater: 59,050 sq kmland: 886,037 sq kmslightly 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
3,861km
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

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

Natural hazards

flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought

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

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

18 fields
Population
37,187,939
growth rate: 2.6% (2002 est.)
Note
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.)

Per 1,000 population(2002 est.)

Birth
39.12Death
13.02Net migration
-0.08

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2002 est.)51.7
50.76 · 52.67
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

Age structure

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.)

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:
0.81 male(s)/female
total population:
0.99 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate

77.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.33 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

140,000 (1999 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);
  • Zanzibar - Arab, native African, mixed Arab and native African

Religions

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

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

Government

Republic; President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23 November 1995); President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23 November 1995)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

71.7%
Benjamin William MKAPA 71.7%Ibrahim Haruna LIPUMBA 16.3%Augustine Lyatonga MREME 7.8%John Momose CHEYO 4.2%election last held 29 October 2000 (next to be held NA October 2005)

National Assembly, 50 seats, elected 29 October 2000one dot, one seat

CCM 34CUF 16

Country name

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

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

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

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 (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 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 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

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)

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)

Political parties and leaders

  • 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]

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

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

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.

33 fields
Real growth rate
5%
(2001 est.)industrial production growth: 8.4% (1999 est.)
Labor force
13.495million

GDP - composition by sector(2000 est.)

agriculture 48%industry 17%services 35% (2000 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

22.0%
UK
7.0%
14.8%
India
South Africa
11.5%
9.9%
Germany
Japan
9.3%
6.9%
Netherlands
Australia
6.2%
Exports $827 million f.o.b. (2001)Imports $1.55 billion f.o.b. (2001)(2000)

Budget

Revenues
$1.01 billionExpenditures
$1.38 billion
expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA (FY00/01 est. )

Electricity

fossil fuel 18%hydro 82%other 0% · nuclear 0%
Electricity production
2.765 billion (2000)Electricity consumption
2.616 billion (2000)Electricity imports
45 million (2000)

Economy - overview

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.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $22.1 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $610 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
3%
highest 10%:
30% (1993)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% (2000 est.)

Industries

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

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$827 million f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities

gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton (2000)

Imports

$1.55 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Imports - commodities

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

Debt - external

$6.8 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$963 million (1997) (1997)

Currency

Tanzanian shilling (TZS)

Exchange rates

Tanzanian shillings per US dollar - 924.70 (January 2002), 876.41 (2001), 800.41 (2000), 744.76 (1999), 664.67 (1998), 612.12 (1997)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Communications

10 fields
Mobile cellular
30,000
(1999)
Fixed lines
127,000
(1998) · country code .tz

Telephone system

general assessment:
fair system operating below capacity and being modernized for better service; VSAT (very small aperture terminal) system under construction
domestic:
trunk service provided by open wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and fiber-optic cable; some links being made digital
international:
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 12, FM 11, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios

8.8 million (1997)

Televisions

103,000 (1997)

Internet users

300,000 (2002)

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

2
over 3,047 m
2
2,438 to 3,047 m
5
1,524 to 2,437 m
18
1
914 to 1,523 m
60
1
under 914 m
34
Paved 11Unpaved 112

Networkskm

Highways
85,000Railways
3,569
Highways: paved: 4,250 km · unpaved: 80,750 km (2001) · Railways: 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 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 (2001)

Railways

total:
3,569 km
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 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 (2001)

Highways

total:
85,000 km
paved:
4,250 km
unpaved:
80,750 km (2001)

Waterways

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

Pipelines

crude oil 982 km

Ports and harbors

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

Merchant marine

total:
8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,987 GRT/27,121 DWT
ships by type:
cargo 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1 (2002 est.)

Airports

125 (2001)

Military

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

5 fields

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 manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 8,636,817 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 4,997,257 (2002 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

Tanzania and Malawi maintain a largely dormant dispute over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and current location of historical boundary in the meandering Songwe River

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

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Tanzania.” The World Factbook 2002. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/tanzania/2002.