Tanzania

United Republic of TanzaniaJamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania

republicIndependence 26 April 1964

Tanzania as the 2011 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 154 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, UTC+3
Position6 00 S, 35 00 E
Area947,300 sq km
LocationEastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique
Populationas each edition published it
42.75 million July 2011 est. · 25.97m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.002% 2011 est. · 2.56% in 1993
Median ageyears
18.5 years 2011 est. · 17.5 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
52.85 years 2011 est. · 44 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
4.16 children per woman 2011 est. · 7.1 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
66.93 deaths per 1,000 live births 2011 est. · 107 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$1,400 2010 est. · $260 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
6.5% 2010 est. · 4.5% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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 ended 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. The formation of a government of national unity between Zanzibar's two leading parties succeeded in minimizing electoral tension in 2010

Geography

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

20 fields

Land useshare of 947,300 sq km

arable land 4.23%permanent crops 1.16%other 94.61% (2005)irrigated 1,840 sq km (2008)
Area
947,300sq km
country comparison to the world: 31land: 885,800 sq kmwater: 61,500 sq kmnote: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibarslightly larger than twice the size of California
Coastline
1,424km
territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total:
5.18 cu km/yr (10%/0%/89%)
per capita:
135 cu m/yr (2000)

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) has emitted lava in recent years;
  • other historically active volcanoes include Kieyo and Meru

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

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 (Lake Malawi) in the southwest

People and Society

32 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2011 est.)

538,290
65 and over2.9%
708,445
11,633,721
15-6455.1%
11,913,951
9,003,152
0-1442%
8,949,061
MaleFemale
Population
42,746,620
(July 2011 est.)country comparison to the world: 31growth rate: 2.002% (2011 est.)country comparison to the world: 50
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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Per 1,000 population

Birth
32.64 (2011 est.)Death
12.09 (July 2011 est.)Net migration
-0.53 (2011 est.)

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2011 est.)52.85
51.34 · 54.42Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)66.93
73.7 · 59.95Literacy (2002 census)69.4%
77.5% · 62.2%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2011 est.)18.5
18.2 · 18.7School life expectancy years (2007)9
9 · 9Youth unemployment ages 15-24 (2005)8.8%
7.4% · 10.1%
MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 204 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 22 · Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic · Youth unemployment ages 15-24 country comparison to the world: 111
Urban population
26%of total population
(2010)rate of urbanization: 4.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)Major cities - population: DAR ES SALAAM (capital) 3.207 million (2009)
Improved drinking water
54%of population
improved: urban: 80% of populationrural: 45% of populationunimproved: urban: 20% of populationrural: 55% of populationtotal: 46% of population (2008)
Improved sanitation
24%of population
improved: urban: 32% of populationrural: 21% of populationunimproved: urban: 68% of populationrural: 79% of populationtotal: 76% of population (2008)
Maternal mortality rate
790deaths/100,000 live births
(2008)country comparison to the world: 12

Nationality

noun:
Tanzanian(s)
adjective:
Tanzanian

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

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

Religions

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

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 (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.16 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Health expenditures

5.1% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 138

Physicians density

0.008 physicians/1,000 population (2006) country comparison to the world: 192

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2006) country comparison to the world: 140

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

5.6% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1.4 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

HIV/AIDS - deaths

86,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

Major infectious diseases

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
animal contact disease:
rabies (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

16.7% (2005) country comparison to the world: 45

Education expenditures

6.8% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 17

Government

Republic; President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December 2005); President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December 2005)

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

61.2%
Jakaya KIKWETE 61.2%Willibrod SLAA 26.3%Ibrahim LIPUMBA 8.1%other 4.4%election last held on 31 October 2010 (next to be held in 2015)

National Assembly, 50 seats, elected 31 October 2010one dot, one seat

CCM 28CUF 22

Country name

conventional long form:
United Republic of Tanzania
conventional short form:
Tanzania
local long form:
Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania
local short form:
Tanzania
former:
United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar

Capital

name:
Dar es Salaam
geographic coordinates:
6 48 S, 39 17 E
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

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

Independence

  • 26 April 1964;
  • Tanganyika became independent on 9 December 1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship);
  • Zanzibar became independent on 19 December 1963 (from UK);
  • Tanganyika united with Zanzibar on 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar;
  • renamed United Republic of Tanzania on 29 October 1964

National holiday

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

Constitution

25 April 1977; major revisions October 1984

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
  • President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December 2005);
  • Vice President Mohammed Gharib BILAL (since 6 November 2010);
  • note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December 2005); Vice President Mohammed Gharib BILAL (since 6 November 2010)

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

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
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
election results:
Jakaya KIKWETE elected president; percent of vote - Jakaya KIKWETE 61.2%, Willibrod SLAA 26.3%, Ibrahim LIPUMBA 8.1%, other 4.4%

Legislative branch

  • unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (357 seats; 239 members elected by popular vote, 102 allocated to women nominated by the president, 5 to members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives; members serve five-year terms, up to 10 additional members appointed by the president, 1 seat reserved for the Attorney General);
  • 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 with jurisdiction exclusive to Zanzibar (the Zanzibar House of Representatives has 50 seats; members elected by universal suffrage to serve five-year terms)
elections:
last held on 31 October 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results:
  • National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
  • seats by party - CCM 259, CHADEMA 48, CUF 34, NCCR-M 4, other 7, Zanzibar representatives 5;
  • Zanzibar House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA;
  • seats by party - CCM 28, CUF 22

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 (Party of Democracy and Development) or CHADEMA [Willibrod SLAA];
  • Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM (Revolutionary Party) [Jakaya Mrisho KIKWETE];
  • Civic United Front or CUF [Ibrahim LIPUMBA];
  • Democratic Party [Christopher MTIKLA] (unregistered);
  • National Convention for Construction and Reform - Mageuzi [Hashim RUNGWE];
  • Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Mutamwega MUGAHWYA];
  • United Democratic Party or UDP [Fahma DOVUTWA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, 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, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Mwandaidi Sinare MAAJAR
chancery:
1232 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone:
[1] (202) 939-6125
FAX:
[1] (202) 797-7408

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Alfonso E. LENHARDT
embassy:
686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani, Dar es Salaam
mailing address:
P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
telephone:
[255] (22) 266-8001
FAX:
[255] (22) 266-8238, 266-8373

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

National symbol(s)

Uhuru (Freedom) torch

National anthem

name:
"Mungu ibariki Afrika" (God Bless Africa)
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

Economy

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.

53 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$58.44billion
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 88$54.88 billion (2009 est.) · $51.43 billion (2008 est.)note: data are in 2010 US dollarsofficial exchange rate: $22.67 billion (2010 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,400
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 201$1,300 (2009 est.) · $1,300 (2008 est.)note: data are in 2010 US dollars
Real growth rate
6.5%
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 436.7% (2009 est.) · 7.3% (2008 est.)industrial production growth: 7% (2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 59
Inflation, consumer prices
7.2%
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 18112.1% (2009 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2010 est.)

agriculture 28.4%industry 24%services 47.6% (2010 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

15.6%
China
17.3%
11%
India
15.4%
South Africa
7.9%
Kenya
7%
6.1%
Japan
4.2%
5%
UAE
4.8%
4%
Germany
Exports $4.297 billion (2010 est.)Imports $7.125 billion (2010 est.)(2010)

Budget

Revenues
$4.403 billionExpenditures
$5.779 billion (2010 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production
4.281 billion (2008 est.)Electricity consumption
3.431 billion (2008 est.)

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 40% of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs about 80% 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 monetary 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.

Labor force

23.39 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
80%
industry and services:
20% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
2.8%
highest 10%:
29.6% (2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37.6 (2007) · 34.6 (2000) country comparison to the world: 79

Investment (gross fixed)

26.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Taxes and other revenues

19.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Public debt

34.4% of GDP (2010 est.) · 32.3% of GDP (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Central bank discount rate

8.25% (31 December 2010 est.) · 3.7% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14.55% (31 December 2010 est.) · 15.03% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Stock of narrow money

$3.223 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $2.958 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Stock of broad money

$7.528 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $6.617 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Stock of domestic credit

$4.647 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $3.859 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.264 billion (31 December 2010) · $1.293 billion (31 December 2008) · $541.1 million (31 December 2006) country comparison to the world: 102

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

Industries

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

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Oil - consumption

38,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Oil - imports

30,040 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Natural gas - production

658 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Natural gas - consumption

658 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Natural gas - proved reserves

6.513 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Current account balance

-$2.056 billion (2010 est.) · -$1.934 billion (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Exports

$4.297 billion (2010 est.) · $3.295 billion (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Exports - commodities

gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton

Imports

$7.125 billion (2010 est.) · $5.834 billion (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Imports - commodities

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.645 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $3.206 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 note: excludes gold

Debt - external

$8.259 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $7.325 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

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)

Communications

7 fields
Mobile cellular
20.984 million
(2010)
Internet users
24,182
(2010)
Fixed lines
174,500
(2010) · country code .tz

Telephone system

general assessment:
  • telecommunications services are marginal;
  • system operating below capacity and being modernized for better service;
  • small aperture terminal (VSAT) system under construction
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
international:
country code - 255; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean)

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 users

678,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 111

Transportation

10 fields

Merchant marine, 72 ships by typeone square, one ship

bulk carrier 4cargo 43carrier 4chemical tanker 2container 1passenger 1passenger/cargo 2petroleum tanker 15foreign-owned: 25 (Greece 1, Romania 1, Saudi Arabia 1, Syria 13, Turkey 7, UAE 1, United States 1) · registered in other countries: 3 (Honduras 1, Panama 2) (2010)

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m
2
1 (2010)

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m
33

Networkskm

Roadways
91,049Railways
3,689
Roadways: paved: 6,578 km · unpaved: 84,471 km (2010) · Railways: narrow gauge: 969 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,720 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)

Airports

124 (2010) country comparison to the world: 47

Pipelines

gas 254 km; oil 888 km; refined products 8 km (2010)

Railways

total:
3,689 km

country comparison to the world: 45

narrow gauge:
969 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,720 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

total:
91,049 km

country comparison to the world: 54

paved:
6,578 km
unpaved:
84,471 km (2010)

Waterways

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

Ports and terminals

Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar

Transportation - note

  • 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

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)

6 fields
Military expenditures
0.2%of GDP
(2005 est.)country comparison to the world: 169

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 service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 9,985,445 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
5,860,339
females age 16-49:
5,882,279 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male:
512,294
female:
514,164 (2010 est.)

Transnational Issues

4 fields

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 352,640 (Burundi); 127,973 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

current situation:
  • Tanzania is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking;
  • the incidence of internal trafficking is higher than that of transnational trafficking;
  • girls from rural areas are taken to urban centers and Zanzibar for domestic service;
  • some domestic workers fleeing abusive employers fall prey to sex trafficking;
  • boys are subjected primarily to forced labor on farms, but also in mines, in the informal sector, and possibly on small fishing boats;
  • smaller numbers of Tanzanian children and adults are subjected to conditions of forced domestic service and sex trafficking in surrounding countries, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, France, and possibly other European countries;
  • trafficking victims, primarily children from neighboring countries such as Burundi and Kenya, are sometimes forced to work in Tanzania's agricultural, mining, and domestic service sectors;
  • some also are forced into prostitution in brothels
tier rating:
  • Tier 2 Watch List - the government made limited progress towards implementation of its Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, in part due to poor inter-ministerial coordination and lack of understanding of what constitutes human trafficking;
  • most government officials remain unfamiliar with the Act's provisions or their responsibility to address trafficking under it;
  • however, the government did convict three trafficking offenders (2011)

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.

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Tanzania.” The World Factbook 2011. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/tanzania/2011.