The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 Africa
Languages Tanzania, in 36 editions.
The entry for Tanzania published Languages in 36 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 17 editions. Each is shown as published. Languages in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 17
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Language” (1990 to 1991) and “Languages” (1992 to 2025).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2000 edition
Changed since 1999The same text in 1990 and 1991.
Published as “Language”
- Swahili and English (official);
- English primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education;
- Swahili widely understood and generally used for communication between ethnic groups;
- first language of most people is one of the local languages;
- primary education is generally in Swahili
Swahili and English (official); English primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education; Swahili widely understood and generally used for communication between ethnic groups; first language of most people is one of the local languages; primary education is generally in Swahili
- Swahili and English (official);
- English primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education;
- Swahili widely understood and generally used for communication between ethnic groups;
- first language of most people is one of the local languages;
- primary education is generally in Swahili
Swahili and English (official); English primary language of commerce,
administration, and higher education; Swahili widely understood and
generally used for communication between ethnic groups; first language of
most people is one of the local languages; primary education is generally in
Swahili
Swahili (official; widely understood and generally used for communication between ethnic groups and is used in primary education), English (official; primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education)
note: first language of most people is one of the local languages
Swahili (official; widely understood and English (official); generally used for communication
between ethnic groups and is used in primary education), English (official;
primary language of commerce,education; Swahili widely understood and education)generally used for communication between ethnic groups; note:
first language oflanguages; primary education is generally in languages
Swahili
Swahili (official; widely understood and generally used for communication between ethnic groups and is used in primary education), English (official; primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education)
Swahili (official; widely understood and generally used for communication
communication between ethnic groups and is used in primary education),
English (official;
higher education)
note:
first language of most people is one of the local languages
Swahili (official; widely understood and generally used for communication between ethnic groups and is used in primary education), English (official; primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education)
note: first language of most people is one of the local languages
Swahili (official; widely understood and generally used for
communication between ethnic groups and is used in primary education),
English (official; primary language of commerce, administration, and
higher education)
note: first language of most people is one of the local 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
Rewritten: too little of the 1995 text remains to mark the changes.
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
- 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
Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguju (name for
in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of
administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely
Zanzibar), many local languagesnote: note : Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of Bantu people
in Zanzibar and nearby coastal Tanzania; although Kiswahili
in structure and origin, its vocabulary draws on a variety
including Arabic and English, and it has become the
central and eastern Africa; the first language of
of the local 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
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 languagesnote : 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
- 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
Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguju (name for Swahili
Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce,
commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely
spoken in
note: Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of the Bantu people living
living in Zanzibar and nearby coastal Tanzania; although Kiswahili
is Bantu
of sources,
lingua franca of
most people is one
- 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
Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguju (name for
note: Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of the Bantu people
- 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
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
The same text in 3 editions, 2002 to 2004.
- 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
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
The same text in 2005 and 2006.
- 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, and it has become the lingua franca of central and eastern Africa; the first language of most people is one of the local languages
Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguju 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, and it has become the lingua franca of central and eastern Africa; the first language of most people is one of the local languages
The same text in 2007 and 2008.
- 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
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, sources including Arabic and English, 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
The same text in 6 editions, 2009 to 2014.
- 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
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
The same text in 6 editions, 2015 to 2020.
- 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
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:
The same text in 3 editions, 2021 to 2023.
- 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
- major-language sample(s):
The World Factbook, Chanzo cha Lazima Kuhusu Habari ya Msingi. (Kiswahili)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
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 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
note:
major-language sample(s):
The World Factbook, Chanzo cha Lazima Kuhusu Habari ya Msingi. (Kiswahili)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
The same text in 2024 and 2025.
- Kiswahili or Swahili (official),
- Kiunguja (name for Swahili in Zanzibar),
- English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education),
- Arabic,
- many local languages
- major-language sample(s):
The World Factbook, Chanzo cha Lazima Kuhusu Habari ya Msingi. (Kiswahili)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
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), Arabic, 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
major-language sample(s):
The World Factbook, Chanzo cha Lazima Kuhusu Habari ya Msingi. (Kiswahili)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
No edition has those words. Try a shorter word.
Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Tanzania: Languages.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/tanzania/languages.