| 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. |
| Location: |
Eastern Africa,
bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
6 00 S, 35 00 E |
| Area: |
total:
945,087 sq km
land: 886,037 sq km
water: 59,050 sq km
note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and
Zanzibar |
| Area
- comparative: |
slightly larger
than twice the size of California |
| Land
boundaries: |
total:
3,402 km
border countries: Burundi 451 km, Kenya 769 km,
Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396
km, Zambia 338 km |
| Maritime
claims: |
exclusive
economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Climate: |
varies from
tropical along coast to temperate in highlands |
| Terrain: |
plains along
coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m |
| Natural
resources: |
hydropower, tin,
phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold,
natural gas, nickel |
| Land
use: |
arable land:
3%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 40%
forests and woodland: 38%
other: 18% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
1,500 sq km (1993
est.) |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Population: |
36,232,074
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 2001
est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
44.76% (male 8,152,438; female 8,063,520)
15-64 years: 52.35% (male 9,387,737; female
9,581,518)
65 years and over: 2.89% (male 473,498; female
573,363) (2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
2.61% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
39.65
births/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
12.95
deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
-0.64 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 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: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2001
est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
79.41
deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 51.98 years
male: 51.04 years
female: 52.95 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
5.42 children
born/woman (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
8.09% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
1.3 million (1999
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 45%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 20%; 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 |
| Literacy: |
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.) |
| Country
name: |
conventional
long form: United Republic of Tanzania
conventional short form: Tanzania
former: United Republic of Tanganyika and
Zanzibar |
| Government
type: |
republic |
| 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 |
| Legal
system: |
based on English
common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to
matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age;
universal |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of
state: President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23
November 1995); Vice President Omar Ali JUMA (since 23
November 1995); note - the president is both chief of state
and head of government
head of government: President Benjamin William
MKAPA (since 23 November 1995); Vice President Omar Ali JUMA
(since 23 November 1995); note - the president is both chief
of state and 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
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
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% |
| 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)
elections: last held 29 October 2000 (next to
be held NA October 2005)
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 |
| 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 [Seif
Sharif HAMAD, secretary-general]; Democratic Party
(unregistered) [Reverend Christopher MTIKLA, leader];
National Convention for Construction and Reform or NCCR [Kassim
MAGUTU, 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, leader] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| 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, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU,
OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU,
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: Charge d'Affaires Wanda NESBITT
embassy: 140 Msese Road, Kinondoni District,
Dar es Salaam
mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
telephone: [255] (22) 666010 through 666015
FAX: [255] (22) 666701 |
| 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
- 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 1991-2000 featured a pick up 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 allow Tanzania to
achieve real GDP growth of 6% in 2001 and in 2002. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $25.1 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
5.2% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $710 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture:
49%
industry: 17%
services: 34% (1998 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
51.1% (1991 est.) |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
2.9%
highest 10%: 30.2% (1993) |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
6% (2000 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
13.495 million |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture 80%,
industry and commerce 20% (2000 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues:
$1.21 billion
expenditures: $1.36 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1999 est.) |
| Industries: |
primarily
agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal
twine), diamond and gold mining, oil refining, shoes,
cement, textiles, wood products, fertilizer, salt |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
8.4% (1999 est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
2.248 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
22.24%
hydro: 77.76%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
2.134 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
43 million kWh
(1999) |
| 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: |
$937 million
(f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
coffee,
manufactured goods, cotton, cashew nuts, minerals, tobacco,
sisal (1996) |
| Exports
- partners: |
India 20%, UK
10%, Germany 8%, Japan 8%, Netherlands 8%, Belgium 4% (1998) |
| Imports: |
$1.57 billion
(f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
consumer goods,
machinery and transportation equipment, industrial raw
materials, crude oil |
| Imports
- partners: |
South Africa 8%,
Japan 8%, UK 8%, Kenya 7%, India 6%, US 5% (1998) |
| Debt
- external: |
$6.8 billion
(2000 est.) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$963 million
(1997) |
| Currency: |
Tanzanian
shilling (TZS) |
| Exchange
rates: |
Tanzanian
shillings per US dollar - 803.34 (December 2000), 800.41
(2000), 744.76 (1999), 664.67 (1998), 612.12 (1997), 579.98
(1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
1 July - 30 June |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
127,000 (1998) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
30,000 (1999) |
| 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) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
3 (1999) |
| Televisions: |
103,000 (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.tz |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
6 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
25,000 (2000) |
| 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 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:
88,200 km
paved: 3,704 km
unpaved: 84,496 km (1996) |
| 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 (2000 est.) |
| Airports: |
126 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total:
11
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total:
115
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 63
under 914 m: 35 (2000 est.) |
| 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: 8,365,337 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age
15-49: 4,841,095 (2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$21 million
(FY98/99) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
0.2% (FY98/99) |
| Disputes
- international: |
dispute with
Malawi over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi); a
resurvey of the latitudinal boundary with Uganda in 2000
revealed a 300-meter discrepancy that both sides are
currently adjudicating |
| 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 |
|
