COUNTRY DATA: TANZANIA : Information from the CIA World Factbook
INTRODUCTION
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 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
Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique
Area
947,300 sq km
Climate
varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands
Natural Resources hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel
Total Renewable
Water Resources
91 cu km (2001)
Freshwater
Withdrawal
5.18 cu km/yr (domestic 10%/ industrial 0%/ agricultural 89%)
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,
9,718 ft) has emitted lava in recent years; other historically active volcanoes include Kieyo
and Meru
Environmental
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
PEOPLE
Population
41,892,895
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 (July 2010 est.)
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
Religions
mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%; Zanzibar - more than 99%
Muslim
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
Literacy Rate
definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic
total population: 69.4%
male: 77.5%; female: 62.2% (2002 census)
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)
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate 6.2 %; 1.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS;
96,000 people died (2007 est.)
GOVERNMENT
Type
republic
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
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
ECONOMY
Agricultural
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
Import
commodities
consumer goods, machinery and transportation equipment, industrial raw materials, crude oil
Import Partners
India 13.97%, China 13.71%, South Africa 7.8%, Kenya 6.89%, UAE 4.65%, Japan 4.34%
(2009)
Export
Commodities
gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton
Export Partners
India 8.51%, China 7.55%, Japan 7.12%, Netherlands 6.21%, UAE 5.71%, Germany 5.17%
(2009)
Per Capita GDP
$1,500 (2010 est.)
Population below
poverty line
36% (2002 est.)
*CITATIONS: All information included above is extracted from the CIA World Factbook except where noted.
Country Data: Information from Human Development Report
COUNTRY: UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
General
Life Expectancy at Birth (in years)
56.9 years
Average number of years in School (in years)
5.1 years
Gross National Income Per Capita (In US Dollars)
$1,344
Gender Inequality
Female Seats in Parliament (%)
30.4%
Population with at least a Secondary Education Female (% 0f 25 and older)
N/A
Population with at least a Secondary Education Male (% 0f 25 and older)
N/A
Labor Force Participation Female (%)
88.8%
Labor Force Participation Male (%)
91.1%
Births Attended by Skilled Health Professionals (%)
46%
Poverty
Population surviving on $1.25 per day (%)
88.5%
Empowerment
Number of Journalists Imprisoned
0
Corruption Victims (% of people who face a bribe situation in the last year)
Political Engagement (% percent of people who voiced opinion to public
officials)
27%
32%
Sustainability
Fossil Fuels as Primary Energy Source (%)
10%
Renewable Resources as Primary Energy Source (%)
90%
Population without Access to Water (%)
46%
Population Without Access to Sanitation Services (%)
76%
Population affected by natural disasters (% between 2000-2009)
0.01%
Human Security
Number of Refugees leaving this country
1,300
Number of Internally Displaced People in This Country
N/A
Prevalence of Undernourishment (%)
35%
Demographics
Urban Residents (% of total Population)
26.4%
Health
HIV Prevalence in Female Youth (% ages 15-24)
0.9%
HIV Prevalence in Male Youth (% ages 15-24)
0.5%
HIV Prevalence in Adults (% ages 15-49)
6.2%
Other
Official Development Assistance Per Capita (in US dollars)
$54.90
Population without Electricity (%)
86.6%