Tanzania

Tanzania

Introduction

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

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

6 00 S, 35 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 947,300 sq km
country comparison to the world: 31 land:885,800 sq km
water:61,500 sq km
note:includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar

Area – comparative

slightly larger than twice the size of California

Land boundaries

total: 3,861 km
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

Coastline

1,424 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 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: 4.23%
permanent crops:1.16%
other:94.61% (2005)

Irrigated land

1,840 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

91 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

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

Population

42,746,620 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31 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

Age structure

0-14 years: 42% (male 9,003,152/female 8,949,061)
15-64 years:55.1% (male 11,633,721/female 11,913,951)
65 years and over:2.9% (male 538,290/female 708,445) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 18.5 years
male:18.2 years
female:18.7 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.002% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50

Birth rate

32.64 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39

Death rate

12.09 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28

Net migration rate

-0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

Urbanization

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)

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.)

Maternal mortality rate

790 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 12

Infant mortality rate

total: 66.93 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 22 male:73.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female:59.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 52.85 years
country comparison to the world: 204 male:51.34 years
female:54.42 years (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

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 80% of population
rural: 45% of population
total: 54% of population
unimproved:
urban: 20% of population
rural: 55% of population
total: 46% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 32% of population
rural: 21% of population
total: 24% of population
unimproved:
urban: 68% of population
rural: 79% of population
total: 76% of population (2008)

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

Literacy

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)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years
male:9 years
female:9 years (2007)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 8.8%
country comparison to the world: 111 male:7.4%
female:10.1% (2005)

Government

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

Government type

republic

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

Legal system

English common law

judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation

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 the World 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

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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$58.44 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88 $54.88 billion (2009 est.)
$51.43 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$22.67 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

6.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43 6.7% (2009 est.)
7.3% (2008 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

GDP – composition by sector

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

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.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Population below poverty line

36% (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)
country comparison to the world: 79 34.6 (2000)

Investment (gross fixed)

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

Budget

revenues: $4.403 billion
expenditures:$5.779 billion (2010 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181 12.1% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

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

Stock of narrow money

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

Stock of broad money

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

Stock of domestic credit

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

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

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

Industrial production growth rate

7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59

Electricity – production

4.281 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119

Electricity – consumption

3.431 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137

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: 136

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

Exports

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

Exports – commodities

gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton

Exports – partners

China 15.6%, India 11%, Japan 6.1%, UAE 5%, Germany 4% (2010)

Imports

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

Imports – commodities

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

Imports – partners

China 17.3%, India 15.4%, South Africa 7.9%, Kenya 7%, UAE 4.8%, Japan 4.2% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

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

Debt – external

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

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$NA

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)

Transportation

Airports

124 (2010)
country comparison to the world:47

Airports – with paved runways

total: 9
over 3,047 m:2
2,438 to 3,047 m:2
1,524 to 2,437 m:4
914 to 1,523 m:1 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 115
1,524 to 2,437 m:19
914 to 1,523 m:63
under 914 m:33 (2010)

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)

Merchant marine

total: 72
country comparison to the world: 60 by type:bulk carrier 4, cargo 43, carrier 4, chemical tanker 2, container 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 15
foreign-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)

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

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.)

Military expenditures

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

Transnational Issues

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.