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.

Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S 35 00 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 945,087 km²
Note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar
Water: 59,050 km²
Land: 886,037 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than twice the size of California

Land boundaries
Total: 3,861 km
Border countries: (8) 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: 1424 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
Extremes highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m

Natural resources: hydropower tin phosphates iron ore coal diamonds gemstones gold natural gas nickel

Land use
Arable land: 4.24%
Permanent crops: 1.02%
Other: 94.74% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 1550 km² (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought

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 in the southwest

Population
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 2003 est.)
Growth rate: 1.72% (2003 est.)
Below poverty line: 36% (2002 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Tanzanian
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

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

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

Age structure
0-14 years: 44.3% (male 7,988,898; female 7,938,979)
15-64 years: 53.1% (male 9,429,959; female 9,634,102)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 405,803; female 524,713) (2003 est.)

Median age
Total: 17.5 years
Male: 17.2 years
Female: 17.7 years (2002)

Population growth rate: 1.72% (2003 est.)

Birth rate: 39.5 births/1000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate: 17.38 deaths/1000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate: -4.91 migrant(s)/1000 population (2003 est.)

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
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.01 male/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male/female
Total population: 0.98 male/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 103.68 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 93.78 deaths/1000 live births (2003 est.)
Male: 113.29 deaths/1000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 44.56 years
Male: 43.33 years
Female: 45.83 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.24 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 7.8% (2001 est.)
People living with hivaids: 1.5 million (2001 est.)
Deaths: 140,000 (2001 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic
Total population: 78.2%
Male: 85.9%
Female: 70.7% (2003 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 Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001); 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 Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001); 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
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%
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

Legislative branch
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
Elections: last held 29 October 2000 (next to be held NA October 2005)

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 [Bob MAKANI]; Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM (Revolutionary Party) [Benjamin William MKAPA]; Civic United Front or CUF [Ibrahim LIPUMBA]; Democratic Party (unregistered) [Christopher MTIKLA]; Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Augustine Lyatonga MREMA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [John CHEYO]

International organization participation: ACP AfDB C EADB ECA FAO G- 6 G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICCt ICFTU ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM ISO ITU NAM OAU OPCW SADC UN UNAMSIL UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNMEE UPU WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WToO WTrO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Andrew Mhando DARAJA
In the us chancery: 2,139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us fax: [1] (202) 797-7,408
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 939-6,125
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Robert V. ROYALL
From the us embassy: 140 Msese Road, Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 9,123, Dar es Salaam
From the us telephone: [255] (22) 2,666-010 through 2,666-015
From the us fax: [255] (22) 2,666-701, 2,668-501

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 depends heavily 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 traditionally featured the processing of agricultural products and light consumer goods. The World Bank the International Monetary Fund and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's out-of-date economic infrastructure and to alleviate poverty. Growth in 1991-2002 featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of minerals led by gold. Oil and gas exploration and development played an important role in this growth. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private sector growth and investment. Continued donor support and solid macroeconomic policies should support continued real GDP growth of 5% in 2003.

Real gdp growth rate: 6.1% (2002 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $600 (2002 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 48.1%
Industry: 15.4%
Services: 36.5% (2001 est.)

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 and gold mining oil refining shoes cement textiles wood products fertilizer salt

Industrial production growth rate: 8.4% (1999 est.)

Labor force: 13.495 million
By occupation agriculture: 80%
By occupation 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: 30.1% (1993)

Distribution of family income gini index: 38.2 (1993)

Budget
Revenues: $1.01 billion
Expenditures: $1.38 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY 00/01 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices: 4.8% (2002 est.)

Exports: $863 million f.o.b. (2001)
Commodities: gold coffee cashew nuts manufactures cotton
Partners: India 15.2% Japan 12.4% Netherlands 9.2% UK 6.8% Belgium 6.5% Kenya 5.9% Germany 4.8% (2002)

Imports: $1.67 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Commodities: consumer goods machinery and transportation equipment industrial raw materials crude oil
Partners: South Africa 12.7% China 7.9% Kenya 6.6% India 6.3% UK 6% Japan 4.5% US 4% Australia 4% (2002)

Debt external: $6.8 billion (2002 est.)

Exchange rates: Tanzanian shillings per US dollar - NA (2002) 876.41 (2001) 800.41 (2000) 744.76 (1999) 664.67 (1998)

Electricity
Production: 2.906 billion kWh (2001)
Production by source fossil fuel: 18.9%
Production by source hydro: 81.1%
Production by source other: 0% (2001)
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Consumption: 2.752 billion kWh (2001)
Exports: 0 kWh (2001)
Imports: 50 million kWh (2001)

Natural gas
Proven reserves: 11.33 billion m³ (37,257)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 127,000 (1998)
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)

Internet
Country code: .tz
Service providers isps: 6 (2000)
Users: 300,000 (2002)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $19.68 million (FY02)
Percent of gdp: 0.2% (FY02)

Airports: 123 (2002)
With paved runways total: 11
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 5
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (2002)
With unpaved runways total: 112
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 18
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 60
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 34 (2002)

Pipelines: gas 5 km; oil 866 km (2003)

Railways
Total: 3,690 km
Narrow gauge: 2,721 km 1.000-m gauge; 969 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)

Waterways
Note: Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa are principal avenues of commerce between Tanzania and its neighbors on those lakes

Merchant marine
Total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 30,781 GRT/33,805 DWT
Ships by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 2 (2002 est.)

Disputes international: disputes with Malawi over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant

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; money laundering remains a problem