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 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
Land: 886,037 km²
Water: 59,050 km²
Note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar
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
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
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: 4.23%
Permanent crops: 1.16%
Other: 94.61% (2005)

Irrigated land: 1840 km² (2003)

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 2006 est.)
Growth rate: 2.091% (2006 est.)
Below poverty line: 36% (2002 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Tanzanian
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
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

Age structure
0-14 years: 43.9% (male 8,666,227/female 8,624,387)
15-64 years: 53.3% (male 10,330,727/female 10,649,507)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 491,252/female 622,123) (2006 est.)

Median age
Total: 17.7 years
Male: 17.4 years
Female: 17.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.091% (2006 est.)

Birth rate: 35.95 births/1000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate: 13.36 deaths/1000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.68 migrant(s)/1000 population (2006 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.005 male/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male/female
Total population: 0.98 male/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 71.69 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 78.84 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 64.33 deaths/1000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 50.71 years
Male: 49.41 years
Female: 52.04 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.77 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 8.8% (2003 est.)
People living with hivaids: 1.6 million (2003 est.)
Deaths: 160,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: very high
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: malaria, Rift Valley fever and plague are high risks in some locations
Water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2006)

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)

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; the National Assembly now meets there on a regular basis

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 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 Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December 2005); 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 Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December 2005); Vice President Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001)
Note: Zanzibar elects a president who is head of government for matters internal to Zanzibar; Amani Abeid KARUME was reelected to that office on 30 October 2005
Cabinet: Cabinet 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 (eligible for a second term); election last held 14 December 2005 (next to be held in December 2010); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: Jakaya KIKWETE elected president; percent of vote - Jakaya KIKWETE 80.3%, Ibrahim LIPUMBA 11.7%, Freeman MBOWE 5.9%

Legislative branch
Elections: last held 14 December 2005 (next to be held in December 2010)
Election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CCM 206, CUF 19, CHADEMA 5, other 2, women appointed by the president 37, Zanzibar representatives 5 Zanzibar House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CCM 30, CUF 19; 1 seat was nullified with a rerun to take place soon

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) [Jakaya Mrisho KIKWETE]; Civic United Front or CUF [Ibrahim LIPUMBA]; Democratic Party [Christopher MTIKLA] (unregistered); Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Augustine Lyatonga MREME]; United Democratic Party or UDP [John CHEYO]

International organization participation: ACP AfDB AU C EAC EADB FAO G-6 G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICCt ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO ITU ITUC MIGA NAM OPCW SADC UN UN Security Council (temporary) UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNMEE UNMIS UNOCI UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Ombeni Yohana SEFUE
In the us chancery: 2,139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 939-6,125
In the us fax: [1] (202) 797-7,408
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Michael L. RETZER
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 almost 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 IMF and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's out-of-date economic infrastructure and to alleviate poverty. Long-term growth through 2005 featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of minerals led by gold. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private-sector growth and investment. Continued donor assistance and solid macroeconomic policies supported real GDP growth of nearly 6% in 2006.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $29.64 billion (2006 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: 5.9% (2006 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $800 (2006 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 43.2%
Industry: 18.1%
Services: 38.7% (2006 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 gold and iron mining salt soda ash; cement oil refining shoes apparel wood products fertilizer

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

Labor force: 19.35 million (2006 est.)
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: 2.9%
Highest 10: 26.9% (2000)

Distribution of family income gini index: 34.6 (2000)

Budget
Revenues: $2.496 billion
Expenditures: $3.094 billion (2006 est.)

Public debt: 65.8% of GDP (2005 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices: 6.1% (2006 est.)

Current account balance: $-558 million (2005 est.)

Exports: $1.581 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Commodities: gold coffee cashew nuts manufactures cotton
Partners: China 10.2% Canada 8.6% India 7.3% Netherlands 5.2% Japan 4.5% Kenya 4.4% Germany 4.3% (2005)

Imports: $2.391 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Commodities: consumer goods machinery and transportation equipment industrial raw materials crude oil
Partners: South Africa 12.2% China 9.6% India 7% UAE 6.1% Kenya 5.2% UK 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.074 billion (2005 est.)

Debt external: $8.178 billion (2005 est.)

Exchange rates: Tanzanian shillings per US dollar - 1128.93 (2005) 1089.33 (2004) 1038.42 (2003) 966.58 (2002) 876.41 (2001)

Electricity
Production: 3.152 billion kWh (2003)
Consumption: 2.959 billion kWh (2003)
Exports: 0 kWh (2003)
Imports: 28 million kWh (2003)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2003 est.)
Consumption: 0 m³ (2003 est.)
Proven reserves: 22.65 billion m³ (1 January 2002)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 148,400 (2004)
Mobile cellular: 1.942 million (2005)

Telephone system
General assessment: fair system operating below capacity and being modernized for better service; very small aperture terminal (VSAT) 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: country code - 255; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Internet
Country code: .tz
Hosts: 8,609 (2006)
Users: 333,000 (2005)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: 0.2% (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation: 15 years of age for voluntary military service; 18 years of age for compulsory military service upon graduation from secondary school; conscript service obligation - two years (2004)

Airports: 124 (2006)
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 (2006)
With unpaved runways total: 113
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 18
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 62
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 33 (2006)

Pipelines: gas 254 km; oil 872 km (2006)

Railways
Total: 3,690 km
Narrow gauge: 969 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,721 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways
Total: 78,891 km
Paved: 6,808 km
Unpaved: 72,083 km (2003)

Waterways: Lake Tanganyika Lake Victoria and Lake Nyasa principal avenues of commerce with neighboring countries; rivers not navigable (2005)

Merchant marine
Total: 9 ships (1000 GRT or over) 24,801 GRT/31,507 DWT
By type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 4
Registered in other countries: 2 (Honduras 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals: Dar es Salaam Mtwara Zanzibar City

Disputes international: 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: 443,706 (Burundi) 153,474 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) 3,036 (Somalia) (2005)

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