Background: Tanzania contains some of Africa’s most iconic national parks and famous paleoanthropological sites, and its diverse cultural heritage reflects the multiple ethnolinguistic groups that live in the country. Its long history of integration into trade networks spanning the Indian Ocean and the African interior led to the development of Swahili as a common language in much of east Africa and the introduction of Islam into the region. A number of independent coastal and island trading posts in what is now Tanzania came under Portuguese control after 1498 when they began to take control of much of the coast and Indian Ocean trade. By 1700, the Sultanate of Oman had become the dominant power in the region after ousting the Portuguese, who were also facing a series of local uprisings. During the next hundred years, Zanzibar -- an archipelago off the coast that is now part of Tanzania -- became a hub of Indian Ocean trade, with Arab and Indian traders establishing and consolidating trade routes with communities in mainland Tanzania that contributed to the expansion of the slave trade. Zanzibar briefly became the capital of the Sultanate of Oman before it split into separate Omani and Zanzibar Sultanates in 1856. Beginning in the mid-1800s, European explorers, traders, and Christian missionaries became more active in the region. The Germans eventually established control over mainland Tanzania -- which they called Tanganyika -- and the British established control over Zanzibar. Tanganyika came under British administration after the German defeat in World War I. Tanganyika gained independence from Great Britain in 1961, and Zanzibar followed in 1963 as a constitutional monarchy. In Tanganyika, Julius NYERERE, a charismatic and idealistic socialist, established a one-party political system that centralized power and encouraged national self-reliance and rural development. In 1964, a popular uprising overthrew the Sultan in Zanzibar and either killed or expelled many of the Arabs and Indians who had dominated the isles for more than 200 years. Later that year, Tanganyika and Zanzibar combined to form the United Republic of Tanzania, but Zanzibar retained considerable autonomy. Their two ruling parties combined to form the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party in 1977, which has since won every presidential election. Tanzania held its first multi-party elections in 1995, but CCM candidates have continued to dominate politics. The ruling party has claimed victory in four contentious elections since 1995, despite international observers' claims of voting irregularities. In 2001, 35 people died in Zanzibar when soldiers fired on protestors. John MAGUFULI won the 2015 and 2020 presidential elections, and the CCM won over two-thirds of the seats in Parliament in both elections. MAGUFULI died in 2021 while in office and was succeeded by his vice president, Samia Suluhu HASSAN.

Area
Total: 947,300 km²
Land: 885,800 km²
Water: 61,500 km²
Note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar
Comparative: more than six times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than twice the size of California

Land boundaries
Total: 4,161 km
Border countries (8): (8) Burundi 589 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 479 km; Kenya 775 km; Malawi 512 km; Mozambique 840 km; Rwanda 222 km; Uganda 391 km; Zambia 353 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
Highest point: Kilimanjaro (highest point in Africa) 5,895 m
Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 1,018 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 44.6% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 15.2% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 27.1% (2023 est.)
Forest: 50.1% (2023 est.)
Other: 5.3% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,840 km² (2012)

Major rivers: Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km
Note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Natural hazards: flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought
Volcanism: limited volcanic activity; Ol Doinyo Lengai (2,962 m) has emitted lava in recent years; other historically active volcanoes include Kieyo and Meru

Geography
Note Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa and one of only three mountain ranges on the continent that has glaciers (the others are Mount Kenya in Kenya and the Ruwenzori Mountains on the Uganda-Democratic Republic of the Congo border); Tanzania is 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

Population
Total: 67,462,121 (2024 est.)
Male: 33,691,904
Female: 33,770,217
Distribution: the largest and most populous East African country; population distribution is extremely uneven, but greater population clusters occur in the northern half of country and along the east coast, as shown in this population distribution map
Growth rate: 2.72% (2024 est.)

Languages: Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic, many local languages
Major-language sample(s): ; The World Factbook, Chanzo cha Lazima Kuhusu Habari ya Msingi. (Kiswahili); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions: Christian 63.1%, Muslim 34.1%, folk religion 1.1%, Buddhist <1%, Hindu <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, unspecified 1.6% (2020 est.)
Note: Zanzibar is almost entirely Muslim

Age structure
0-14 years: 41.2% (male 14,039,292/female 13,740,439)
15-64 years: 55.4% (male 18,677,388/female 18,708,390)
65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 975,224/female 1,321,388)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 82.5 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 76.8 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.7 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 17.5 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 19.1 years (2024 est.)
Male: 18.8 years
Female: 19.4 years

Population growth rate: 2.72% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 32.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: the largest and most populous East African country; population distribution is extremely uneven, but greater population clusters occur in the northern half of country and along the east coast, as shown in this population distribution map

Urbanization
Urban population: 37.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 4.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 262,000 Dodoma (legislative capital) (2018), 7.776 million DAR ES SALAAM (administrative capital), 1.311 million Mwanza, 800,000 Zanzibar (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 276 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 29.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 32.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 26.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 70.8 years (2024 est.)
Male: 69 years
Female: 72.6 years

Total fertility rate: 4.27 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 18.9% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 51% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 39.2% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 10.4% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 72.8% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 49.9% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.4% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2.6% (2024 est.); 2.6% (2023 est.); 2.6% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Dodoma
Geographic coordinates: 6 48 S, 39 17 E
Time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the name comes from the name of a nearby mountain; the origin of the mountain's name is unclear

Administrative divisions: 31 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Geita, Iringa, Kagera, Kaskazini Pemba (Pemba North), Kaskazini Unguja (Zanzibar North), Katavi, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Kusini Pemba (Pemba South), Kusini Unguja (Zanzibar Central/South), Lindi, Manyara, Mara, Mbeya, Mjini Magharibi (Zanzibar Urban/West), Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Njombe, Pwani (Coast), Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Simiyu, Singida, Songwe, Tabora, Tanga

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

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Samia Suluhu HASSAN (since 19 March 2021)
Head of government: President Samia Suluhu HASSAN (since 19 March 2021)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly
Election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president
Most recent election date: 28 October 2020
2020: John MAGUFULI reelected president; percent of vote - John MAGUFULI (CCM) 84.4%, Tundu LISSU (CHADEMA) 13%, other 2.6%
2015: John MAGUFULI elected president; percent of vote - John MAGUFULI (CCM) 58.5%, Edward LOWASSA (CHADEMA) 40%, other 1.5%
Expected date of next election: October 2025
Note 1: Zanzibar elects a president as head of government for internal matters; election held on 28 October 2020; Hussein MWINYI (CCM) 76.3%, Maalim Seif SHARIF (ACT-Wazalendo) 19.9%, other 3.8%
Note 2: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Note 3: after the death of President John MAGUFULI in March 2021, Vice President Samia Suluhu HASSAN assumed the presidency

Legislative branch
Legislature name: National Assembly (Bunge)
Legislative structure: unicameral
Number of seats: 403 (272 directly elected; 120 indirectly elected; 10 appointed; 1 other)
Electoral system: plurality/majority
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 5 years
Most recent election date: 10/29/2025
Parties elected and seats per party: Revolutionary Party of Tanzania (CCM) (383); ACT-Wazalendo (2)
Percentage of women in chamber: 39.5%
Expected date of next election: October 2,030
Note: the Attorney General fills the 'other' seat as an ex-officio member

Flag description: divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band, from the lower left corner to the upper right corner; the upper triangle (left side) is green, and the lower is blue

National anthem
Title: 'Mungu ibariki Afrika' (God Bless Africa)
Lyrics/music: collective/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA
History: adopted 1961; the anthem, which is also a popular African popular song in Africa, shares the melody of Zambia's anthem and is part of South Africa's anthem

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 7 (3 cultural, 3 natural, 1 mixed)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 5.5% (2024 est.); 5.1% (2023 est.); 4.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 5.5% (2024 est.); 5.1% (2023 est.); 4.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 52.9% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 9.2% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 41.4% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: -1.6% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 19.8% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -21.7% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 23.4% (2024 est.)
Industry: 28.7% (2024 est.)
Services: 28.4% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Industries: agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine); mining (diamonds, gold, and iron), salt, soda ash; cement, oil refining, shoes, apparel, wood products, fertilizer

Industrial production growth rate: 5.2% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 32.983 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 2.6% (2024 est.); 2.6% (2023 est.); 2.6% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2.6% (2024 est.); 2.6% (2023 est.); 2.6% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $11.716 billion (2024 est.)
Expenditures: $13.583 billion (2024 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 11.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $13.98 billion (2023 est.); $11.986 billion (2022 est.); $9.874 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: gold, refined petroleum, dried legumes, refined copper, coal (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $16.059 billion (2023 est.); $16.674 billion (2022 est.); $11.61 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, plastics, garments, fertilizers, wheat (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 1.818 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 9.109 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 157.688 million kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 2.039 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 45.8% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 74.7%
Access electrification - rural areas: 36%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 74.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 24.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Production: 2.341 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 740,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 1.602 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 21 metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 1.41 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 85,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 2.016 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 2.016 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 6.513 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 17.707 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 1.687 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 12.066 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 3.954 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 4.091 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 76,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 70.2 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 92 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 29% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 1.66 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 1.3% of GDP (2024 est.); 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Airports: 206 (2025)

Railways
Total: 4,097 km (2022)
Standard gauge: 421 km (2022)
Narrow gauge: 969 km (2022) 1.067 m gauge
Broad gauge: 2,707 km (2022) 1.000 m guage

Merchant marine
Total: 381 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 4, container ship 17, general cargo 170, oil tanker 58, other 132