Tanzania

§1. Tanzania Introduction

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.

§2. Tanzania 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: 945,087 kmē
  land: 886,037 kmē
  water: 59,050 kmē
  note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar

Area - comparative:
  slightly larger than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:
  total: 3,402 km border countries: Burundi 451 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:
  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 highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m

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

Land use:
  arable land: 3%
  permanent crops: 1%
  permanent pastures: 40%
  forests and woodland: 38%
  other: 18% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:
  1,500 kmē (1993 est.)

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

Environment - current issues:
  soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral
  reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal
  agriculture

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

Geography - note:
  Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa

§3. Tanzania People

Population:
  36,232,074
  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 2001 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 44.76% (male 8,152,438; female 8,063,520)
  15-64 years: 52.35% (male 9,387,737; female 9,581,518)
  65 years and over: 2.89% (male 473,498; female 573,363) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate:
  2.61% (2001 est.)

Birth rate:
  39.65 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate:
  12.95 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate:
  -0.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

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: 0.83 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
  79.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 51.98 years male: 51.04 years
  female: 52.95 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate:
  5.42 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  8.09% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  1.3 million (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  140,000 (1999 est.)

Nationality:
  noun: Tanzanian(s)
  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

Religions:
  mainland - Christian 45%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 20%; Zanzibar -
  more than 99% Muslim

Languages:
  Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguju (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, and it has become the lingua franca of
    central and eastern Africa; the first language of most people is one of
    the local languages

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili),
    English, or Arabic
  total population: 67.8%
  male: 79.4%
  female: 56.8% (1995 est.)

§4. Tanzania Government

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 Omar Ali JUMA (since 23 November 1995); 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 Omar Ali JUMA (since 23 November 1995); 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
  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
  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%

Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (274 seats - 232 elected by popular
  vote, 37 allocated to women nominated by the president, five to members of
  the Zanzibar House of Representatives; members serve five-year terms); 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 to make laws especially for
  Zanzibar (the Zanzibar House of Representatives has 50 seats, directly
  elected by universal suffrage to serve five-year terms)
  elections: last held 29 October 2000 (next to be held NA October 2005)
  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

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 or CHADEMA [Bob MAKANI, chairman]; Chama
  Cha Mapinduzi or CCM (Revolutionary Party) [Benjamin William MKAPA,
  chairman]; Civic United Front or CUF [Seif Sharif HAMAD,
  secretary-general]; Democratic Party (unregistered) [Reverend Christopher
  MTIKLA, leader]; National Convention for Construction and Reform or NCCR
  [Kassim MAGUTU, secretary-general]; Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Augustine
  Lyatonga MREMA, chairman]; Union for Multiparty Democracy or UMD [leader
  NA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [John CHEYO, leader]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
  NA

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Mustafa Salim NYANG'ANYI chancery: 2139 R
    Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 939-6125
  FAX: [1] (202) 797-7408

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Wanda NESBITT embassy: 140 Msese Road,
    Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam
  mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
  telephone: [255] (22) 666010 through 666015
  FAX: [255] (22) 666701

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

§5. Tanzania Economy

Economy - overview:
  Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy is
  heavily dependent 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 is mainly limited to processing agricultural products and light
  consumer goods. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and
  bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's
  deteriorated economic infrastructure. Growth in 1991-2000 featured a pick
  up in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of
  minerals, led by gold. Natural gas exploration in the Rufiji Delta looks
  promising and production could start by 2002. Recent banking reforms have
  helped increase private sector growth and investment. Continued donor
  support and solid macroeconomic policies should allow Tanzania to achieve
  real GDP growth of 6% in 2001 and in 2002.

GDP:
  purchasing power parity - $25.1 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
  5.2% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita:
  purchasing power parity - $710 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 49% industry: 17%
  services: 34% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line:
  51.1% (1991 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 30.2% (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6% (2000 est.)

Labor force:
  13.495 million

Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 20% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
  NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $1.21 billion
  expenditures: $1.36 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999
    est.)

Industries:
  primarily 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.)

Electricity - production:
  2.248 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source:
  fossil fuel: 22.24% hydro: 77.76%
  nuclear: 0%
  other: 0% (1999)

Electricity - consumption:
  2.134 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports:
  43 million kWh (1999)

Agriculture - products:
  coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from
  chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves (Zanzibar), corn, wheat,
  cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats

Exports:
  $937 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities:
  coffee, manufactured goods, cotton, cashew nuts, minerals, tobacco, sisal
  (1996)

Exports - partners:
  India 20%, UK 10%, Germany 8%, Japan 8%, Netherlands 8%, Belgium 4% (1998)

Imports:
  $1.57 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities:
  consumer goods, machinery and transportation equipment, industrial raw
  materials, crude oil

Imports - partners:
  South Africa 8%, Japan 8%, UK 8%, Kenya 7%, India 6%, US 5% (1998)

Debt - external:
  $6.8 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
  $963 million (1997)

Currency:
  Tanzanian shilling (TZS)

Currency code:
  TZS

Exchange rates:
  Tanzanian shillings per US dollar - 803.34 (December 2000), 800.41 (2000),
  744.76 (1999), 664.67 (1998), 612.12 (1997), 579.98 (1996)

Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

§6. Tanzania Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
  127,000 (1998)

Telephones - 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)

Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 12, FM 11, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:
  8.8 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
  3 (1999)

Televisions:
  103,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
  .tz

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
  6 (2000)

Internet users:
  25,000 (2000)

§7. Tanzania Transportation

Railways:
  total: 3,569 km (1995)
  narrow gauge: 2,600 km 1.000-m gauge; 969 km 1.067-m gauge
  note: the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860
    km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and Kapiri Mposhi
    in Zambia (of which 969 km are in Tanzania and 891 km are in Zambia) is
    not a part of Tanzania Railways Corporation; because of the difference in
    gauge, this system does not connect to Tanzania Railways

Highways:
  total: 88,200 km
  paved: 3,704 km
  unpaved: 84,496 km (1996)

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

Pipelines:
  crude oil 982 km

Ports and harbors:
  Bukoba, Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, Kilwa Masoko, Lindi, Mtwara, Mwanza,
  Pangani, Tanga, Wete, Zanzibar

Merchant marine:
  total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,987 GRT/27,121 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll
    off 1, short-sea passenger 1 (2000 est.)

Airports:
  126 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 11 over 3,047 m: 2
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
  914 to 1,523 m: 1
  under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 115 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
  914 to 1,523 m: 63
  under 914 m: 35 (2000 est.)

§8. Tanzania Military

Military branches:
  Tanzanian People's Defense Force or TPDF (includes Army, Navy, and Air
  Force), paramilitary Police Field Force Unit, Militia

Military manpower - availability:
  males age 15-49: 8,365,337 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
  males age 15-49: 4,841,095 (2001 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
  $21 million (FY98/99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
  0.2% (FY98/99)

§9. Tanzania Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  dispute with Malawi over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi); a
  resurvey of the latitudinal boundary with Uganda in 2000 revealed a
  300-meter discrepancy that both sides are currently adjudicating

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
