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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.tz

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

5,534 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

250,000 (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 12, FM 11, shortwave 2 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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: country code - 255; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

149,100 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

891,200 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

3 (1999)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.985 billion expenditures: $2.074 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Tanzanian shilling (TZS)

Current account balance [time series]

$-327.4 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$7.321 billion (2004 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

38.2 (1993)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$1.2 billion (2001)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's out-of-date economic infrastructure and to alleviate poverty.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. 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 2004.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

2.566 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports [time series]

30 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production [time series]

2.727 billion kWh (2002)

Exchange rates [time series]

Tanzanian shillings per US dollar - 1,089.33 (2004), 1,038.42 (2003), 966.58 (2002), 876.41 (2001), 800.41 (2000)

Exports [time series]

$1.248 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton

Exports - partners [time series]

India 9.1%, Spain 8.3%, Netherlands 6.4%, Japan 5.8%, UK 5%, China 4.8%, Kenya 4.7% (2004)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$23.71 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 43.2% industry: 17.2% services: 39.6% (2004 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $700 (2004 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

5.8% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 30.1% (1993)

Imports [time series]

$1.972 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

South Africa 13.1%, China 8.1%, India 6.6%, Kenya 5.6%, UAE 5.5%, US 4.9%, UK 4.8%, Bahrain 4.1% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

8.4% (1999 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

16.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Labor force [time series]

19 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% (2002 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

11.33 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption [time series]

17,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

Oil - imports [time series]

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line [time series]

36% (2002 est.)

Public debt [time series]

5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$2.175 billion (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 945,087 sq km land: 886,037 sq km water: 59,050 sq km note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly larger than twice the size of California

Climate [time series]

varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands

Coastline [time series]

1,424 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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 environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

6 00 S, 35 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

1,550 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 4.52% permanent crops: 1.08% other: 94.4% (2001)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

25 April 1977; major revisions October 1984

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania conventional short form: Tanzania former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert V. ROYALL embassy: 140 Msese Road, Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam telephone: [255] (22) 2666-010 through 2666-015 FAX: [255] (22) 2666-701, 2668-501

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Andrew Mhando DARAJA chancery: 2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6125 FAX: [1] (202) 797-7408

Executive branch [time series]

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 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 30 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%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, EADB, FAO, G- 6, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

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)

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

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 30 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

National holiday [time series]

Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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 MREME]; United Democratic Party or UDP [John CHEYO]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 7,422,869 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 3,879,630 (2005 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Tanzanian People's Defense Force (JWTZ): Army, Naval Wing, Air Defense Command (includes Air Wing), National Service

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$20.6 million (2004)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

0.2% (2004)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

15 years of age for voluntary military service; 18 years of age for compulsory military service upon graduation from secondary school; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 44% (male 8,100,216/female 8,074,171) 15-64 years: 53.4% (male 9,665,957/female 9,963,772) 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 418,080/female 544,160) (2005 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

38.16 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate [time series]

16.71 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

8.8% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

160,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

1.6 million (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 98.54 deaths/1,000 live births male: 107.85 deaths/1,000 live births female: 88.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages [time series]

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, and it has become the lingua franca of central and eastern Africa; the first language of most people is one of the local languages

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 45.24 years male: 44.56 years female: 45.94 years (2005 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

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 (2004)

Median age [time series]

total: 17.62 years male: 17.36 years female: 17.89 years (2005 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Tanzanian(s) adjective: Tanzanian

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population [time series]

36,766,356 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 2005 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.83% (2005 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.06 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 447,877 (Burundi) 153,155 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) 3,036 (Somalia) (2004)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

123 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 112 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 60 under 914 m: 33 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 88,200 km paved: 3,704 km unpaved: 84,496 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 25,481 GRT/31,011 DWT by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 4 registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 29 km; oil 866 km (2004)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Dar es Salaam, Mtwara, Zanzibar City

Railways [time series]

total: 3,690 km narrow gauge: 969 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,721 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Waterways [time series]

Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa principal avenues of commerce with neighboring countries; rivers not navigable (2004)