View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2009 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.tz

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

24,724 (2009) country comparison to the world: 96

Internet users [time series]

520,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 106

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 12, FM 11, shortwave 2 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: telecommunications services are inadequate; system operating below capacity and being modernized for better service; small aperture terminal (VSAT) system under construction domestic: fixed-line telephone network inadequate with less than 1 connection per 100 persons; mobile-cellular service, aided by multiple providers, is increasing rapidly; 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, 1 Atlantic Ocean)

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

179,849 (2009) country comparison to the world: 126

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

14.723 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 46

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: $4.099 billion expenditures: $4.517 billion (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

15.99% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 11 16.4% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

14.98% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 36 16.03% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance [time series]

-$3.536 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 -$1.856 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$6.195 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 $4.382 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

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

34.6 (2000) country comparison to the world: 89 38.2 (1993)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Tanzania is in the bottom ten percent of the world's economies in terms of per capita income. The economy depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts for more than 40% 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 7.1% in 2008.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

3.182 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

200 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

3.786 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Exchange rates [time series]

Tanzanian shillings (TZS) per US dollar - 1,178.1 (2008 est.), 1,255 (2007), 1,251.9 (2006), 1,128.93 (2005), 1,089.33 (2004)

Exports [time series]

$2.413 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 $2.227 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton

Exports - partners [time series]

India 8.1%, Japan 6.5%, China 6.3%, UAE 5.7%, Netherlands 5.6%, Germany 5.1% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$20.67 billion (2008 est.)

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

$54.38 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 $50.77 billion (2007 est.) $47.38 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

agriculture: 27.1% industry: 22.5% services: 50.4% (2008 est.)

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

$1,400 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 201 $1,300 (2007 est.) $1,200 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

7.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 36 7.1% (2007 est.) 6.7% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 26.9% (2000)

Imports [time series]

$7.08 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 $4.861 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

China 14.4%, India 9%, South Africa 7.7%, Kenya 6.9%, UAE 5.9% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

9.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

10.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 7% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

22.6% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Labor force [time series]

21.06 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA (31 December 2008) $NA (31 December 2007) $541.1 million (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

560.7 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 98

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Natural gas - production [time series]

560.7 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

6.513 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Oil - consumption [time series]

32,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Oil - imports [time series]

28,070 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Population below poverty line [time series]

36% (2002 est.)

Public debt [time series]

23.2% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$2.869 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 $2.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$NA

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$3.297 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 88 $2.501 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$2.464 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 66 $2.285 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$3.362 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 79 $3.212 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 947,300 sq km country comparison to the world: 31 land: 885,800 sq km water: 61,500 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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 5.18 cu km/yr (10%/0%/89%) per capita: 135 cu m/yr (2000)

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]

1,840 sq km (2003)

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: 4.23% permanent crops: 1.16% other: 94.61% (2005)

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

91 cu km (2001)

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]

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

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 local long form: Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania local short form: Tanzania former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Mark GREEN embassy: 686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani, Dar es Salaam mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam telephone: [255] (22) 266-8001 FAX: [255] (22) 266-8238, 266-8373

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Ombeni Yohana SEFUE 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 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%

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, 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, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 members elected by popular vote, 37 allocated to women nominated by the president, 5 to members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives; to 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 elected by universal suffrage to serve five-year terms) 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

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) [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]

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

Economic and Social Research Foundation or ESRF; Free Zanzibar; Tanzania Media Women's Association or TAMWA

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 9,108,177 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 5,473,552 females age 16-49: 5,493,188 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 487,742 female: 489,462 (2009 est.)

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

Tanzanian People's Defense Force (Jeshi la Wananchi la Tanzania, JWTZ): Army, Naval Wing (includes Coast Guard), Air Defense Command (includes Air Wing), National Service (2007)

Military expenditures [time series]

0.2% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 43% (male 8,853,529/female 8,805,810) 15-64 years: 54.1% (male 10,956,133/female 11,255,868) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 513,959/female 663,233) (2009 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

34.29 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Death rate [time series]

12.59 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

2.2% of GDP (1999) country comparison to the world: 164

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

6.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

96,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

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

1.4 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 69.28 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 26 male: 76.24 deaths/1,000 live births female: 62.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 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; 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: 52.01 years country comparison to the world: 203 male: 50.56 years female: 53.51 years (2009 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague water contact disease: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Median age [time series]

total: 18 years male: 17.8 years female: 18.3 years (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Tanzanian(s) adjective: Tanzanian

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Population [time series]

41,048,532 country comparison to the world: 30 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2009 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.04% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

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: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.46 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 25% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Tanzania still hosts more than a half-million refugees, more than any other African country, mainly from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite the international community's efforts at repatriation; disputes with Malawi over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant

Illicit drugs [time series]

targeted by traffickers moving hashish, Afghan heroin, and South American cocaine transported down the East African coastline, through airports, or overland through Central Africa; Zanzibar likely used by traffickers for drug smuggling; traffickers in the past have recruited Tanzanian couriers to move drugs through Iran into East Asia.

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 352,640 (Burundi); 127,973 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2007)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

125 (2009) country comparison to the world: 47

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 9 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 116 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 63 under 914 m: 34 (2009)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 9 country comparison to the world: 117 by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 4 registered in other countries: 1 (Honduras 1) (2008)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 253 km; oil 888 km; refined products 8 km (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Dar es Salaam

Railways [time series]

total: 3,689 km country comparison to the world: 46 narrow gauge: 969 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,720 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Roadways [time series]

total: 78,891 km country comparison to the world: 60 paved: 6,808 km unpaved: 72,083 km (2003)

Transportation - note [time series]

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Indian Ocean are high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

Waterways [time series]

Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa principal avenues of commerce with neighboring countries; rivers not navigable (2007)