Shortly after achieving independence from Britain in the early 1960s, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the United Republic of Tanzania in 1964. One-party rule ended in 1995 with the first democratic elections held in the country since the 1970s. Zanzibar's semi-autonomous status and popular opposition led to two contentious elections since 1995, which the ruling party won despite international observers' claims of voting irregularities. The formation of a government of national unity between Zanzibar's two leading parties succeeded in minimizing electoral tension in 2010.

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

6 00 S, 35 00 E

Africa

more than six times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than twice the size of California

1,424 km

varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands

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

highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m (highest point in Africa)

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

arable land 14.3%; permanent crops 2.3%; permanent pasture 27.1%

1,840 sq km (2012)

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

flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought

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

Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa and one of only two mountains on the continent that has glaciers (the other is Mount Kenya); 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

53,950,935

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

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

Christian 61.4%, Muslim 35.2%, folk religion 1.8%, other 0.2%, unaffiliated 1.4%

Tanzania has the largest population in East Africa and the lowest population density; almost a third of the population is urban. Tanzania’s youthful population – about two-thirds of the population is under 25 – is growing rapidly because of the high total fertility rate of 4.8 children per woman. Progress in reducing the birth rate has stalled, sustaining the country’s nearly 3% annual growth. The maternal mortality rate has improved since 2000, yet it remains very high because of early and frequent pregnancies, inadequate maternal health services, and a lack of skilled birth attendants – problems that are worse among poor and rural women. Tanzania has made strides in reducing under-5 and infant mortality rates, but a recent drop in immunization threatens to undermine gains in child health. Malaria is a leading killer of children under 5, while HIV is the main source of adult mortality

For Tanzania, most migration is internal, rural to urban movement, while some temporary labor migration from towns to plantations takes place seasonally for harvests. Tanzania was Africa’s largest refugee-hosting country for decades, hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees from the Great Lakes region, primarily Burundi, over the last fifty years. However, the assisted repatriation and naturalization of tens of thousands of Burundian refugees between 2002 and 2014 dramatically reduced the refugee population. Tanzania is increasingly a transit country for illegal migrants from the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region who are heading to southern Africa for security reasons and/or economic opportunities. Some of these migrants choose to settle in Tanzania.

2.75% (2017 est.)

35.6 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

7.6 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

-0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

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

DAR ES SALAAM (capital) 5.116 million; Mwanza 838,000 (2015)

19.8 years

398 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

4.77 children born/woman (2017 est.)

38.4% (2015/16)

5.6% of GDP (2014)

0.03 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2010)

urban: 77.2% of population

rural: 45.5% of population

total: 55.6% of population

urban: 22.1% of population

rural: 56% of population

total: 46.8% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 31.3% of population

rural: 8.3% of population

total: 15.6% of population

urban: 68.7% of population

rural: 91.7% of population

total: 84.4% of population (2015 est.)

4.7% (2016 est.)

1.4 million (2016 est.)

33,000 (2016 est.)

8.4% (2016)

13.7% (2015)

3.5% of GDP (2014)

presidential republic

30 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, Tabora, Tanga

26 April 1964 (Tanganyika united with Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar); 29 October 1964 (renamed United Republic of Tanzania); notable earlier dates: 9 December 1961 (Tanganyika became independent from UK-administered UN trusteeship); 10 December 1963 (Zanzibar became independent from UK)

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

English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

Zanzibar House of Representatives - election annulled

Alliance for Change and Transparency or ACT [Zitto KABWE]

Alliance for Democratic Change or ADC [Miraji ABDALLAH]

Civic United Front or CUF (Chama Cha Wananchi [Seif Shariff HAMAD, Secretary General]

National Convention for Construction and Reform - Mageuzi or NCCR-M [James Francis MBATCA]

Party of Democracy and Development or CHADEMA (Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo) [Freeman MBOWE]

Revolutionary Party or CCM (Chama Cha Mapinduzi) [John MAGUFULI]

Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Augustine MREMA]

United Democratic Party or UDP [John Momose CHEYO]

Economic and Social Research Foundation or ESRF

Free Zanzibar

Tanzania Media Women's Association or TAMWA

Tanzania Private Sector Foundation or TPSF

Twaweza

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, EAC, EADB, EITI, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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; the banner combines colors found on the flags of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; green represents the natural vegetation of the country, gold its rich mineral deposits, black the native Swahili people, and blue the country's many lakes and rivers, as well as the Indian Ocean

Uhuru (Freedom) torch, giraffe; national colors: green, yellow, blue, black

Tanzania is one of the world's poorest economies in terms of per capita income, but has achieved high growth rates based on its vast natural resource wealth and tourism. GDP growth in 2009-16 averaged 6%-7% per year. Dar es Salaam used fiscal stimulus measures and easier monetary policies to lessen the impact of the global recession. Tanzania has largely completed its transition to a market economy, though the government retains a presence in sectors such as telecommunications, banking, energy, and mining.

The economy depends on agriculture, which accounts for more than one-quarter of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs about 65% of the work force. All land in Tanzania is owned by the government, which can lease land for up to 99 years. Proposed reforms to allow for land ownership, particularly foreign land ownership, remain unpopular.

The financial sector in Tanzania has expanded in recent years and foreign-owned banks account for about 48% of the banking industry's total assets. Competition among foreign commercial banks has resulted in significant improvements in the efficiency and quality of financial services, though interest rates are still relatively high, reflecting high fraud risk. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private-sector growth and investment.

The World Bank, the IMF, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's aging infrastructure, including rail and port, which provide important trade links for inland countries. In 2013, Tanzania completed the world's largest Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) grant, worth $698 million, but in late 2015, the MCC Board of Directors deferred a decision to renew Tanzania’s eligibility because of irregularities in voting in Zanzibar and concerns over the governments use of a controversial cybercrime bill.

Under the new government elected in 2015, Tanzania has developed an ambitious development agenda focused on creating a better business environment through improved infrastructure, access to financing, and education progress, but implementing budgets remains challenging for the government.

$150.3 billion (2016 est.)

$138.7 billion (2015 est.)

$128.3 billion (2014 est.)

$47.65 billion (2016 est.)

7% (2016 est.)

7% (2015 est.)

7% (2014 est.)

$3,100 (2016 est.)

$2,900 (2015 est.)

$2,800 (2014 est.)

23% of GDP (2016 est.)

24.7% of GDP (2015 est.)

21.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

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

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

10.9% (2016 est.)

24.05 million (2016 est.)

10.3% (2014 est.)

22.8% (2015 est.)

37.6 (2007)

34.6 (2000)

14% of GDP (2016 est.)

-3.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

34% of GDP (2016 est.)

34.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

1 July - 30 June

5.2% (2016 est.)

5.6% (2015 est.)

8.25% (31 December 2010)

3.7% (31 December 2009)

15.96% (31 December 2016 est.)

16.1% (31 December 2015 est.)

$4.601 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$4.457 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$7.613 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$7.345 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$9.625 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$9.483 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$1.803 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$1.539 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$1.264 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$-2.677 billion (2016 est.)

$-4.12 billion (2015 est.)

$5.697 billion (2016 est.)

$5.402 billion (2015 est.)

gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton

Switzerland 15.1%, India 13.8%, South Africa 12.4%, China 7%, Kenya 6.2%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 5.7%, Belgium 5.6% (2016)

$8.464 billion (2016 est.)

$9.843 billion (2015 est.)

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

China 20.7%, India 18.1%, UAE 7.5%, South Africa 6%, Japan 4.7% (2016)

$4.067 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$4.073 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$15.21 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$15.05 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$NA

$NA

Tanzanian shillings (TZS) per US dollar -

2,177.1 (2016 est.)

2,177.1 (2015 est.)

1,989.7 (2014 est.)

1,654 (2013 est.)

1,583 (2012 est.)

6.025 billion kWh (2015 est.)

4.976 billion kWh (2015 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

71 million kWh (2015 est.)

1.187 million kW (2015 est.)

46% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

47.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

6.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

60,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

58,700 bbl/day (2014 est.)

1.1 billion cu m (2015 est.)

1.5 billion cu m (2015 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

6.513 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es)

10 million Mt (2013 est.)

a state-owned TV station and multiple privately owned TV stations; state-owned national radio station supplemented by more than 40 privately owned radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available (2007)

.tz

5H (2016)

166 (2013)

gas 311 km; oil 891 km; refined products 8 km (2013)

(Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) are the principal avenues of commerce with neighboring countries; the rivers are not navigable) (2011)

1.14% of GDP (2016)

1.13% of GDP (2015)

1.05% of GDP (2014)

1% of GDP (2013)

0.93% of GDP (2012)

Tanzania 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)

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

the International Maritime Bureau reports that shipping in territorial and offshore waters in the Indian Ocean remain at risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships, especially as Somali-based pirates extend their activities south; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen

dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River; Malawi contends that the entire lake up to the Tanzanian shoreline is its territory, while Tanzania claims the border is in the center of the lake; the conflict was reignited in 2012 when Malawi awarded a license to a British company for oil exploration in the lake

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