Geography
Area: Mainland--945,000 sq. km. (378,000 sq. mi.); slightly
smaller than New Mexico and Texas combined. Zanzibar--1,658
sq. km. (640 sq. mi.).
Cities: Capital--Dodoma (legislative), Dar es Salaam
(executive). Major metropolises--Arusha, Mwanza, Dodoma,
Mbeya, Mtwara, Stonetown, Zanzibar.
Terrain: Varied.
Climate: Varies from tropical to arid to temperate.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Tanzanian(s); Zanzibari(s).
Population: Mainland--34.57 million. Zanzibar--1
million (est.).
Religions: Muslim 45%, Christian 45%, indigenous beliefs 10%.
Language: Kiswahili (official), English.
Education: Attendance--74% (primary). Literacy--67%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--98/1,000. Life expectancy--50
years.
Work force: Agriculture--80%; industry, commerce,
government--20%.
Government
Type: Republic.
Independence: Tanganyika 1961, Zanzibar 1963. Union formed 1964.
Constitution: 1982.
Branches: Executive--president (chief of state and commander
in chief), vice president, and prime minister. Legislative--unicameral
National Assembly (for the Union), House of Representatives (for
Zanzibar only). Judicial--Mainland: Court of Appeals, High
Courts, Resident Magistrate Courts, district courts, and primary
courts; Zanzibar: High Court, people's district courts, kadhis court
(Islamic courts).
Political parties: 1. Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), 2. The Civic United
Front (CUF), 3. Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), 4.
Union for Multiparty Democracy (UMD), 5. National Convention for
Construction and Reform (NCCR-Mageuzi), 6. National League for
Democracy (NLD), 7. National Reconstruction for Alliance (NRA) 8.
Tanzania Democratic Alliance Party (TADEA), 9. Tanzania Labour Party
(TLP), 10. United Democratic Party (UDP), 11. Demokrasia Makini (MAKINI),
12. United Peoples’ Democratic Party (UPDP), 13. Chama cha Haki na
Ustawi (CHAUSTA), 14. The Forum for Restoration of Democracy (FORD),
15. Democratic Party (DP), 16. Progressive Party of Tanzania (PPT-Maendeleo),
17. Jahazi Asilia.
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
Administrative subdivisions: 26 regions (21 on mainland, 3 on
Zanzibar, 2 on Pemba).
Economy
GDP (2004): $10 billion.
Average growth rate (2004): 6.7%.
Per capita income (2004): $300.
Natural resources: Hydroelectric potential, coal, iron, gemstones,
gold, natural gas, nickel, diamonds, crude oil potential, forest
products, wildlife, fisheries.
Agriculture (2004): 46.4% of GDP. Products--coffee, cotton,
tea, tobacco, cloves, sisal, cashew nuts, maize, livestock, sugar
cane, paddy, wheat, pyrethrum.
Industry/manufacturing (2004): 8.8% of GDP. Types--textiles,
agro-processing, light manufacturing, construction, steel, aluminium,
paints, cement, cooking oil, beer, mineral water and soft drinks.
Trade (2004): Exports--$1.33 billion (merchandise exports,
2004): coffee, cotton, tea, sisal, cashew nuts, tobacco, cut
flowers, seaweed, cloves, fish and fish products, minerals
(diamonds, gold, and gemstones), manufactured goods, horticultural
products; services (tourism services, communication, construction,
insurance, financial, computer, information, government, royalties,
personal and other businesses). Major markets--U.K., Germany,
India, Japan, Italy, China and the Far East. Primary imports--petroleum,
consumer goods, machinery and transport equipment, used clothing,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals. Major suppliers--U.K., Germany,
Japan, India, Italy, U.S., United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong,
Singapore, South Africa, Kenya.
.