Tanzania Country Overview

Geography:

Tanzania is located in Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique. Its land area is approximately 947,300 square kilometres, or twice the size of California.

Climate:

The climate varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands.

Capital:

Dar es Salaam

Population:

41 million

Language:

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

Religion:

Mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%; Zanzibar (island) - more than 99% Muslim

Literacy:

69%

Economy:

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. Recently gold mining has become important.

• GDP (real growth rate) 4.5% (2009 Estimate)
• Per capita income $1,400 (2009)
• Main industries: agriculture, light consumer goods, gold mining
• Recent banking reforms have helped increase private-sector growth and investment.
• Recently the Government has encouraged foreign direct investment in areas such as tourism and mining.

Natural Resources:

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

Government:

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.

Legal System:

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