Introduction


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.

General Information


Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique
Area: total: 945,087 sq km
Land: 886,037 sq km
Water: 59,050 sq 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.
Coastline: 1,424 km
Climate: Varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands
Terrain: plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south
Geography - Note: 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
Population: 36,766,356
Age structure: 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.) Population growth rate: 1.83% (2005 est.)
Birth rate: 38.16 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate: 16.71 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio: At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Life expectancy at birth: Total population: 45.24 years; Male: 44.56 years; Female: 45.94 years (2005 est.)
Nationality: noun: Tanzanian(s); adjective: Tanzanian;
Ethnic groups: 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
Religions: mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim
Languages: Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguju (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 Government type: Republic
Capital: 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
History: 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
Legal system: Based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state: President
Head of Government: President
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
Judicial Branch: 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)

Economy


Overview: 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. Population below poverty line: 36% (2002 est.)