Facts About : Tanzania


  • 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.
  • Geography :: TANZANIA

  • Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique
    6 00 S, 35 00 E
    Africa
    total: 947,300 sq km
    land: 885,800 sq km
    water: 61,500 sq km
    note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar
    country comparison to the world: 31
    more than six times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than twice the size of California
    Area comparison map: 
    total: 4,161 km
    border countries (8): Burundi 589 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 479 km, Kenya 775 km, Malawi 512 km, Mozambique 840 km, Rwanda 222 km, Uganda 391 km, Zambia 353 km
    1,424 km
    territorial sea: 12 nm
    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
    varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands
    plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south
    lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
    highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m (highest point in Africa)
    hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel
    agricultural land: 43.7%
    arable land 14.3%; permanent crops 2.3%; permanent pasture 27.1%
    forest: 37.3%
    other: 19% (2011 est.)
    1,843 sq km (2003)
    96.27 cu km (2011)
    total: 5.18 cu km/yr (10%/0%/89%)
    per capita: 144.7 cu m/yr (2002)
    flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought
    volcanism: limited volcanic activity; Ol Doinyo Lengai (elev. 2,962 m) has emitted lava in recent years; other historically active volcanoes include Kieyo and Meru
    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
    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
    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
  • People and Society :: TANZANIA

  • noun: Tanzanian(s)
    adjective: Tanzanian
    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
    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
    mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim
    51,045,882
    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 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 27
    0-14 years: 44.34% (male 11,428,872/female 11,205,695)
    15-24 years: 19.59% (male 4,999,410/female 4,999,503)
    25-54 years: 29.61% (male 7,588,196/female 7,524,554)
    55-64 years: 3.49% (male 772,258/female 1,010,744)
    65 years and over: 2.97% (male 648,851/female 867,799) (2015 est.)
    population pyramid: 
    total dependency ratio: 93.8%
    youth dependency ratio: 87.6%
    elderly dependency ratio: 6.2%
    potential support ratio: 16.1% (2015 est.)
    total: 17.5 years
    male: 17.2 years
    female: 17.8 years (2015 est.)
    2.79% (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 14
    36.39 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 17
    8 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 99
    -0.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 136
    urban population: 31.6% of total population (2015)
    rate of urbanization: 5.36% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
    DAR ES SALAAM (capital) 5.116 million; Mwanza 838,000 (2015)
    at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
    0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
    15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
    25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
    55-64 years: 0.76 male(s)/female
    65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
    total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
    total: 42.43 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 44.47 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 40.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 49
    total population: 61.71 years
    male: 60.34 years
    female: 63.13 years (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 192
    4.89 children born/woman (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 17
    34.4% (2009/10)
    7.3% of GDP (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 81
    0.03 physicians/1,000 population (2012)
    0.7 beds/1,000 population (2010)
    improved:
    urban: 77.2% of population
    rural: 45.5% of population
    total: 55.6% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 22.1% of population
    rural: 56% of population
    total: 46.8% of population (2015 est.)
    improved:
    urban: 31.3% of population
    rural: 8.3% of population
    total: 15.6% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 68.7% of population
    rural: 91.7% of population
    total: 84.4% of population (2015 est.)
    5.34% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 12
    1,499,400 (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 6
    46,100 (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 4
    degree of risk: very high
    food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
    vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and Rift Valley fever
    water contact diseases: schistosomiasis and leptospirosis
    animal contact disease: rabies (2013)
    5.9% (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 156
    13.6% (2011)
    country comparison to the world: 53
    6.2% of GDP (2010)
    country comparison to the world: 37
    definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic
    total population: 70.6%
    male: 75.9%
    female: 65.4% (2015 est.)
    total: 9 years
    male: 9 years
    female: 9 years (2012)
    total number: 2,815,085
    percentage: 21%
    note: data represents children ages 5-17 and does not in (2006 est.)
    total: 7.1% (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 120
  • Government :: TANZANIA

  • 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
    republic
    name: Dodoma; note - officially changed in 1996; serves as the meeting place for the National Assembly; the excutive branch offices and diplomatic representation remain in Dar es Salaam, the largest city and commercial capital
    geographic coordinates: 6 48 S, 39 17 E
    time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
    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 became independent on 9 December 1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became independent on 10 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar on 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania on 29 October 1964
    Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964)
    several previous; latest adopted 25 April 1977; amended many times, last in 2012; note - a 640-member Constituent Assembly, formed in early 2014, passed a new constitution draft in October; final passage dependent upon outcome of national referendum expected in 2015 (2015)
    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
    chief of state: President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December 2005); Vice President Mohammed Gharib BILAL (since 6 November 2010); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
    head of government: President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December 2005); Vice President Mohammed Gharib BILAL (since 6 November 2010)
    cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly
    elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 31 October 2010 (next to be held on 25 October 2015); prime minister appointed by the president
    election results: Jakaya KIKWETE elected president; percent of vote - Jakaya KIKWETE (CCM) 61.2%, Willibrod SLAA (CHADEMA) 26.3%, Ibrahim LIPUMBA (CUF) 8.1%, other 4.4%
    note: Zanzibar elects a president as head of government for matters internal to Zanzibar; Ali Mohamed SHEIN (CCM) elected Zanzibar president on 31 October 2010, sworn in 3 November 2010
    description: unicameral National Assembly or Parliament (Bunge) (357 seats; 239 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 102 women directly elected by proportional representation vote, 5 indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the Zanzibar House of Representatives, 10 appointed by the president, and 1 seat reserved for the attorney general; members serve 5-year terms); note - in addition to enacting laws that apply to the entire United Republic of Tanzania, the National Assembly enacts laws that apply only to the mainland; Zanzibar has its own House of Representatives or Baraza La Wawakilishi (81 seats; 50 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 15 women directly elected by proportional representation vote, 10 appointed by the Zanzibar president, 5 seats reserved for government appointed regional commissioners, and 1 seat for the attorney general; elected members serve 5-year terms)
    elections: last held on 31 October 2010 (next to be held on 25 October 2015)
    election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CCM 259, CHADEMA 48, CUF 34, NCCR-M 4, other 7, Zanzibar representatives 5; Zanzibar House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CCM 28, CUF 22
    highest court(s): Court of Appeal of the United Republic of Tanzania (consists of the chief justice and 14 justices); High Court of the United Republic for Mainland Tanzania (consists of the principal judge and 30 judges organized into commercial, land, and labor courts); High Court of Zanzibar (consists of the chief justice and NA judges)
    judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and High Court justices appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission for Tanzania, a judicial body of high level judges and 2 members appointed by the national president; Court of Appeal and High Court judges appointed until mandatory retirement at age 60 but can be extended; High Court of Zanzibar judges appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Commission of Zanzibar; judge tenure NA
    subordinate courts: Resident Magistrates Courts; Kadhi courts (for Islamic family matters); district and primary courts
    Alliance for Chance and Transparency or ACT [Samson MWIGAMBA]
    Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Party of Democracy and Development) or CHADEMA [Willibrod SLAA]
    Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM (Revolutionary Party) [Jakaya Mrisho KIKWETE]
    Civic United Front or CUF [Ibrahim LIPUMBA]
    Democratic Party or DP [Christopher MTIKLA] (unregistered)
    National Convention for Construction and Reform - Mageuzi or NCCR-M [Hashim RUNGWE]
    Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Mutamwega MUGAHWYA]
    United Democratic Party or UDP [Fahma DOVUTWA]
    Note: in March 2014, three opposition parties (CUF, CHADEMA, and NCCR-Mageusi) united to form Umoja wa Katiba ya Wananchi (Coalition for the People's Constituion) or UKAWA; during local elections held in October, 2014, UKAWA entered one candidate representing the three parties united in the coalition
    Economic and Social Research Foundation or ESRF
    Free Zanzibar
    Tanzania Media Women's Association or TAMWA
    Tanzaina 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
    chief of mission: Ambassador Wilson MASILINGI (since 17 September 2015)
    chancery: 1232 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
    telephone: [1] (202) 939-6125
    FAX: [1] (202) 797-7408
    chief of mission: Ambassador Mark Bradley CHILDRESS (since 22 May 2014)
    embassy: 686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani, Dar es Salaam
    mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
    telephone: [255] (22) 229-4000
    FAX: [255] (22) 229-4970 or 4971
    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
    name: "Mungu ibariki Afrika" (God Bless Africa)
    lyrics/music: collective/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA
    note: adopted 1961; the anthem, which is also a popular song in Africa, shares the same melody with that of Zambia, but has different lyrics; the melody is also incorporated into South Africa's anthem
     
  • Economy :: TANZANIA

  • 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 2009-14 was an impressive 6-7% per year. 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 80% of the work force. The World Bank, the IMF, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's aging infrastructure, including rail and port, that provide important trade links for inland countries. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private-sector growth and investment, and the government has increased spending on agriculture to 7% of its budget. 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. 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. In 2013, Tanzania completed the world's largest Millennium Challenge Compact grant, worth $698 million, and, in December 2014, the Millennium Challenge Corporation selected Tanzania for a second Compact. Dar es Salaam used fiscal stimulus measures and easier monetary policies to lessen the impact of the global recession. In late 2014, a highly publicized scandal in the energy sector involving senior Tanzanian officials resulted in international donors freezing nearly $500 million in direct budget support to the government.
    $127.1 billion (2014 est.)
    $118.5 billion (2013 est.)
    $110.5 billion (2012 est.)
    note: data are in 2014 US dollars
    country comparison to the world: 84
    $47.93 billion (2014 est.)
    7.2% (2014 est.)
    7.3% (2013 est.)
    5.1% (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 17
    $2,700 (2014 est.)
    $2,500 (2013 est.)
    $2,300 (2012 est.)
    note: data are in 2014 US dollars
    country comparison to the world: 204
    21.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
    14.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
    19.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 94
    household consumption: 66%
    government consumption: 19.8%
    investment in fixed capital: 33.2%
    investment in inventories: 0.6%
    exports of goods and services: 20.6%
    imports of goods and services: -40.3%
    (2014 est.)
    agriculture: 26.9%
    industry: 25.2%
    services: 48% (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
    8.1% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 22
    25 million (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 27
    agriculture: 80%
    industry and services: 20% (2002 est.)
    NA%
    67.9% (2011 est.)
    lowest 10%: 2.8%
    highest 10%: 29.6% (2007)
    37.6 (2007)
    34.6 (2000)
    country comparison to the world: 76
    revenues: $6.44 billion
    expenditures: $8.626 billion (2014 est.)
    17.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 177
    -6% of GDP (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 184
  • 43.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
    41.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 88
    1 July - 30 June
    6.1% (2014 est.)
    7.9% (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 184
    8.25% (31 December 2010)
    3.7% (31 December 2009)
    country comparison to the world: 34
    17.4% (31 December 2014 est.)
    15.82% (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 24
    $4.799 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $4.573 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 102
    $7.936 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $7.533 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 113
    $8.647 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $8.202 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 108
    $1.803 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
    $1.539 billion (31 December 2011)
    $1.264 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 102
    -$4.868 billion (2014 est.)
    -$5.188 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 170
    $6.084 billion (2014 est.)
    $5.258 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 110
    gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton
    India 21%, China 9.9%, Japan 5.3%, Germany 4.7% (2014)
    $11.95 billion (2014 est.)
    $11.03 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 96
    consumer goods, machinery and transportation equipment, industrial raw materials, crude oil
    China 27.6%, India 24.5% (2014)
    $4.758 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $4.674 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    note: excludes gold
    country comparison to the world: 96
    $15.35 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $13.83 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 96
    $NA
    $NA
    Tanzanian shillings (TZS) per US dollar -
    1,647.8 (2014 est.)
    1,600.4 (2013 est.)
    1,583 (2012 est.)
    1,572.1 (2011 est.)
    1,409.3 (2010 est.)
  • Energy :: TANZANIA

  • 5.532 billion kWh (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 121
    4.545 billion kWh (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 124
    0 kWh (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 208
    61 million kWh (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 100
    845,000 kW (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 127
    33.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 174
    0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 194
    66.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 29
    0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 133
    0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 123
    0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 195
    0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 133
    0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 200
    0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 202
    35,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 99
    0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 138
    34,850 bbl/day (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 91
    995 million cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 65
    995 million cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 92
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 196
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 141
    6.513 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 85
    9.295 million Mt (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 104
  • Communications :: TANZANIA

  • total subscriptions: 150,000
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 139
    total: 31.9 million
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 64 (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 37
    general assessment: telecommunications services are marginal; 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 and in 2011 exceeded a subscriber base of 50 telephones per 100 persons; trunk service provided by open-wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and fiber-optic cable; some links being made digital
    international: country code - 255; landing point for the EASSy fiber-optic submarine cable system linking East Africa with Europe and North America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2010)
    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)
    AM 12, FM 11, shortwave 2 (1998)
    3 (1999)
    .tz
    total: 7.4 million
    percent of population: 15.0% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 51
  • Transportation :: TANZANIA

  • 166 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 34
    total: 10
    over 3,047 m: 2
    2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
    1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
    914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013)
    total: 156
    over 3,047 m: 1
    1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
    914 to 1,523 m: 98
    under 914 m:
    33 (2013)
    gas 311 km; oil 891 km; refined products 8 km (2013)
    total: 4,567 km
    narrow gauge: 1,860 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,707 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 47
    total: 86,472 km
    paved: 7,092 km
    unpaved: 79,380 km (2010)
    country comparison to the world: 53
    (Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) are the principal avenues of commerce with neighboring countries; the rivers are not navigable) (2011)
    total: 94
    by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 66, carrier 4, chemical tanker 1, container 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 3
    foreign-owned: 42 (Japan 1, Romania 1, Saudi Arabia 1, Syria 23, Turkey 13, UAE 3)
    registered in other countries: 3 (Panama 2, UK 1) (2010)
    country comparison to the world: 52
    major seaport(s): Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar
    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
  • Military :: TANZANIA

  • 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)
    males age 16-49: 9,985,445 (2010 est.)
    males age 16-49: 5,860,339
    females age 16-49: 5,882,279 (2010 est.)
    male: 512,294
    female: 514,164 (2010 est.)
    1.13% of GDP (2012)
    1.12% of GDP (2011)
    1.13% of GDP (2010)
    country comparison to the world: 88
  • Transnational Issues :: TANZANIA

  • 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
    refugees (country of origin): 53,881 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2014); 107,490 (Burundi) (2015)
    current situation: Tanzania is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; the exploitation of young girls in domestic servitude continues to be Tanzania's largest human trafficking problem; Tanzanian boys are subject to forced labor mainly on farms but also in mines, in the commercial service sector, in the sex trade, and possibly on small fishing boats; internal trafficking is more prevalent than transnational trafficking and is usually facilitated by friends, family members, or intermediaries offering education or legitimate job opportunities; trafficking victims from Burundi, Kenya, Bangladesh, Nepal, Yemen, and India are to work in Tanzania's agricultural, mining, and domestic service sectors or may be sex trafficked
    tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Tanzania does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; law enforcement made modest anti-trafficking efforts but imposed punishments on offenders that were inadequate for the seriousness of the crimes committed; key victim protection provisions of the 2008 anti-trafficking act remain unimplemented; the government continues to refer child trafficking victims to NGOs for care but has no procedure for the referral of adult victims; the national anti-trafficking action plan has not been implemented; no public awareness campaigns about the dangers of trafficking are conducted (2013)
    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