TANZANIA COUNTRY INFORMATION

Geographic Description Tanzania is in East Africa. It includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar. Tanzania borders the Indian Ocean, and the countries of Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda. It covers 945,087 square kilometers and is roughly the size of Nevada. Like Kenya, Tanzania has a wide diversity of ecological zones and wildlife. Physical features vary from the central plateau and highlands in north and south to plains along coast, and from lush tropical areas to vast grasslands subject to drought. Tanzania boasts Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa (19,340 feet) and is bordered by three of the largest lakes on the continent (Lake Tangaynika, Lake Nyasa, and Lake Victoria--the world's second-largest freshwater lake). Tanzania also has one of the highest concentrations of buffalo, crocodile, hippo, hunting dog, chimpanzee and elephant. Political Colonial Government: Germany until World War I, then Great Britain Independence Gained: April 26, 1964 Type of Government: Republic President: President Benjamin William Mkapa. Next Election: 2003 Economy GDP—real growth rate: 4% (1999 est.) GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity: $550 (1999 est.) GDP composition: agriculture (49%), industry (17%), services (34%) (1996 est.) Population below poverty line: 51.1% (1991 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%= 2.9%; highest 10%= 30.2% (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: NA Exports (commodities): coffee, manufactured goods, cotton, cashew nuts, minerals, tobacco, sisal (1996) Imports (commodities): consumer goods, machinery and transportation equipment, industrial raw materials, crude oil Exports: $828 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Imports: $1.44 billion (f.o.b. 1999 est.) External Debt: $7.7 billion (1998) Demographics Population Estimate: 33, 306, 126, composed of: 45% under 15 years 52% 15-64 years 3% 65+ years Infant Mortality Rate: 80.97/1,000 live births Total Fertility Rate: 5.51 children/woman Risk Factors and Diseases include inadequate access to sanitation and water, and HIV. Ethnic Groups: mainland: more than 130 Bantu groups (99%), Asian, European, and Arab (1%); Zanzibar: Arab and native African (and mixed Arab/native African). Languages: Kiswahili (official language), Arabic, and numerous languages used by individual ethnic groups. Religions: Christian (Catholic and Protestant, 45%), Muslim (35%), indigenous beliefs (20%). Zanzibar is more than 99% Muslim. Refugees: Country of Asylum for 2,322,100 refugees. Country of Origin for 9,000 refugees. Education Adult Literacy: 67.8% (probably an over-estimate) Female Illiteracy: 43.2% Male Illiteracy: 20.6%