Form of Government: Republic
Area: 947 300 sq km
Population: 57 637 628 inhab. (estimate 2020)
Density: 60.84 inhab./sq km
Coordinates: lat. 1° - 12° S; long. 29° - 40° E
Capital: Dodoma (capital) 446 640 inhab. (2016); ; Dar es Salaam (seat of government) 5 147 070 inhab. (2018);
Currency: Tanzanian shilling (100 cents)
Human development index: 0.529 (rank: 163)
President: Samia Suluhu Hassan (CCM), since 19 March 2021
Prime Minister: Kassim Majaliwa (CCM), since 20 November 2015
National Assembly: seats based on the elections of 25 October 2015: CCM (Revolutionary Party), 252; CHADEMA (Party for Democracy and Progress), 70; CCW (Civic United Front), 42; others, 2
Internet: www.nbs.go.tz (National Bureau of Statistics)
Member of AU, Commonwealth, EAC, SADC, UN, WTO
Tanzania

International license plate code EAT
International dialling code 00255
Travel vaccinations requirement yellow fever (required only if traveling from a country with risk of transmission); malaria prophylaxis (recommended)
Electricity (Voltage) 230
Driving side left
Internet code .tz
GMT +3
DST not applied
Annual average temperature (°C) Dar es Salaam 25.8
Average temperature in January/July (°C) Dar es Salaam 27.5/24
Daily sunshine hours in June/December (average) Dar es Salaam 8/9
Annual average precipitation (mm) Dar es Salaam 1160
Days of rainfall (annual average) Dar es Salaam 97

President John Magufuli died from illness on 17 March 2021. On 19 March, he was replaced by the vice president.
Geography.
Tanzania is bordered to the north by Uganda and Kenya, to the south by Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia, to the north-west by Burundi and Rwanda and to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It lies on the Indian Ocean to the east, where there are the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia. The country is made up of plateaus that descend steeply into the Great Rift Valley to the west, mostly made up of the basins of Lakes Malawi (Nyasa) and Tanganyika. The plateaus slope more gently eastwards towards the coast. To the north of the country lies the immense basin of Lake Victoria.
There are imposing volcanic massifs: Mount Kilimanjaro (5895 m), Mount Meru, Mount Ngorongoro and Mount Rungwe. The River Rufiji and the River Ruvuma flow into the Indian Ocean, as do most other rivers in the country. The climate is hot and humid along the coastal areas and drier inland.
Government
The United Republic of Tanzania was founded on 25 April 1964 from the union of Tanganyika (formerly a German colony, then granted as a trust territory to the United Kingdom, independent since 9 December 1961 and a republic since 9 December 1962) and Zanzibar (formerly a British protectorate, independent since 10 December 1963 and a republic since 12 January 1964). The country has always been governed by the Party of the Revolution (CCM), until 1985 under the presidency of Julius K. Nyerere, leader of the struggle for independence.
The President of the Republic, who exercises a wide range of government powers, is elected by direct suffrage for a term of five years, as is the National Assembly (264 members elected by popular vote, plus 113 seats reserved for women chosen from the parties in proportion to the votes received, ten of whom are appointed by the President, five members elected by the House of Representatives of Zanzibar and a seat for the Attorney General and for the President of the House). The islands of Zanzibar and Pemba enjoy a large amount of autonomy and have their own political system with a President and a Chamber of Representatives.
Defence and justice.
The legal system is based on British Common Law. The jurisdiction of the International Court of Law is not accepted.
Administrative division
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Dar es Salaam | 5 147 070 | inhab. | 2018 |
Mwanza | 706 453 | inhab. | 2012 |
Population
Population by age and gender (% - 2020) | ||||||||
| ||||||||
MALE | AGE | FEMALE |
The country has about 240 000 refugees who have fled the surrounding war zones (in particular from Burundi and the Democratic Rep. of the Congo).
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Birth rate | 36.336 | ‰ | 2019 |
Death rate | 6.254 | ‰ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Bantu | 95$ | % | 2000 |
other | 5$ | % | 2000 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Christian | 60$ | % | 2010 |
Muslim | 36$ | % | 2010 |
DESCRIPTION |
---|
English (official) |
Swahili (official) |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
0-14 years | 42.4 | % | 2020 |
15-29 years | 27.2 | % | 2020 |
Economy
Economic situation.
In 2020-21, the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic ended a long period of high growth. The country was particularly affected by the decline in foreign investment, tourism and exports (with the exception of gold, which benefited from the rise in prices).
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Agricultural prod. index (2004-06=100) | 165.47 | index | 2016 |
Agricultural prod. index (2014-16=100) | 107.19 | index | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Active population | 28 039 058 | units | 2020 |
Active population, Females | 48.1 | % | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Unemployment rate | 2.2 | % | 2020 |
Unemployment rate, Females | 59.9 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenses | 22 301 000 | M LCU | 2019 |
Revenues | 18 530 000 | M LCU | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 65.3 | % | 2019 |
industry | 6.8 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 28.715 | % | 2019 |
industry | 30.817 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Currency in circulation | 5 501.995 | BN LCU | 2020 |
International reserves | 5 049.6 | M US$ | 2018 |
Agriculture
Primary sector
Agriculture and forests.
Agriculture occupies most of the working population. The land is owned by the state, which rents it out. Foreign investments are aimed at crops for export. Coffee plants (predominantly coffea arabica) thrive on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro (at Moshi), in the area of Bukoba and in the eastern hills, while cotton crops are more common in the region of Lake Victoria. Other important products are tobacco, maize, peanuts, sesame and pulses. The islands of Zanzibar and Pemba are among the main areas in the world producing cloves and clove oil. Subsistence agriculture yields maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas, potatoes and rice. Cedar, ebony and bamboo are among the woods produced.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
arable land | 17.668 | % | 2018 |
forests | 52.702 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
barley | 20.019 | 1000 t | 2019 |
cereals, total | 10 399.386 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cassava | 8 184.093 | 1000 t | 2019 |
potatoes | 1 013.408 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cabbages | 91.573 | 1000 t | 2019 |
chillies and peppers | 19.549 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, dry | 1 197.489 | 1000 t | 2019 |
beans, green | 6.76 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
grapes | 3.202 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
castor oil seed | 3$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
groundnuts | 680 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
oil palm fruits | 75.644 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coconuts | 428.595 | 1000 t | 2019 |
copra | 30$ | 1000 t | 2006 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cloves | 8.97 | 1000 t | 2019 |
cocoa | 13$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sugar cane | 3 589.459 | 1000 t | 2019 |
tobacco | 116.603 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
seed cotton | 267.789 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sisal | 32.737 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fruits, total | 5 793.98 | 1000 t | 2019 |
pears | 7.254 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cashew nuts | 225.106 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
citrus fruits | 592 | 1000 t | 2019 |
citrus fruits, nes | 46.725 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bananas | 3 406.936 | 1000 t | 2019 |
mangoes | 451.357 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
barley | 10.401 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
maize | 3 428.63 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cassava | 990.835 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
potatoes | 96.594 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cabbages | 8.17 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
chillies and peppers | 0.739 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, dry | 893.57 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
beans, green | 1.292 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
grape | 0.772 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
castor oil seed | 7$ | 1000 ha | 2019 |
groundnuts | 990 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
oil palm fruit | 5.518 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coconuts | 657.658 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cloves | 6.766 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
cocoa | 18.346 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sugar cane | 51.344 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
tobacco | 231.108 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
seed cotton | 420 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sisal | 43.22 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
pears | 0.894 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
plums | 0.85 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cashew nuts | 980.363 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
citrus fruits | 62.136 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
citrus fruits, nes | 18.387 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bananas | 302.758 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
mangoes | 33.748 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
Forests-Livestock-Fishing
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
timber | 27 910 341 | m³ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cattle | 27 821.063 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
cattle and buffaloes | 27 821.063 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
pigs | 523.563 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sheep | 8 291.176 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
goats | 18 918.816 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
asses | 187.885 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
asses and mules | 187.885 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
birds | 39 831 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
honey | 30.937 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
butter | 40.413 | 1000 t | 2018 |
cheese | 16.678 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
crustaceans and molluscs | 14 563.4 | t | 2019 |
freshwater fishes | 400 560.12 | t | 2019 |
Minerals
Secondary and tertiary sector
Minerals.
There are mines extracting gold (at Geita, Lupa near Mbeya, Saragura, Kahama, Buhemba and near Lake Victoria), coal (at Kiwira) and bauxite. Sea salt (in Dar es Salaam), spring water salt (at Uvinza), diamonds (at Mwadui-Luhombo, in the Shinyanga area), gems (at Arusha) and phosphates (at Minjingu) are produced. Off the coast of the island of Songo-Songo, natural gas is extracted (the project has been funded by the World Bank).
Energy and industry.
About one third of the electric energy produced is from hydropower sources; the power stations of Kidatu and Kihansi are exceptionally important. The main activities in the secondary sector concern the processing of sugar, beer, tobacco and rubber and the manufacturing of textiles and paper. There are also a refinery (Dar es Salaam), chemical plants (nitrogenous fertilizers in Dar es Salaam and Tanga), cement works (Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Kilwa Masoko, Mbeya, Mtwara) and plants for the distillation of clove oil. An oil pipeline links Dar es Salaam to the Ndola refinery in Zambia.
Foreign trade.
The country exports agricultural products (coffee, cotton, tobacco, peanuts, tea, pyrethrum, cloves and cocoa) and minerals (gold and diamonds) and imports industrial machinery, motor vehicles, oil and consumer goods.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coal | 713 | 1000 t | 2019 |
coal, total | 713 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bauxite | 10$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
copper | 10$ | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
graphite | 0.15 | 1000 t | 2020 |
gypsum | 256.5 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
kaolin | 15.3 | 1000 t | 2019 |
marble - t | 11$ | 1000 t | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
diamonds | 300 | 1000 ct | 2020 |
diamonds, industrial - ct | 58$ | 1000 ct | 2018 |
Energy
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 4 545.84 | M kWh | 2018 |
- hydro | 2 211.66 | M kWh | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 829 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
- hydro | 583 | 1000 kW | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
total net generation | 6 917.5 | M kWh | 2018 |
total installed capacity | 1 507.62 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
Industry
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
steel, crude | 266 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
soap | 152.6 | 1000 t | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cotton fabrics | 8.3 | M m² | 2015 |
cotton yarn | 4.7 | 1000 t | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beer of barley | 450 | 1000 t | 2018 |
coconut oil | 13.2 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cigarettes | 8 369 | M units | 2019 |
cigars and cigarettes | 8 369 | M units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
chemical pulp | 44$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
chemi-mechanical pulp | 56$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cement | 6 514 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
chemicals production | 193.527 | M US$ | 2018 |
food, beverages and tobacco production | 3 101.751 | M US$ | 2018 |
Trade
Principali esportazioni
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
manufactures | 73.658 | % of goods exports | 2018 |
food products | 21.903 | % of goods exports | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Rwanda | 686 | M US$ | 2018 |
Kenya | 339 | M US$ | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
China | 1 771 | M US$ | 2018 |
India | 1 223 | M US$ | 2018 |
Tourism
Tourism. Tourism is constantly expanding, attracting visitors to the beaches of the island of Zanzibar and the national parks (of Kilimanjaro, Serengeti, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro).
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenditures | 738.2 | M US$ | 2019 |
Number of arrivals | 1 443 000 | units | 2019 |
Communications
Transport.
Navigation routes over the major lakes are extremely important. The railway between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma and the connection with Uganda and Rwanda are being renovated.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Civil aviation, km flown | 4 700 000 | km flown | 2004 |
Civil aviation, passengers carried | 1 498.1 | 1000 units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Broadband subscribers | 17.923 | per 1000 pop. | 2019 |
Computers | 9.1 | per 1000 pop. | 2005 |
Social and welfare
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expected years of schooling | 9.117 | years | 2019 |
Gross enrolment ratio, primary - Female | 99.905 | index | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Students, primary level | 10 605 430 | units | 2019 |
Students, secondary level | 2 338 457 | units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Hospital beds | 1.4 | per 1000 pop. | 2019 |
Physicians | 0.01 | per 1000 pop. | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
HIV | 4.8 | % of adults | 2019 |
HIV, total | 5.3 | % | 2003-04 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Research and development spending | 0.53 | % of GDP | 2013 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking | 4.3 | % | 2019 |
Access to electricity | 37.7 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
clothing, footwear | 6.7 | % | 2011-12 |
education | 1.9 | % | 2011-12 |