Tanzania (GPS: 6 00 S, 35 00 E) located in Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique. The country’s area measurements are total: 947,300 sq km; land: 885,800 sq km, water: 61,500 sq km. This sovereign state is more than six times the size of Georgia, slightly larger than twice the size of California. The total irrigated land is 1,840 sq km (2012).
One of Tanzania’s important features: Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa and one of only three mountain ranges on the continent that has glaciers (the others are Mount Kenya and the Ruwenzori Mountains). 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 southwestimate.
It’s significant, and at the same time, the principal city, Dodoma’s GPS coordinates are 6 48 S 39 17 E. Dodoma’s local time is 8 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time. The capital’s time difference: UTC+3.
Shortly after achieving independence from Britain in the early 1960s, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the United Republic of Tanzania in 1964. In 1995, the country held its first democratic elections since the 1970s. Zanzibar maintains semi-autonomy and participates in national elections; Popular political opposition on the isles led to four contentious elections since 1995. The ruling party claimed victory despite international observer’s voting irregularities.
Tanzania’s names conventional long form: the 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. Note: the country’s name is a combination of Tanganyika and Zanzibar’s first letters, the two states that merged to form Tanzania in 1964. The country’s name is a combination of Tanganyika and Zanzibar’s first letters, the two states that merged to form Tanzania in 1964.
Tanzania’s terrain is typically plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south. The country’s mean elevation: 1,018 m, elevation extremes; lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m, highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m.
The general climate in the country; varies from tropical along the coast to temperate in highlands.
The total number of border countries is 8, Burundi 589 km, the 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 are the neighboring nations with the indicated border lengths. Tanzania’s coastline is 1,424 km, while its marital claims are: territorial sea: 12 nautical miles, exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles. Waterways: (Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) are the principal avenues of commerce with neighboring countries; the rivers are not navigable) (2011). Land use: agricultural land: 43.7%; arable land 14.3%; permanent crops 2.3%; permanent pasture 27.1%; forest: 37.3%; other: 19% (2011 estimate).
The population in Tanzania 55,451,343 (July 2018 estimate), urban population: 31.6% of total population (2015), major urban area’s population: DAR ES SALAAM (capital) 5.116 million; Mwanza 838,000 (2015), while Tanzania has N/A. Their spoken languages are Kiswahili or Swahili (official language), Kiunguja (the name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official language, the 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. Main religions in Tanzania are Christian 61.4%, Muslim 35.2%, folk religion 1.8%, other 0.2%, unaffiliated 1.4%note: Zanzibar is almost entirely Muslim (2010 estimate). The nation uses English common law; judicial review of legislative acts is limited to interpretation matters. It is a(n) presidential republic, National holiday(s) Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964).
Economic overview for the country: Tanzania has achieved high growth rates based on its vast natural resource wealth and tourism, with GDP growth in 2009-2017 averaging 6%-7% per year. Dar es Salaam used fiscal stimulus measures and easier monetary policies to lessen the impact of the global recession and, in general, benefited from low oil prices. Tanzania has largely completed its transition to a market economy, though the government retains a presence in telecommunications, banking, energy, and mining. The economy depends on agriculture, which accounts for slightly less than one-quarter of GDP and employs about 65% of the workforce. However, gold production in recent years has increased to about 35% of exports.
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. Tanzania’s financial sector 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. Banking reforms have helped increase private-sector growth and investment. The World Bank, the IMF, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania’s aging infrastructure, including rail and port, which provide important trade links for inland countries.
In 2013, Tanzania completed the world’s largest Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) grant, worth $698 million. Still, in late 2015, the MCC Board of Directors deferred a decision to renew Tanzania’s eligibility because of irregularities in voting in Zanzibar and concerns over the government’s use of a controversial cybercrime bill. The new government elected in 2015 has developed an ambitious development agenda focused on creating a better business environment through improved infrastructure, access to financing, and education progress, but implementing budgets remains challenging for the government. Recent policy moves by President MAGUFULI are aimed at protecting the domestic industry and have caused concern among foreign investors.
Natural resources of Tanzania: hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel.
Main export partners for Tanzania, Africa are India 21.4%, China 8.1%, Japan 5.1%, Kenya 4.6%, Belgium 4.3% (2015) for gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton, while the main import partners for the country are: China 34.6%, India 13.5%, South Africa 4.7%, UAE 4.4%, Kenya 4.1% (2015) for consumer goods, machinery and transportation equipment, industrial raw materials, crude oil.
When you visit this country in Africa, consider the natural hazards in Tanzania: Flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season, drought volcanism: limited volcanic activity, Ol Doinyo Lengai (elevation 2,962 m) has emitted lava in recent years, other historically active volcanoes include Kieyo and Meru, while infectious diseases are a 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 (2016).
Also, note that Tanzania faces the following environmental issues: Water pollution, Improper management of liquid waste, Indoor air pollution caused by the burning of fuelwood or charcoal for cooking and heating is a large environmental health issue, Soil degradation, Deforestation, Desertification, Destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats, wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory, Loss of biodiversity, Solid waste disposal.
You may also be interested in the countries next to Tanzania around its total: 4,161 km border, like Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia.
