TOTAL AREA: 945,090 sq km (364,427 sq mi); LAND AREA: 886,040 sq km (341,687 sq mi)
COMPARATIVE AREA: slightly larger than twice the size of California
LAND BOUNDARIES: 3,402 km (2,113 mi) total; Burundi 451 km (211 mi), Kenya 769 km (478 mi), Malawi 475 km (295 mi), Mozambique 756 km (470 mi), Rwanda 217 km (134 mi), Uganda 396 km (246 mi), Zambia 338 km (210 mi)
COASTLINE: 1,424 km (885 km)
MARITIME CLAIM:
TERRITORIAL SEA: 12 nm
DISPUTES: maritime boundary dispute with Malawi in Lake Nyasa; Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika is indefinite pending settlement of the Zaire-Zambia boundary
CLIMATE: varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands
TERRAIN: plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south
ETHNIC DIVISIONS: mainland--99% native African consisting of well over 100 tribes; 1% Asian, European, and Arab
RELIGION: mainland--33% Christian, 33% Muslim, 33% indigenous beliefs; Zanzibar--almost all Muslim
LANGUAGE: Swahili and English (official); English primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education; Swahili widely understood and generally used for communication between ethnic groups; first language of most people is one of the local languages; primary education is generally in Swahili
LITERACY: 79%
LABOR FORCE: 732,200 wage earners; 90% agriculture, 10% industry and commerce (1986 est.)
ORGANIZED LABOR: 15% of labor force
.GOVERNMENT OF TANZANIA
LONG-FORM NAME: United Republic of Tanzania
TYPE: republic
CAPITAL: Dar es Salaam; some government offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which is planned as the new national capital in the 1990s
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS: 25 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Singida, Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzibar North, Zanzibar Urban/West, Ziwa Magharibi
INDEPENDENCE: Tanganyika became independent 9 December 1961 (from UN trusteeship under British administration); 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
CONSTITUTION: 15 March 1984 (Zanzibar has its own Constitution but remains subject to provisions of the union Constitution)
LEGAL SYSTEM: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
NATIONAL HOLIDAY: Union Day, 26 April (1964)
BRANCHES: President Ali Hassan Mwinyi has executive authority on the mainland--government policies are subject to validation by the party, which is technically superior to the government; National Assembly members all of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (Revolutionary Party); National Assembly consists of 233 members, 72 from Zanzibar, of whom 10 are directly elected, 65 appointed from the mainland, and 96 directly elected from the mainland
CHIEF OF STATE: Ali Hassan MWINYI, President (since November 1985)
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT: Joseph Sinde WARIOBA, Prime Minister (since November 1985); Julius NYERERE, Party Chairman
SUFFRAGE: universal at age 18
ELECTIONS: presidential election scheduled for 1990
POLITICAL PARTY AND LEADER: Chama Cha Mapinduzi (Revolutionary Party) is the only political party and has considerable power over domestic policies; Julius Nyerere is the Party Chairman
VOTING STRENGTH: (October 1985 national elections) about 7,000,000 registered voters; Mwinyi received 92.2% of over 5,000,000 votes cast
DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION: Ambassador Asterius M. HYERA; Chancery at 2139 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 939-6125
U.S. FOREIGN SERVICE POST: Ambassador Donald K. PETTERSON; Embassy at 36 Laibon Road (off Bagamoyo Road), Dar es Salaam (mailing address is P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam); telephone 504
FLAG: 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
.ECONOMY OF TANZANIA
OVERVIEW: Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for about 40% of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 90% of the work force. Recurring drought has added to poor economic performance by reducing food production and increasing the cost of imports. Industry accounts for about 10% of GDP and is limited to processing farm products and light consumer goods. The economic recovery program announced in mid-1986 has produced some positive results. Most notable are a major currency devaluation (November 1988), incentives for private investment, reduction in the inflation rate, and the willingness of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to provide credits.
GDP: $4.96 billion, per capita $258; real growth rate 3.9% (FY87)
INFLATION RATE (CONSUMER PRICES): 29.9% (1987)
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: NA%
BUDGET: revenues $892 million; expenditures $1,017 million, including capital expenditures of $359.5 million (FY85)
AGRICULTURE: cotton, coffee, sisal, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), vegetables, fruits, and grain on the mainland; cloves and coconuts on Zanzibar
RAILROADS: 3,555 km (2,207 mi) total; 960 km 1.067-meter gauge; 2,595 km 1.000-meter gauge, 6.4 km double track, 962 km Tazara Railroad 1.067-meter gauge; 115 km 1.000-meter gauge planned by end of decade
HIGHWAYS: total 81,900 km (50,859 mi); 3,600 km paved; 5,600 km gravel or crushed stone; remainder improved and unimproved earth
PIPELINES: 982 km (609 mi) crude oil
INLAND WATERWAYS: Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Lake Nyasa
PORTS: Dar es Salaam, Mtwara, Tanga, and Zanzibar are ocean ports; Mwanza on Lake Victoria and Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika are inland ports
MERCHANT MARINE: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 29,174 GRT/39,186 DWT; includes 2 passenger-cargo, 3 cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker
CIVIL AIR: 6 major transport aircraft
AIRPORTS: 101 total, 92 usable; 13 with permanent-surface runways; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 43 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
TELECOMMUNICATIONS: fair system of open wire, radio relay, and troposcatter; 103,800 telephones; stations--6 AM, no FM, 2 TV; 1 Indian Ocean satellite station
.DEFENSE FORCES OF TANZANIA
BRANCHES: Tanzanian People's Defense Force includes Army, Navy, and Air Force; paramilitary Police Field Force Unit; Militia
MILITARY MANPOWER: males 15-49, 5,184,262; 2,989,837 fit for military service
MILITARY BUDGET: NA
.TRAVEL IN TANZANIA
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Passport (valid at least 6 months beyond entry) and visa required. Visas for Mainland Tanzania are also valid for Zanzibar. Single-entry tourist visa valid for 6 months from date issued, for stay up to 30 days, $10.50. 1 photo and application required. Proof of sufficient funds and onward/return transportation required. Visitors must exchange $50 at the point of entry. Allow 1 month for visa processing. Enclose postage or prepaid envelope for return of passport by certified or registered mail. No personal checks accepted. Travelers with South African visa stamps in passport should apply for referred visa to enter Tanzania. Vaccination certificate not required unless arriving from an area infected with yellow fever or cholera.
HEALTH: Tapwater is not potable. Unwashed raw foods or undercooked meats are not safe to eat. Malarial suppresants are advised. Health requirements change; check latest information.
TOURIST OFFICE: Tanzania Tourist Corporation, P.O. Box 2485, Dar es Salaam; Tel 23491. Tanzania Tourist Office, New York 212-986- 7124.
WEATHER AND CLOTHING: Lightweight, tropical clothing is worn year round. Light jacket may be desired in cool season, Jun-Sep. Conservative styles are recommended.
TELEPHONE: When direct dialing to Tanzania from the U.S., dial 011 (international access code) + 255 [country code] + (city code) + local number.
TIME: 8 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time, and 3 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. No daylight savings time.
ELECTRIC CURRENT: 220V
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS: Zanzibar Revolutionary Day (Jan 12); Birth of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (Feb 5); Good Friday, Easter Monday (variable); Union Day (Apr 26); International Workers Day (May 1); Peasants Day (Jul 7); Id al-Fitr, Id al-Hajj, Maoloud (variable); Independence Day (Dec 9); Christmas Day (Dec 25).
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: In Dar es Salaam, the Village Museum, National Art Gallery, the National Museum, and nearby Kunduchi Ruins and Msasani Village. Zanzibar is a favorite attraction, while beaches, snorkeling and fishing are popular all along the coast. Inland is Arusha National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Moshi, Tarangire park, Lake Manyare National Park, the Serengeti Plains, Olduvai Gorge, and Mt. Kilimanjaro.
IMPORTANT!! All requirements/recommendations are subject to change. Be sure to check latest information.