Facts about Tanzania

About Tanzania

Tanzania is an country known for its vast wilderness areas. They include the plains of Serengeti National Park, a spectacular safari destination worldly known by its World Largest Mammal Migration and the vast population of the “big five” (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and rhino). It also include Ngorongoro crater, a sanctuary of natural life where different and diverse species living and completing in a closed ecosystem in one crater floor. Tanzania go far by hosting the Africa tallest mountain known as “The Mountain of Greatness”, “The Kilimanjaro Mountain”

Great Migration Event

Migration

The migration popularly known as “The Great Migration” comprises of over 2 millions of wildebeest, 500,000 zebras and nearly 200,000 Thomson Gazelles moving to and from Masai mara game reserve in Kenya and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania searching for waters and food(pastures).

Major Events

This is a natural calendar and therefore we do not expect to be perfect as stated here. We are just giving the round estimate of whereabouts at the stated time or nearby that time.

January – February

In January and most of February at Ndutu areas we experience the greatest events where by new baby are born in thousand numbers.

August – September

In August and September each year we have Mara River crossing (a never miss event because wildebeest and hungry crocodiles meet in a what other call “Crocodiles Feast). These are one of the Largest Crocodiles in the world where they fed to death the large number of wildebeest crossing the river whereby other are dying and other are caught alive and eaten by crocodiles.

December

In December again we have the same event at merely the same place.

Largest Caldera on the Planet

Ngorongoro crater within Ngorongoro conservation area is another World wonders where dangerous animals like Lion, Elephants, Leopard, and Buffaloes live with human being, The Masai Tribe). The crater is the world largest unbroken, unfolded and unflooded caldera hosting millions of varied species in a single crater floor. That mean they form a complete closed ecosystem where by predators like Lion, Leopard and others do not go out the crater and hence they do not need to eat humans. Milions of tourist each year visit this unique sanctuary of wildlife and other creations to witness the wonders of nature.

The Africa’s Tallest Mountain, The Kilimanjaro

The country is also worldwide know by hosting Mount Kilimanjaro, The Africa’s highest mountain and the world highest free standing peak.

Stunning Beaches of Zanzibar

Zanzibar is is also known as “Spices Island” is the tropical islands, a Tanzanian archipelago, 25–50 kilometres (16–31 mi) off the coast of the mainland, and consist of many small islands and two large ones: Unguja (the main island, referred to informally as Zanzibar) and Pemba. The capital is Zanzibar City, located on Unguja island, the historic centre is Stone Town, which is a World Heritage Site.

Zanzibar’s main economic activities are spices, raffia, and tourism businesses. Specifically, the islands main products are cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and black pepper. Thus, the islands, collectively with  Mafia Island, are sometimes called the Spice Islands. Zanzibar is the home to the widespread Zanzibar red colobus monkey, the Zanzibar servaline genet, and the (possibly extinct) Zanzibar leopard.

Major Facts

These facts are collection of information assembled to help those in a hurry to get a quick picture about Tanzania in simple data format.

The data are derived from different sources which include

  1. Wikipedia directory,
  2. unstats.un.org,
  3. Transparency Organization Website,
  4. National Bureau of Statistics Tanzania – NBS,
  5. reports.weforum.org
  6. plus many other anonymous sources.

Borders of Tanzania:

  • Total border mileage: 3,861 km countries; Burundi 451 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 459 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km

Languages of Tanzanians:

  • Kiswahili (most spoken language, a code or means of communication for normal life)
  • English (used in teaching secondary to universities, also used as an official language in many government and private offices)
  • Tribal languages about 125 of them

Main Food of Tanzanians:

  • Stiff Porridge with beans
  • Other main foods are cooked rice, bananas, potatoes, cassava served with beans, beef, fishes etc

Means of Transportation:

  • Railways – Tanzania Railways Limited (TRL). TAZARA owned by Tanzania and Zambia offering transport from Dar to Lusaka Zambia serving the cities along the railway
  • Waters – Transport available in Indian ocean and Lakes like Victoria, Tanganyika, Nyasa etc. Major harbours are habour and minor one in Mtwara and Tanga
  • Air: Air Tanzania (Government Owned), Precision Air and FastJet (Privately owned). Major International Airports are Julius Nyerere International Airport and Kilimanjaro International Airport
  • Road – a lot of private buses are available within the country major cities like Dar – Arusha, Dar – Mbeya, Dar –Moshi, Dar – Mwanza and vice versa. Also trips outside the country available like Tanzania – Kenya, Tanzania –Uganda, Tanzania –Zambia to South Africa and vice versa. The major bus stand is Ubungo Terminal in Ubungo, Dar

Main Markets and Supermarkets:

  • Kariakoo – The largest market in Tanzania
  • Nakumat Suppermarket, foreigned owned in Arusha, Moshi and Dar
  • Imalaseko Supermarket, Mwanza and Dar
  • Ali Supermarket, Dodoma
  • Dallars Supermarket, Moshi
  • Highway Supermarket, Moshi
  • International Supermarket Ltd Zanzibar
  • Kijenge Self Service Supermarket, Arusha
  • Laidon Mini Supermarket , Kilimanjaro
  • Migoz Supermarket, Airport Road, Zanzibar
  • Oysterbay Mini Supermarket, Dar Es Salaam
  • Protein Supermarket, Zanzibar
  • Rubby Supermarket, Arusha
  • Rushda Supermarket, Arusha
  • S. S. Supermarket Ltd, Dar Es Salaam
  • D. Supermarket, Tanga
  • Score Supermarket (t) Ltd , Dar Es Salaam
  • Self Service Supermarket, Dar Es Salaam
  • Shoppers supermarket Ltd, Dar Es Salaam
  • Shrijee`s Supermarket, Dar Es Salaam
  • Shrijees Supermarket, Dar Es Salaam
  • Site Self Service Supermarket, Dar Es Salaam
  • The Village Supermarket , Dar es salaam,
  • Uchumi Supermarket , Dar es salaam
  • Yashnas Mini Supermarket, Dodoma

Main Banks of Tanzania:

  1. CRDB own major market share
  2. NMB – (National Microfinance Bank)
  3. NBC – National Bank Of Commerce (Tanzania)
  4. Standard Chartered Tanzania
  5. Stanbic Bank
  6. Exim Bank (Tanzania)
  7. Azania Bank
  8. Akiba Commercial Bank
  9. Amana Bank
  10. Bank M
  11. Dar es salaam Community Bank
  12. Peoples’ Bank of Zanzibar
  13. Commercial Bank of Africa (Tanzania)
  14. Mkombozi Commercial Bank
  15. TIB Development Bank
  16. Tanzania Women Bank Limited

Click here to download more banks complete list of Bank detail

Main Religious in Tanzania:

  • Christianity (65% not official)
  • Islam (25% not official)
  • Others (10% not official)

Coastline Length:

  • 1,424 km

Elevation Extremes:

  • Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m,
  • Highest point: Kilimanjaro Uhuru Peak at 5,895 m

Tourist Destinations and Attractions:

  • Destinations: Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Dar es salaam, Mafia, Bagamoyo, Zanzibar, Pemba
  • Major attractions: Mount Kilimanjaro, Wildebeest migration in Serengeti, Big five in Ngorongoro crater,  Slave trade in Bagamoyo, Beaches in Zanzibar.
  • Cultural tourism: Visit Masai boma in Longido, Engaruka, Ngorongor, and bushmen (Hadsabe) tour in Lake Natron and Lake Eyasi both in Arusha

Environment Current Issues:

  • 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

Environment International Agreements:

  • 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

Fresh Waters Relative Coverage in Africa:

  • 80%

Geographical Coverage:

  • 947,300 sq km (land: 885,800 sq km, water: 61,500 sq km includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar)

Tanzania GDP (2010):

  • $23.06 billion

Open Budget Index (2010):

  • Some,
  • Score 45/100

Infant Mortality Rate (Per 1,000 Live Births – 2010):

  • 50

Life Expectancy:

  • 60.85 years (2012)

Literacy Rate (2009):

  • 72.9%

Govern Transparency Index:

Corruption Perceptions Index (2015):

  • 117/168,
  • Score 30/100

Control of Corruption (2010):

  • 30%

Global Competitiveness Index (2012-2013):

  • Rank: 120 /142,
  • Score: 3.60 /7

Human Development Index (2011):

  • Rank: 152 /187,
  • Score: 0.466
  • Human Development: Low

Rule of Law in Tanzania (2010):

  • Percentile Rank: 36%
  • Score: -0.511704621

Press Freedom Index (2011-2012):

  • Rank: 34 /179
  • Score: 6.00

Voice and Accountability (2010):

  • Percentile Rank: 46 %
  • Score: -0.09658169

Judicial Independence (2011-2012):

  • Rank: 75 /142
  • Score: 3.6 /7

Growth Rate:

  • 2.6% 2012 Census),

Highest Mountain:

  • Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa and one of only two mountains on the continent that has glaciers (the other is Mount Kenya)

Human Rights Compliance:

Major human rights violation include

  • Killing of people with albinism
  • Killing of elders in Lake zone
  • Freedom of expression, access to information and press freedom
  • Freedom of assembly
  • Biased Elections
  • Death Penalty
  • Poverty make a large number of Tanzanians failed to access major public services like education and medical

Income per Capital by 2015 est:

  • Position worldwide: 191/229
  • Per capita: $2,900

Irrigated Land:

  • 1,840 sq km (2003)

Lakes of Tanzania:

  • 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

Literacy Levels:

  • Total population: 70.6%
  • Male: 75.9%
  • Female: 65.4% (2015 est.)

Maritime Claims: :

  • Territorial sea: 12 nm, exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Mining Resources Index:

Mountains of Tanzania:

  • Mount Kilimanjaro, 19,334 ft / 5,893 m. It has about 134 summits in Moshi, Tanzania
  • Mount Meru, 14,977 ft / 4,565 m. It has about 7 summits , in Arusha, Tanzania

Natural Hazards:

  • Flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season;
  • Drought during dry season from July to March wach year
  • Volcanism: limited volcanic activity; Ol Doinyo Lengai (elev. 2,962 m) has emitted lava in recent years; other historically active
  • Earthquakes in Great Rift Valley from North Tanzania, to West via Central Tanzania

Natural Resources:

  • Hydro-power in Mtera, Dodoma, Lower Kihansi, Kilombero Tanzania, Nyumba ya Mungu, Mwanga, Tanzania
  • Rare Earth Minerals
  • Gold
  • Iron Ore
  • Copper
  • Diamonds
  • Uranium
  • Graphite
  • Nickel
  • Phosphates
  • Coal
  • Tanzanite, other gemstones are ruby, tourmaline, green garnet etc),
  • Natural gas,
  • Wood and timber
  • Wildlife

Political Sensitivity:

  • Moderate

Population by 2015:

  • Overall: 54 308 045
  • Rural: 30%
  • Urban: 70%

Population Living Under USD 1.25 /day:

  • 43.5% by 2012

Religious Sensitivity:

  • Moderate

Country Relative Size

  • Slightly larger than twice the size of California

Arable Land:

  • 80%

Tanzania Climate:

  • Varies from tropical along coast to temperate in Nothern and Southern highlands of Mbeya and Arusha

Terrains of Tanzania:

  • Plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south

Tourism Attraction and Earning Index:

  • 93/141 worldwide
  • 5/33 in Africa

Tribes of Tanzania:

  • 125 (Approximate figures)

World Economy index ranking by 2016:

  • 75th World largest economy by USD 150.6 billion next after Kenya at 74th position worthy USD 152.7 billion
  • 9th Largest economy in Africa
  1. Egypt: $1.105 trillion (up 5.2%)
  2. Nigeria: $1.089 trillion (down -0.5%)
  3. South Africa: $736.3 billion (up 1.4%)
  4. Algeria: $609.4 billion (up 4.9%)
  5. Morocco: $282.8 billion (up 3.2%)
  6. Angola: $187.3 billion (up 1.3%)
  7. Ethiopia: $174.7 billion (up 7.9%)
  8. Kenya: $152.7 billion (up 7.4%)
  9. Tanzania: $150.6 billion (up 8.6%)

World Population Index Ranking:

  • 24th world largest state population wise
  • 5 largest in Africa after Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and DR Congo
  • 1st Largest in East Africa

Tanzania Population Estimation from 1951 to 2025

Tanzania population history

Year Population Growth Rate
1951 7 748 535 N/A %
1952 7 951 607 2.62 %
1953 8 165 329 2.69 %
1954 8 388 983 2.74 %
1955 8 622 101 2.78 %
1956 8 864 475 2.81 %
1957 9 116 153 2.84 %
1958 9 377 421 2.87 %
1959 9 648 760 2.89 %
1960 9 930 755 2.92 %
1961 10 223 935 2.95 %
1962 10 528 634 2.98 %
1963 10 844 885 3.00 %
1964 11 172 479 3.02 %
1965 11 511 294 3.03 %
1966 11 861 199 3.04 %
1967 12 222 463 3.05 %
1968 12 596 767 3.06 %
1969 12 987 027 3.10 %
1970 13 396 032 3.15 %
1971 13 825 631 3.21 %
1972 14 276 127 3.26 %
1973 14 745 735 3.29 %
1974 15 231 064 3.29 %
1975 15 728 710 3.27 %
1976 16 236 850 3.23 %
1977 16 755 724 3.20 %
1978 17 287 081 3.17 %
1979 17 833 569 3.16 %
1980 18 397 942 3.16 %
1981 18 982 218 3.18 %
1982 19 587 110 3.19 %
1983 20 211 571 3.19 %
1984 20 853 272 3.17 %
1985 21 510 083 3.15 %
1986 22 179 448 3.11 %
1987 22 860 498 3.07 %
1988 23 559 519 3.06 %
1989 24 289 068 3.10 %
1990 25 060 746 3.18 %
1991 25 882 845 3.28 %
1992 26 755 674 3.37 %
1993 27 663 332 3.39 %
1994 28 576 544 3.30 %
1995 29 466 809 3.12 %
1996 30 318 633 2.89 %
1997 31 133 859 2.69 %
1998 31 928 867 2.55 %
1999 32 729 617 2.51 %
2000 33 563 436 2.55 %
2001 34 445 326 2.63 %
2002 35 377 271 2.71 %
2003 36 360 854 2.78 %
2004 37 400 781 2.86 %
2005 38 500 467 2.94 %
2006 39 663 224 3.02 %
2007 40 891 426 3.10 %
2008 42 183 374 3.16 %
2009 43 533 429 3.20 %
2010 44 935 319 3.22 %
2011 46 385 762 3.23 %
2012 47 884 354 3.23 %
2013 49 429 583 3.23 %
2014 51 018 039 3.21 %
2015 52 646 521 3.19 %
2016 54 308 045 3.16 %

Forecasted Population Size to 2050

2020 62,267,349 3.09 %
2025 72,032,837 2.96 %
2030 82,927,172 2.86 %
2035 95,004,550 2.76 %
2040 108,174,443 2.63 %
2045 122,259,045 2.48 %
2050 137,135,916 2.32 %