Tanzania

Tanzania contains some of Africa’s most iconic national parks and famous paleoanthropological sites, and its diverse cultural heritage reflects the multiple ethnolinguistic groups that live in the country. Its long history of integration into trade networks spanning the Indian Ocean and the African interior led to the development of Swahili as a common language in much of east Africa and the introduction of Islam into the region. A number of independent coastal and island trading posts in what is now Tanzania came under Portuguese control after 1498 when they began to take control of much of the coast and Indian Ocean trade. By 1700, the Sultanate of Oman had become the dominant power in the region after ousting the Portuguese, who were also facing a series of local uprisings. During the next hundred years, Zanzibar — an archipelago off the coast that is now part of Tanzania — became a hub of Indian Ocean trade, with Arab and Indian traders establishing and consolidating trade routes with communities in mainland Tanzania that contributed to the expansion of the slave trade. Zanzibar briefly became the capital of the Sultanate of Oman before it split into separate Omani and Zanzibar Sultanates in 1856. Beginning in the mid-1800s, European explorers, traders, and Christian missionaries became more active in the region. The Germans eventually established control over mainland Tanzania — which they called Tanganyika — and the British established control over Zanzibar. Tanganyika came under British administration after the German defeat in World War I.

Tanganyika gained independence from Great Britain in 1961, and Zanzibar followed in 1963 as a constitutional monarchy. In Tanganyika, Julius NYERERE, a charismatic and idealistic socialist, established a one-party political system that centralized power and encouraged national self-reliance and rural development. In 1964, a popular uprising overthrew the Sultan in Zanzibar and either killed or expelled many of the Arabs and Indians who had dominated the isles for more than 200 years. Later that year, Tanganyika and Zanzibar combined to form the United Republic of Tanzania, but Zanzibar retained considerable autonomy. Their two ruling parties combined to form the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party in 1977, which has since won every presidential election. Tanzania held its first multi-party elections in 1995, but CCM candidates have continued to dominate politics. The ruling party has claimed victory in four contentious elections since 1995, despite international observers’ claims of voting irregularities. In 2001, 35 people died in Zanzibar when soldiers fired on protestors. John MAGUFULI won the 2015 and 2020 presidential elections, and the CCM won over two-thirds of the seats in Parliament in both elections. MAGUFULI died in 2021 while in office and was succeeded by his vice president, Samia Suluhu HASSAN.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

Geography

Location

Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique

Geographic coordinates

6 00 S, 35 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total : 947,300 sq km

land: 885,800 sq km

water: 61,500 sq km

note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar

comparison ranking: total 32

Area – comparative

more than six times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than twice the size of California

Land boundaries

total: 4,161 km

border countries (8): Burundi 589 km; 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

Coastline

1,424 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate

varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands

Terrain

plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south

Elevation

highest point: Kilimanjaro (highest point in Africa) 5,895 m

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 1,018 m

Natural resources

hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones (including tanzanite, found only in Tanzania), gold, natural gas, nickel

Land use

agricultural land: 44.6% (2022 est.)

arable land: 15.2% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 2.3% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 27.1% (2022 est.)

forest: 50.6% (2022 est.)

other: 4.8% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

1,840 sq km (2012)

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Lake Victoria (shared with Uganda and Kenya) – 62,940 sq km; Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Zambia) – 32,000 sq km; Lake Malawi (shared with Mozambique and Malawi) – 22,490

salt water lake(s): Lake Rukwa – 5,760 sq km

Major rivers (by length in km)

Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) – 6,650 km

note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)

Population distribution

the largest and most populous East African country; population distribution is extremely uneven, but greater population clusters occur in the northern half of country and along the east coast, as shown in this population distribution map

Natural hazards

flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought

volcanism: limited volcanic activity; Ol Doinyo Lengai (2,962 m) has emitted lava in recent years; other historically active volcanoes include Kieyo and Meru

Geography – note

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 in Kenya and the Ruwenzori Mountains on the Uganda-Democratic Republic of the Congo border); Tanzania is 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 southwest

People and Society

Population

total: 67,462,121 (2024 est.)

male: 33,691,904

female: 33,770,217

comparison rankings: total 23; female 23; male 22

Nationality

noun: Tanzanian(s)

adjective: Tanzanian

Ethnic groups

mainland – African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar – Arab, African, mixed Arab and African

Languages

Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic, many local languages

major-language sample(s):
The World Factbook, Chanzo cha Lazima Kuhusu Habari ya Msingi. (Kiswahili)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Kiswahili audio sample:

Religions

Christian 63.1%, Muslim 34.1%, folk religion 1.1%, Buddhist <1%, Hindu <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, unspecified 1.6% (2020 est.)

note: Zanzibar is almost entirely Muslim

Age structure

0-14 years: 41.2% (male 14,039,292/female 13,740,439)

15-64 years: 55.4% (male 18,677,388/female 18,708,390)

65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 975,224/female 1,321,388)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 82.5 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 76.8 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 5.7 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 17.5 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 19.1 years (2024 est.)

male: 18.8 years

female: 19.4 years

comparison ranking: total 214

Population growth rate

2.72% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 13

Birth rate

32.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 19

Death rate

5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 193

Net migration rate

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 120

Population distribution

Urbanization

urban population: 37.4% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 4.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas – population

262,000 Dodoma (legislative capital) (2018), 7.776 million DAR ES SALAAM (administrative capital), 1.311 million Mwanza, 800,000 Zanzibar (2023)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female

total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother’s mean age at first birth

19.9 years (2022 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 15-49

Maternal mortality ratio

238 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

comparison ranking: 38

Infant mortality rate

total: 29.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 32.3 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 26.9 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 51

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 70.8 years (2024 est.)

male: 69 years

female: 72.6 years

comparison ranking: total population 171

Total fertility rate

4.27 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 19

Gross reproduction rate

2.1 (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

38.4% (2015/16)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 95.1% of population

rural: 59.4% of population

total: 72% of population

unimproved:

urban: 4.9% of population

rural: 40.6% of population

total: 28% of population (2020 est.)

Health expenditure

3.4% of GDP (2021)

5.1% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.13 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

0.6 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 89.4% of population

rural: 29.2% of population

total: 50.4% of population

unimproved:

urban: 10.6% of population

rural: 70.8% of population

total: 49.6% of population (2020 est.)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

8.4% (2016)

comparison ranking: 152

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 7.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 0.74 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 6.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

comparison ranking: total 46

Tobacco use

total: 6.5% (2025 est.)

male: 11.3% (2025 est.)

female: 2% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 153

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

12.1% (2022)

comparison ranking: 39

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

59.5% (2023 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 5.2% (2022)

women married by age 18: 29.1% (2022)

men married by age 18: 3.5% (2022)

Education expenditure

3.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

13.4% national budget (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 141

Literacy

total population: 78% (2015 est.)

male: 83% (2015 est.)

female: 73% (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years

male: 9 years

female: 9 years (2021)

Environment

Environment – current issues

water pollution; improper management of liquid waste; indoor air pollution from burning wood or charcoal for cooking and heating; soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; coral reef destruction; illegal hunting and animal trade, especially ivory; loss of biodiversity; solid waste disposal

Environment – international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Climate

varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands

Land use

Urbanization

urban population: 37.4% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 4.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 15.36 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 11.97 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 59.08 megatons (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 9,276,995 tons (2012 est.)

Major lakes (area sq km)

Major rivers (by length in km)

Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) – 6,650 km

note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 530 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 30 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 4.63 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources

96.3 billion cubic meters (2019 est.)

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 1

global geoparks and regional networks: Ngorongoro Lengai (2023)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania

conventional short form: Tanzania

local long form: Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania

local short form: Tanzania

former: German East Africa, Trust Territory of Tanganyika, Republic of Tanganyika, People’s Republic of Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar

etymology: the country’s name is a combination of the first letters of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, the two states that merged to form Tanzania in 1964

Government type

presidential republic

Capital

name: Dodoma

geographic coordinates: 6 48 S, 39 17 E

time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: the name comes from the name of a nearby mountain; the origin of the mountain’s name is unclear

Administrative divisions

31 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Geita, Iringa, Kagera, Kaskazini Pemba (Pemba North), Kaskazini Unguja (Zanzibar North), Katavi, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Kusini Pemba (Pemba South), Kusini Unguja (Zanzibar Central/South), Lindi, Manyara, Mara, Mbeya, Mjini Magharibi (Zanzibar Urban/West), Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Njombe, Pwani (Coast), Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Simiyu, Singida, Songwe, Tabora, Tanga

Legal system

English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation

Constitution

history: several previous; latest adopted 25 April 1977

amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments to constitutional articles including those on sovereignty of the United Republic, the authorities and powers of the government, the president, the Assembly, and the High Court requires two-thirds majority vote of the mainland Assembly membership and of the Zanzibar House of Representatives membership; House of Representatives approval of other amendments is not required

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Tanzania; if a child is born abroad, the father must be a citizen of Tanzania

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Samia Suluhu HASSAN (since 19 March 2021)

head of government: President Samia Suluhu HASSAN (since 19 March 2021)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly

election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president

most recent election date: 28 October 2020

election results:
2020: John MAGUFULI reelected president; percent of vote – John MAGUFULI (CCM) 84.4%, Tundu LISSU (CHADEMA) 13%, other 2.6%

2015: John MAGUFULI elected president; percent of vote – John MAGUFULI (CCM) 58.5%, Edward LOWASSA (CHADEMA) 40%, other 1.5%

expected date of next election: October 2025

note 1: Zanzibar elects a president as head of government for internal matters; election held on 28 October 2020; Hussein MWINYI (CCM) 76.3%, Maalim Seif SHARIF (ACT-Wazalendo) 19.9%, other 3.8%

note 2: the president is both chief of state and head of government

note 3: after the death of President John MAGUFULI in March 2021, Vice President Samia Suluhu HASSAN assumed the presidency

Legislative branch

legislature name: National Assembly (Bunge)

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 393 (264 directly elected; 118 indirectly elected; 10 appointed)

electoral system: plurality/majority

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 5 years

most recent election date: 10/28/2020

parties elected and seats per party: Revolutionary Party of Tanzania (CCM) (350); Chadema (Party for Democracy and Development) (20); Other (7)

percentage of women in chamber: 37.8%

expected date of next election: October 2025

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Court of Appeal of the United Republic of Tanzania (consists of the chief justice and 14 justices); High Court of the United Republic for Mainland Tanzania (consists of the principal judge and 30 judges organized into commercial, land, and labor courts); High Court of Zanzibar (consists of the chief justice and 10 justices)

judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and High Court justices appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission for Tanzania, a judicial body of high-level judges and 2 members appointed by the national president; Court of Appeal and High Court judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 60, but terms can be extended; High Court of Zanzibar judges appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Commission of Zanzibar; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65

subordinate courts: Resident Magistrates Courts; Kadhi courts (for Islamic family matters); district and primary courts

Political parties

Alliance for Change and Transparency (Wazalendo) or ACT-Wazalendo
Civic United Front (Chama Cha Wananchi) or CUF
Party of Democracy and Development (Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo) or CHADEMA
Revolutionary Party of Tanzania (Chama Cha Mapinduzi) or CCM

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Elsie Sia KANZA (since 1 December 2021)

chancery: 1232 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037

telephone: [1] (202) 884-1080

FAX: [1] (202) 797-7408

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://us.tzembassy.go.tz/

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Andrew LENTZ (since January 2025)

embassy: 686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani, P.O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam

mailing address: 2140 Dar es Salaam Place, Washington, DC 20521-2140

telephone: [255] (22) 229-4000

FAX: [255] (22) 229-4721

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://tz.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, EAC, EADB, EITI, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

26 April 1964 (Tanganyika united with Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar); 29 October 1964 (renamed United Republic of Tanzania); notable earlier dates: 9 December 1961 (Tanganyika became independent from UK-administered UN trusteeship); 10 December 1963 (Zanzibar became independent from UK)

National holiday

Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964)

Flag description

divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green, and the lower is blue; combines colors from the flags of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; green stands for natural vegetation, gold for rich mineral deposits, black for the Swahili people, and blue for lakes and rivers, as well as the Indian Ocean

National symbol(s)

Uhuru (freedom) torch, giraffe

National color(s)

green, yellow, blue, black

National anthem

name: “Mungu ibariki Afrika” (God Bless Africa)

lyrics/music: collective/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA

note: adopted 1961; the anthem, which is also a popular song in Africa, shares the same melody with that of Zambia but has different lyrics; the melody is also incorporated into South Africa’s anthem

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 7 (3 cultural, 3 natural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Ngorongoro Conservation Area (m); Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara (c); Serengeti National Park (n); Selous Game Reserve (n); Kilimanjaro National Park (n); Stone Town of Zanzibar (c); Kondoa Rock-Art Sites (c)

Economy

Economic overview

emerging lower middle-income East African economy; resource-rich and growing tourism; strong post-pandemic recovery from hospitality, electricity, mining, and transit sectors; declining poverty; stable inflation; gender-based violence economic and labor force disruptions

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$233.786 billion (2023 est.)
$222.506 billion (2022 est.)
$212.79 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 70

Real GDP growth rate

5.07% (2023 est.)
4.57% (2022 est.)
4.32% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 49

Real GDP per capita

$3,600 (2023 est.)
$3,500 (2022 est.)
$3,500 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 190

GDP (official exchange rate)

$79.062 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.1% (2024 est.)
3.8% (2023 est.)
4.4% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 102

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 23.7% (2023 est.)

industry: 28% (2023 est.)

services: 28.7% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

comparison rankings: services 211; industry 74; agriculture 23

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 54.1% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 8.8% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 42.7% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: -1.7% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 17.2% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -21% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas, milk, sugarcane, rice, vegetables, beans, sunflower seeds (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine); mining (diamonds, gold, and iron), salt, soda ash; cement, oil refining, shoes, apparel, wood products, fertilizer

Industrial production growth rate

4.8% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 54

Labor force

32.983 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

comparison ranking: 21

Unemployment rate

2.6% (2024 est.)
2.6% (2023 est.)
2.6% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 30

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 3.3% (2024 est.)

male: 2.6% (2024 est.)

female: 4.2% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

comparison ranking: total 188

Population below poverty line

26.4% (2018 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

40.5 (2018 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

comparison ranking: 43

Average household expenditures

on food: 26.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 1.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9% (2018 est.)

highest 10%: 33.1% (2018 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

0.96% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.93% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.79% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues: $9.114 billion (2014 est.)

expenditures: $8.926 billion (2014 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt

37% of GDP (2017 est.)

comparison ranking: 142

Taxes and other revenues

11.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 168

Current account balance

-$2.958 billion (2023 est.)
-$5.482 billion (2022 est.)
-$2.374 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

comparison ranking: 167

Exports

$13.98 billion (2023 est.)
$11.986 billion (2022 est.)
$9.874 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 100

Exports – partners

India 15%, UAE 14%, Uganda 12%, South Africa 10%, China 6% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports – commodities

gold, refined petroleum, dried legumes, refined copper, coal (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$16.059 billion (2023 est.)
$16.674 billion (2022 est.)
$11.61 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 104

Imports – partners

China 32%, India 13%, UAE 9%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Japan 4% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports – commodities

refined petroleum, plastics, garments, fertilizers, wheat (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$5.05 billion (2018 est.)
$5.888 billion (2017 est.)
$4.351 billion (2016 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

comparison ranking: 100

Debt – external

$17.513 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

comparison ranking: 37

Exchange rates

Tanzanian shillings (TZS) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
2,297.764 (2021 est.)
2,294.146 (2020 est.)
2,288.207 (2019 est.)
2,263.782 (2018 est.)
2,228.857 (2017 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 45.8% (2022 est.)

electrification – urban areas: 74.7%

electrification – rural areas: 36%

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 1.818 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 9.109 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 157.688 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 2.039 billion kWh (2023 est.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 124; imports 111; consumption 108; installed generating capacity 122

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 74.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 24.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

production: 2.341 million metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption: 740,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

exports: 1.602 million metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 21 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 1.41 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 85,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas

production: 2.016 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption: 2.016 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 6.513 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

17.707 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.687 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 12.066 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 3.954 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 95

Energy consumption per capita

4.091 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 174

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 76,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 144

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 70.2 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 92 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 26

Broadcast media

about 45 TV stations, with 13 national that broadcast free-to-air TV; 196 radio stations, most operating at the district level, but also including 5 independent national stations and 1 state-owned national radio station; international broadcasts widely available through satellite TV; 3 major satellite TV providers (2020)

Internet country code

.tz

Internet users

percent of population: 29% (2023 est.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 1.66 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total 66

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

206 (2025)

comparison ranking: 31

Railways

total: 4,097 km (2022)

standard gauge: 421 km (2022)

narrow gauge: 969 km (2022) 1.067 m gauge

broad gauge: 2,707 km (2022) 1.000 m guage

Merchant marine

total: 381 (2023)

by type: bulk carrier 4, container ship 17, general cargo 170, oil tanker 58, other 132

comparison ranking: total 51

Ports

total ports: 8 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 1

small: 3

very small: 4

ports with oil terminals: 4

key ports: Chake Chake, Dar Es Salaam, Tanga, Zanzibar

Military and Security

Military and security forces

Tanzania People’s Defense Forces (TPDF or Jeshi la Wananchi la Tanzania, JWTZ): Land Forces, Naval Forces, Air Force, Nation Building Army (Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa, JKT), Reserve Forces

Ministry of Home Affairs: Tanzania Police Force (Jeshi la Polisi Tanzania) (2025)

note 1: the Nation Building Army (aka National Services) is a paramilitary organization under the Defense Forces that provides six months of military and vocational training to individuals as part of their two years of public service; after completion of training, some graduates join the regular Defense Forces while the remainder become part of the Reserves

note 2: the Tanzania Police Force includes the Police Field Force (aka Field Force Unit), a special police division with the responsibility for controlling unlawful demonstrations and riots

Military expenditures

1.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 25,000 active Defense Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the TPDF’s inventory includes mostly Chinese and Russian/Soviet-era weapons and equipment (2024)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 6-year commitment (2-year contracts afterwards); selective conscription for 2 years of public service (2024)

Military deployments

520 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); more than 1,000 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO and Southern African Development Community regional force); 125 Lebanon (UNIFIL); approximately 300 Mozambique (under bi-lateral agreement to assist with combatting an insurgency) (2025)

Military – note

the TDPF’s primary concerns are maritime piracy and smuggling, border security, terrorism, animal poaching, and spillover from instability in neighboring countries, particularly Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); it participates in multinational training exercises, regional peacekeeping deployments, and has ties with a variety of foreign militaries, including those of China, India, and the US; it has contributed troops to the UN’s Force Intervention Brigade in the DRC; the TPDF also participated in the former Southern African Development Community intervention force in Mozambique, which assisted the Mozambique military in combating fighters affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); the regional force withdrew in 2024, but the TPDF continues to maintain troops in Mozambique as part of a separate bilateral security agreement; since 2020, the TPDF has reinforced the border with Mozambique following several cross-border attacks by ISIS fighters (2024)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 89,163 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 112,779 (Burundi) (2024)

Illicit drugs

significant transit country for illicit drugs in East Africa; international drug trafficking organizations and courier networks transit illicit drugs through mainland Tanzania to markets in within Africa, Europe and North America; cultivates cannabis and khat for domestic consumption and regional and international distribution; domestic drug use continues increasing including methamphetamine heroin use (2023)