Tanzania Travel Guide

Facts & Figures

Total Area:945,087 sq km                         Land Borders: Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Malawi,
Population: 37,445,392                             Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia  
Life Expectancy: 46 years                          HIV % Total Poulation: 8.8%
Ethnic Groups: mainland - native African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, native African, mixed Arab and native African
Languages:Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages
President:Jakaya KIKWETE               GDP - Per Capita: $700

History

Shortly after independence, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the nation of Tanzania in 1964. One-party rule came to an end in 1995 with the first democratic elections held in the country since the 1970s. Zanzibar's semi-autonomous status and popular opposition have led to two contentious elections since 1995, which the ruling party won despite international observers' claims of voting irregularities.