Tanzania

Background: 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.
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique. Area: Total: 945,087 sq km land: 886,037 sq km water: 59,050 sq km note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar. Area - comparative: Slightly larger than twice the size of California. Land boundaries: Total: 3,402 km border countries: Burundi 451 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km. Coastline: 1,424 km.
Climate and Terrain: Climate: Varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands. Terrain: Plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south . Natural resources: Hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel. Land use: Arable land: 3% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 40% forests and woodland: 38% other: 18%.
People: Population: 36,232,074. Ethnic groups: mainland - native African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes. Religions: mainland - Christian 45%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 20%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim. Languages: Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguju (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic.
Government: Government type: Republic. Capital: Dar es Salaam.
Economy overview: Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for half of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 80% of the work force. GDP - composition by sector: Agriculture: 49% industry: 17% services: 34% . Labor force - by occupation: Agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 20%. Agriculture - products: Coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves (Zanzibar), corn, wheat, cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats.
Statistics: Telephones - main lines in use: 127,000. Telephones - mobile cellular: 30,000. Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 11. Radios: 8.8 million. Television broadcast stations: 3.) Televisions: 103,000. Internet users: 25,000. Railways: Total: 3,569 km. Highways: Total: 88,200 km paved: 3,704 km unpaved: 84,496 km. Airports - with paved runways: 11, with unpaved runways: 115.