Name
The name combines the first letters of "Tanganyika" and "Zanzibar", the two states that merged to form Tanzania in 1964.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Country
Tanzania
6.05° S, 34.96° E
The population grows 2.85% a year, at 33.45 per 1,000 births per 1,000 people.
population growth +2.85% · 14th/230 · birth rate 33.45 per 1,000 · 17th/226
CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · ranks computed across the countries in this atlas that carry the value
- Population
- 58,005,463
- Natural Earth population estimate.
- Area
- 947,300 km²
- Official total area (land + water) from the CIA World Factbook. Computed from the Natural Earth boundary: ≈ 941,735 km².
- Population density
- ≈ 62 / km²
- Population divided by the computed boundary area.
- ISO codes
- TZ · TZA
- GDP (nominal)
- $78.78 billion
- Field “Economy → GDP (official exchange rate)” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP per capita (PPP)
- $3,700
- Field “Economy → Real GDP per capita → Real GDP per capita 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Tanzania 947,300 km²Mozambique 799,380 km²
geometry: Natural Earth 1:50m · EPSG:6933 equal-area
Where Tanzania sits in the world
Each line is every country in this atlas that carries the value, ordered smallest to largest. The line down the middle is the world median; the mark on each line is this country.
- Median age18.8 years210th of 224 · median 32.6 years
- Life expectancy70.8 years167th of 224 · median 76.2 years
- Fertility rate4.45 children per woman17th of 225 · median 1.92 children per woman
- Population58,005,46325th of 235 · median 5,454,073
- Total area947,300 km²32nd of 228 · median 83,736 km²
- Coastline1,424 km70th of 229 · median 402 km
Overview
Geography
On the Indian Ocean in Eastern Africa, Tanzania lies between Kenya and Mozambique. Plains follow the coast, while a central plateau gives way to highlands in the north and south. Kilimanjaro is Tanzania's highest point and Africa's highest point. The continent's mountain ranges with glaciers include Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya in Kenya, and the Ruwenzori Mountains on the Uganda-Democratic Republic of the Congo border.
Lake Victoria borders Tanzania in the north, Lake Tanganyika in the west, and Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) in the southwest. The Indian Ocean marks the country's lowest point. Natural resources include hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones including tanzanite, gold, natural gas, and nickel. Tanzanite is found only in Tanzania.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Climate
Along the coast, the climate is tropical, while the highlands have a temperate climate. The central plateau experiences flooding during the rainy season, and drought also occurs.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
People and society
The mainland's population is African, including Bantu peoples, while Asian, European, and Arab people also live there. Zanzibar's population includes Arab, African, and mixed Arab and African people. Kiswahili or Swahili is official, and Kiunguja is the name for Swahili in Zanzibar. English is also official and serves as the primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education. Arabic and many local languages are also spoken.
Christian, Muslim, folk religion, Buddhist, Hindu, and Jewish affiliations occur. Population distribution is extremely uneven, with greater population clusters in the northern half of the country and along the east coast.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Government
The form of government is a presidential republic. Its legal system uses English common law, with judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation. The latest constitution was adopted 25 April 1977, following several previous constitutions. Independence came on 26 April 1964, when Tanganyika united with Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. The country was renamed United Republic of Tanzania on 29 October 1964. The national holiday is Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), observed on 26 April (1964).
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Flag and symbols
A yellow-edged black band runs from the lower left to the upper right, dividing the flag into a green upper-left triangle and a blue lower triangle. Its colors come 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 and the Indian Ocean. National symbols are the Uhuru (freedom) torch and giraffe.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Key figures
CIA World Factbook
Economy
- GDP (nominal)
- $78.78 billion
- Field “Economy → GDP (official exchange rate)” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP (PPP)
- $246.71 billion
- Field “Economy → Real GDP (purchasing power parity) → Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP per capita (PPP)
- $3,700
- Field “Economy → Real GDP per capita → Real GDP per capita 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP growth
- +5.5%
- Field “Economy → Real GDP growth rate → Real GDP growth rate 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Inflation (consumer prices)
- 3.1%
- Field “Economy → Inflation rate (consumer prices) → Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Unemployment
- 2.6%
- Field “Economy → Unemployment rate → Unemployment rate 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Exports
- $13.98 billion
- Field “Economy → Exports → Exports 2023” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Imports
- $16.06 billion
- Field “Economy → Imports → Imports 2023” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
People
- Life expectancy
- 70.8 years
- Field “People and Society → Life expectancy at birth → total population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Median age
- 18.8 years
- Field “People and Society → Median age → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Birth rate
- 33.45 per 1,000
- Field “People and Society → Birth rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Death rate
- 4.96 per 1,000
- Field “People and Society → Death rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Fertility rate
- 4.45 children per woman
- Field “People and Society → Total fertility rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Population growth
- +2.85% a year
- Field “People and Society → Population growth rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Urban population
- 37.4%
- Field “People and Society → Urbanization → urban population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Literacy
- 78.2%
- Field “People and Society → Literacy → total population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Languages
- Kiswahili or Swahiliofficial
- Kiunguja
- Englishofficial
- Arabic
- many local languages
- Field “People and Society → Languages → Languages” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Land
- Total area
- 947,300 km²Land 885,800 km² · Water 61,500 km²
- Field “Geography → Area → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Coastline
- 1,424 km
- Field “Geography → Coastline” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Land borders
- 4,161 km
- Field “Geography → Land boundaries → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Mean elevation
- 1,018 m
- Field “Geography → Elevation → mean elevation” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Highest point
- 5,895 m Kilimanjaro (highest point in Africa)
- Field “Geography → Elevation → highest point” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Values from the CIA World Factbook archive. Each carries the year it describes; open a year for the exact source field.
Connections
Natural geography 10
Natural Earth outlines · features with a Wikidata ID
Oceans 1
Largest cities 25
Population · Natural Earth