Factbook dossier
Background
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 inde…
Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique
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
Natural resources
hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones (including tanzanite, found only in Tanzania), gold, natural gas, nickel
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
Population
total: 69,145,464 (2025 est.) male: 34,597,449 female: 34,548,015
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.
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
Environmental 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
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
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: 29 October 2025 election results: 2025 : Samia Suluhu HASSAN reelected; percent of vote - Samia Suluhu HASSAN (CCM) 97.7%, others 2.3% expected date of next election: October 2030 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: 403 (272 directly elected; 120 indirectly elected; 10 appointed; 1 other) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 10/29/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Revolutionary Party of Tanzania (CCM) (383); ACT-Wazalendo (2) percentage of women in chamber: 39.5% expected date of next election: October 2030 note : the Attorney General fills the "other" seat as an ex-officio member
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$246.706 billion (2024 est.) $233.786 billion (2023 est.) $222.506 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita
$3,700 (2024 est.) $3,600 (2023 est.) $3,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.1% (2024 est.) 3.8% (2023 est.) 4.4% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
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
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
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
1.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)