Tanzania, United Republic of ( United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar) is a country in Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique. Tanzania, United Republic of geographic coordinates 6 00 S, 35 00 E; area ; area comparative slightly larger than twice the size of California; land boundaries Burundi 451 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 459 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km; coastline 1,424 km; maritime claims exclusive economic zone:<; climate varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands; terrain plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south; elevation extremes Kilimanjaro 5,895 m; natural resources hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel; land use 94.4% (2001); irrigated land 1,550 sq km (1998 est.); natural hazards flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought; environment current issues soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture; wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory; environment international agreements none of the selected agreements; geography note Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa; 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 in the south;

introduction

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. government type republic; capital Dar es Salaam; note - legislative offices have been transferred; administrative divisions 26 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Kagera, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Manyara, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Singida, Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzibar North, Zanzibar Urban/West; independence 26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent 9 December 1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became independent 19 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanziba; national holiday Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964); constitution 25 April 1977; major revisions October 1984; legal system based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; suffrage 18 years of age; universal;

people

Tanzania, United Republic of population 36,766,356 estimates for this country explici; age structure 2.6% (male 418,080/female 544,160) (2005 est.); median age 17.89 years (2005 est.); population growth rate 1.83% (2005 est.); birth rate 38.16 births/1,000 population (2005 est.); death rate 16.71 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.); net migration rate -3.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.); sex ratio 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.); infant mortality rate 107.85 deaths/1,000 live births; life expectancy at birth 45.94 years (2005 est.); total fertility rate 5.06 children born/woman (2005 est.); hiv adult rate 8.8% (2003 est.); hiv people with aids 1.6 million (2003 est.); hiv deaths 160,000 (2003 est.); major infectious diseases malaria, Rift Valley fever and plag; nationality Tanzanian; 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; religions mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim; 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 Kiswahili (Swahil; literacy 70.7% (2003 est.);

Regions

Cities