Tanzania is a country in East Africa with a population of over 59 million people. It is known for its beautiful landscapes, including the Serengeti National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro. The official languages are Swahili and English, and the currency is the Tanzanian shilling.

Tanzania gained independence from Britain in 1961, and since then, it has been a republic with a multi-party political system. The President of Tanzania is the head of state and government. Tanzania's economy is based largely on agriculture, with over 80% of the population engaged in farming. Major exports include gold, coffee, cotton, and tobacco.

Tanzania is home to several ethnic groups, including the Sukuma, Chaga, and Maasai, each with its unique customs and traditions. The country is also known for its music, including traditional drumming and the more modern "Bongo Flava" genre, which combines local and international influences.

In recent years, Tanzania has made significant strides in improving access to education and healthcare. The country has also been a leader in conservation efforts, with several national parks and reserves established to protect its diverse wildlife.

Telephone Code
255

Local Emergency Phone
112, 999

Vaccinations
An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations.

Climate
Varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands

Currency (Code)
Tanzanian shillings (TZS)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): D, G

Major Languages
Kiswahili or Swahili, Kiunguja, English, Arabic

Major Religions
Christian 63.1%, Muslim 34.1%, folk religion 1.1%, Buddhist <1%, Hindu <1%, Jewish <1%

Potable Water
Opt for bottled water

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Left

Tourist Destinations
Mount Kilimanjaro; Serengeti National Park; Zanzibar beaches; Ngorongoro Conservation Area; Lake Manyara National Park; Mafia Island; Tarangire National Park; Olduvai Gorge; Arusha National Park; Old Arab Fort in Stone Town

Major Sports
Track and field, soccer, basketball, cricket

Cultural Practices
Short pants are generally considered inappropriate for both men and women.

Tipping Guidelines
Tipping 10% is conventional in restaurants. Hotel and airport porters should be tipped $1-2 (USD) per bag.

Souvenirs
Kanga cloth; Masai tribal arts and crafts including basket-ware, wood-carved items, and African drums; tanzanite jewelry, spices, ceramic tile

Traditional Cuisine
Ugali na Maharage ya nazi — dough prepared with cornmeal (maize meal), cassava flour, sorghum, or millet served with beans and vegetables cooked in coconut milk

Geography
Area
total: 947,300 sq km
land: 885,800 sq km
water: 61,500 sq km

Climate
varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands

Natural resources
hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones (including tanzanite, found only in Tanzania), gold, natural gas, nickel

People and Society
Population
65,642,682 (2023 est.)

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 (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages; note - Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of the Bantu people living in Zanzibar and nearby coastal Tanzania; although Kiswahili is Bantu in structure and origin, its vocabulary draws on a variety of sources including Arabic and English; it has become the lingua franca of central and eastern Africa; the first language of most people is one of the local languages

Religions
Christian 63.1%, Muslim 34.1%, folk religion 1.1%, Buddhist <1%, Hindu <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, unspecified 1.6% (2020 est.)

Population growth rate
2.75% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Dodoma (national capital); note - Dodoma, designated the national capital in 1996, serves as the meeting place for the National Assembly; Dar es Salaam, the original national capital and the country's largest city and commercial center, remains the site of the executive branch offices and diplomatic representation

Economy
Economic overview
emerging lower middle-income East African economy; resource-rich and growing tourism; strong post-pandemic recovery from hospitality, electricity, mining, and transit sectors; declining poverty; stable inflation; gender-based violence economic and labor force disruptions

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$159.326 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$2,600 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
cassava, maize, sweet potatoes, sugar cane, rice, bananas, vegetables, milk, beans, sunflower seed

Industries
agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine); mining (diamonds, gold, and iron), salt, soda ash; cement, oil refining, shoes, apparel, wood products, fertilizer

Exports
$8.555 billion (2020 est.)

Exports - partners
India 15%, United Arab Emirates 15%, Switzerland 14%, Uganda 12%, China 7% (2020)

Exports - commodities
gold, cashews, copper, precious metals, legumes (2020)

Imports
$9.181 billion (2020 est.)

Imports - partners
China 34%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 14%, India 12%, United Arab Emirates 6%, South Africa 3% (2020)

Imports - commodities
copper, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, palm oil, wheat (2020)