Facts and Figures

Official Name

United Republic of Tanzania since 1964

Head of the State

Hon. Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli

president

The Flag

flagTanzania flag has four colours: Green- Golden-Black and Blue: divided diagonally by a (golden) yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is blue. Black is for the People Green is for the Land Blue is for the Adjoining Sea and Golden specify the Mineral Wealth.

 



The Emblem

emblemThe central feature of the Coat of Arms is the Warrior's Shield which bears a Golden portion on the upper part followed underneath by the United Republic flag of Green, Golden, Black and Blue; and a red portion under which are wavy bands of blue and white.

The Golden portion represents minerals in the United Republic; the red portion underneath the flag symbolises the fertile red soil of Africa; while the wavy bands represent the land, sea, lakes and coastal lines of the United Republic. The Shield is set upon a representation of Mount Kilimanjaro. On each side of the Shield there is an elephant tusk supported by a man on the left (as you look at the emblem) and a woman on the right symbolising both the theme of cooperation and gender and equality of the people of Tanzania. At the feet of the man is a clove bush and at the feet of the woman is a cotton bush symbolising agriculture in the Republic. Superimposed features on the Shield are flames of a burning torch which signifies freedom, enlightenment and knowledge; a spear signifying defence of freedom and crossed axe and hoe being tools that the people of the United Republic use in developing the country

The Uhuru Torch

torchThe Uhuru Torch symbolises freedom and light. It was first lit on top of Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895m) in 1961, symbolically to shine the country and across the borders to bring hope where there is despair, love where there is enmity and respect where there is hatred. Yearly there is the Uhuru Torch race, starting from different prominent places in the Republic



The United Republic Motto

Uhuru na Umoja" -  Freedom and Unity, is written in Kiswahili: the National Language of Tanzania.

National anthem


Mungu ibariki Africa (God Bless Africa)

Area

945,087 square kilometers (Mainland - 881,000; Zanzibar 2,332 Sq Km). Land-342,101 Sq. miles, water: 22,799 Sq. miles km² .

Location

Eastern Africa, geographic coordinates Longitude 29*- 41* East and Latitude 1* - 12* South

Land boundaries

total-2114miles

Border Countries

Burundi 280miles, Kenya 478miles, Malawi 295miles, Mozambique 470 miles, Rwanda 135miles, Uganda 246miles, Zambia 210miles, Dem. Rep. of the Congo 293miles
Coastline: 885miles

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone- 200 nautical miles (370 km) & territorial sea-12 nautical miles (22 km)

Main Towns and their population

Dar es Salaam (commercial capital - 2,497,940).
Dodoma (capital designate - 1,698,996).
Mwanza (2,942,148).
Mbeya (2,070,046).
Tanga (1,642,015)
Arusha (1,292,973).
Zanzibar Urban west (391,002),
Zanzibar North (136,953)
Zanzibar South & West (94,504)
Pemba north (137,189)
Pemba South (127,623)

Climate

Tropical with average temperature of 30 Degree Celsius

Rainfalls

Masika - Unimodal ( Dec. – Apr.)  and Vuli-  bimodal ( Oct. – Dec. and March – May)

Population

43,187,823 (2010 est.) (With growth rate of 2.09% )  (More than 120 ethnic groups)

Capital

Dar es Salaam (administrative); 2,683,000—Dodoma (legislative); 155,000

Language

Swahili, English, Arabic, many local languages

Religion

Christian, Muslim, indigenous beliefs

Life Expectancy

45 %

Literacy rate

78 %

Economy

Agriculture accounts for more than 40% of GDP. Provides 85%  of exports and employs 80% of the work force (Labor force 21.23 Million). www.mof.go.tz www.bot-tz.org 

GDP (PPP), US Dollars - US$ 57.4 Billion

GDP per Capita - U.S. $1,400 (2009 est)

Currency - Tanzanian shilling, Nominal exchange rate TZ 1600/- per USD (2012/13)

Agriculture - products

coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves, corn, wheat, cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats and  other spices.

agriculture

Industry

Main sectors are Agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine); tourism; service –telecommunication, financial; mining – uranium, diamond, gold, and iron ore, salt, soda ash, coal, phosphate; fishing; manufacturing - cement, oil refining, shoes, apparel, wood products and fertilizer.

industry

Public Holidays

Jan. 1  New Year's Day.
Jan. 12 Zanzibar Revolution Day.
Apr. 26 Union Day.
May 1 International Labour Day.
July 7 Saba Saba (Industry's Day).
Aug. 8 Nane Nane (Farmer's Day).
Dec. 9 Independence and Republic Day.
Dec. 25 Christmas Day.
Dec. 26 Boxing Day.

NB: Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon.

Regional and International integration Membership

The East African Community (EAC) the Southern African Development Community - SADC, the African Development Bank, the Africa Union (AU), Indian Ocean Ream, AALCO, Non Align Movement - NAM,  the World Bank, the IMF, the Commonwealth, WTO, PTA  is also a signatory to the Lome Convention etc.

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