World > Africa > Tanzania, United Republic

For a breakdown of information on Tanzania, United Republic - Africa, select from the following list(s):

General Information

Area: 945,087 sq km (364,900 sq miles).

Population: 32,793,000 (1999).

Population Density: 34.7 per sq km.

Capital: Dodoma (administrative capital designate). Population: 1,502,344 (1995). Dar es Salaam remains the capital for the time being. Population: 1,651,534 (1995).

GEOGRAPHY: The United Republic of Tanzania lies on the east coast of Africa and is bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north; by Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west; by the Indian Ocean to the east; and by Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the south. The Tanzanian mainland is divided into several clearly defined regions: the coastal plains, which vary in width from 16-64km (10-39 miles) and have lush, tropical vegetation; the Masai Steppe in the north, 213-1067m (698-3500ft) above sea level; and a high plateau in the southern area towards Zambia and Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi). Savannah and bush cover over half the country, and semi-desert accounts for the remaining land area, with the exception of the coastal plains. Over 53,000 sq km (20,463 sq miles) is inland water, mostly lakes formed in the Rift Valley. The United Republic of Tanzania includes the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, about 45km (28 miles) off the coast to the northeast of the country.

Government: Federal Republic since 1964. Tanganyika gained independence from the UK in 1961. In 1964, Tanganyika joined with Zanzibar, which had been a British protectorate until 1963, and became Tanzania. Head of State: President Benjamin William Mkapa since 1995. Head of Government: Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye since 1995.

Language: Kiswahili and English are the official languages. The terms Swahili and Kiswahili are used interchangeably, though the term Swahili normally refers to the people while Kiswahili refers to the language. Originating along the coast, Kiswahili is a Bantu language with many words derived from Arabic. Other African languages such as Bantu and those of Nilo-Hamitic and Khoisan origin are also spoken.

Religion: Muslim, Christian, Hindu and traditional beliefs.

Time: GMT + 3.

Electricity: 230 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs may be round or square three-pin, fused or unfused.

Communications:

Telephone

IDD is available. Country code: 255. Outgoing international code: 00. In some rural areas, international calls must go through the operator. There are many public call boxes in post offices and main towns.

Mobile telephone

GSM 900/1800 network. Operators include Celtel Tanzania Ltd, Mobitel, Tritel (website: www.tritel.co.tz), Vodacom Tanzania and Zanzibar Telecom. Coverage is limited to main urban areas.

Fax

Faxes can be sent from the Tanzanian Telecom Office in Dar es Salaam, and from some hotels.

Internet

ISPs include Africa Online (website: www.africaonline.co.tz), Cats-net.com (website: www.cats-net.com) and TZ Online (website: www.tzonline.com). E-mail can be accessed in Internet cafes in main urban areas.

Telegram

Telegrams can be sent from most post offices and major hotels.

Post

Airmail to Europe takes a week. Courier services take less than 24 hours.

Press

The English-language newspapers are the Daily News, Sunday News, Business Times, The Express, Family Mirror and Guardian, printed in Dar es Salaam.

BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.

BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):

MHz

17.89

15.42

9.630

6.005

Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):

MHz

15.58

11.98

6.035

0.909

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