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Polity
Published: 09 Nov 2009
Tanzania
While the United Republic of Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world, with many of its people living below the World Bank poverty line, the country is recording fairly strong growth, and has achieved a degree of success in attracting donors and investment. The country's first democratic elections were held in 1995, ending one-party rule. Tanzania's official languages are English, and Swahili.

Leader: President Jakaya Kikwete
Capital city: Dodoma

Economic profile

Monetary unit: Tanzanian shilling
GDP per capita: $323,83 (2008) (IMF)
GDP composition by sector:
Agriculture: 27% (2008) (World Bank)
Industry: 22,7% (2008) (World Bank)
Services: 50,3% (2008) (World Bank)
GDP growth rate: 7,1% (2008) (IMF)
Budget:
Government revenue, excluding grants: 13,5% of GDP (2007) (IMF)
Government expenditure: 22,1% of GDP (2007) (IMF)
Consumer price inflation: 9,3% (2008) (IMF)
Industries: Agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine); diamond, gold, and iron mining, salt, soda ash; cement, oil refining, shoes, apparel, wood products, and fertilizer
Exports of goods and services: 21,6% of GDP (2007) (IMF)
Imports of goods and services: 35,0% of GDP (2007) (IMF)
Export commodities: Gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, and cotton
Import commodities: Not stated
Trade balance: -15,3% of GDP (2007) (IMF)
Reserves: 5,4 months of imports (2007) (IMF)
Total investment: 24,2% of GDP (2008) (IMF)
Market capitalisation of listed companies: 4,7% (2005) (World Bank)

Social profile

Population: 41,04-million (2009) (World Bank)
Population growth: 2,04% (2009) (World Bank)
Life expectancy at birth: 52 years (2008) (World Bank)
Adult literacy: 69,4% (2002) (CIA)
School enrolment primary: 110,5% (2006) (World Bank)
School enrolment tertiary: 1,4% (2005) (World Bank)
Number of people living with HIV/Aids: 1,4-million (2007) (UNAids estimate)