Location: |
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean,
between Kenya and Mozambique |
Size: |
945,087 sq. km.
(just over twice the size of California)
Elevation varies from
sea level to 5,895 meters |
Population: |
39,384,223 (July 2007
est.)
* 0-14 years: 43.9%
* 15-64 years: 53.3%
* 65+ years: 2.8%
Median age: 17.7 years
Life expectancy: 50.71 years
HIV / AIDS: 8.8% |
|
Indigenous beliefs 35%
Muslim 35%
(Zanzibar is more than 99% Muslim)
Christian 30% |
Language: |
Kiswahili or Swahili (official)
English
(official)
Arabic
(widely spoken in Zanzibar) |
Government: |
Republic |
Capital: |
Dar es Salaam
(legislative offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which is planned as the new national capital) |
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 Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania 29 October 1964 |
