Tanzania - East Africa

Tanzania is located by the coast in East Africa. In the year of 2004, Tanzania had a population of 37,6 million people.* In the year of 2002, 46 % of the population was below 15 years of age.** The official language of Tanzania is Kiswahili, but there are around 200 other local languages.

About half of Tanzania’s population lives below the poverty line. Tanzania was placed 162 out of 177 countries, which were included in the Human Development Report 2006. The life expectancy is 45,9 years and 69,4 % of the adult population knows how to read. About seven percent of the population has hiv/aids, but the most common cause of death is malaria.*

The capital Dodoma is located almost in the middle of the country, but the largest city is Dar Es Salaam, located by the coast. Dodoma is called the political capital, while Dar Es Salaam is called the commercial capital.**

Tanzania was colonized by Germany and England, and became independent on the 9th of December in the year of 1961. The first president was Julius Nyerere.** Today, Tanzania has a multiparty system with Jakaya Kikwete as president.

Some of the natural resources in Tanzania are gold and diamonds. The famous national parks Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater as well as Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, are located in Tanzania. The popular tourist island Zanzibar is also located in Tanzania.

Tanzania receives a lot of refugees from its neighbouring countries.*

Tanzania receives a lot of support from Sweden.*

* www.sida.se 071112

** www.tanzania.go.tz 071112