Martin Munkhondya, IEDRO volunteer from Malawi, returned in July 2008 from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, after setting up the data rescue project.
Population: 39,000,000
Capital: Dar es Salaam
Number of Ethnic Groups: 130
Language: Swahili, English, Arabic, many local languages
Religion: Christian, Muslim and indigenous beliefs
Median Age: 36.6 years
Life Expectancy: 50 years
Gross National Product (GDP) per Capita: $800/year
Industries: Agriculture, tourism, mining (diamond, gold, iron), salt, soda ash, cement, natural gas, oil refining, shoes and apparel, wood products, and fertilizer
Refugees: Hosts more refugees than any other African country, including 390,000 from Burundi and 150,000 from the Democratic Republic of Congo
Economy: Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts for almost half of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 80% of the work force.
Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry has typically featured the processing of agricultural products and light consumer goods. The World Bank, IMF, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania’s out-of-date economic infrastructure and to alleviate poverty.
Long-term growth through 2005 featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of minerals led by gold. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private-sector growth and investment.
Continued donor assistance and solid macroeconomic policies supported real GDP growth of nearly 6% in 2006.
References
CIA World Factbook: Tanzania
