GEOGRAPHIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

LOCATION

The United Republic of Tanzania ( The Land of Kiliminjaro and Zanzibar) includes the Indian Ocean islands of Pemba and Zanzibar, well known for  their spieces, as well as the mainland territory formerly known as  Tanganyika. It lies on the east of Africa, to the north-west, the  country stretches to Lake Victoria; to the west lie the great Rift Valley lakes, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Nyasa. It lies between  latitudes 1 degree south to 11 degrees south of the equator.Tanzania  has a common border with eight countries: Kenya and Uganda to the  north; Rwanda, Burundi and Zaire to the west; and Zambia, Malawi and  Mozambique to the south.

AREA

Its total area is about 945,087 sq.km. including 60,000 sq.km.  of inand water.

CAPITAL AND MAJOR CITIES

Dar es Salaam is the capital to Tanzania. Other major cities are Mwanza, Tanga, Zanzibar Town, Arusha.

CLIMATE

Tanzania's coastal plain has a hot tropical climate. Elsewhere, the climate is moderate tropical one, with average temperature of about 26 degrees centigrade and relatively little variation between the hottest month (which is usually February) and the coldest (July-August). Rainfall varies from an annual average of over 1,250 mm in the wettest 3% of the land area to under 500 mm in the central one third of the country. On the coastal plain the average rainfall is between 500 mm and 1,000 mm, usually from December to May with peaks occurring at the beginning and end of that mansoon period.

Although rainfall is variable from one year to the next within each type of area, more than one fifth of the country can usually expect to receive over 750 mm.

TIME 

GMT + 3hrs

POPULATION

37,187,939 (July 2002 est.) 

Population growth rate is 6% (2002 est.) 


LIFE EXPECTANCY

Life expectancy is 51.7 years.


LITERACY

67.8%