Tanzania is an East African country known for its vast wilderness areas. They include the plains of Serengeti National Park, a safari mecca populated by the “big five” game (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino), and Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa’s highest mountain. Offshore lie the tropical islands of Zanzibar, with Arabic influences, and Mafia, with a marine park home to whale sharks and coral reefs.
Languages: Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages
Ethnic Groups: mainland - African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, African, mixed Arab and African
Belief Systems: mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim
Demographics:
Population: 50.7 million people (World Rank: 25th) (2014 estimate)
Population Density: 148 people/mi^2 (People per Square Mile) (World Rank: 154th) (2014 estimate)
Population Growth: 3.14 %/yr (World Rank: 8th) (2013 estimate)
Life Expectancy: 61.5 years (World Rank: 196th) (2013 estimate)
Median Age: 17.4 years (World Rank: 183rd) (2010 estimate)
Sites for More Information:
Map of Tanzania
Worldatlas.com
Tanzania
World Factbook
Current News About Tanzania
AllAfrica.com
Tanzania - Facts and Information
Encyclopedia.com
Traveling to Tanzania
Africaguide.com
Tanzanian Embassy
in Washington D.C.
Tanzania Government Web Sites
by Gunnar Anzinger
