01
Physical geography
Plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south.
Local timeDodoma ·
Africa / Eastern Africa · Card 053
Tanzania
Tanzania is a country in Eastern Africa. Its capital is Dodoma.
Find Tanzania
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Dodoma
- Languages
- English & Swahili
- Currency
- Tanzanian shilling (TZS)
- Population
- 70.5 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 945,087 km²364,900 square miles
- Union formed
- 1964
Tanzania in context
Africa and its surrounding islands. The dot marks Dodoma; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include English, Swahili.
03
Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique.
Flag
Divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band, from the lower left corner to the upper right corner; the upper triangle (left side) is green, and the lower is blue
History & independence
Tanganyika became independent from Britain in 1961, and Zanzibar in 1963. After the Zanzibar revolution of January 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar united in April 1964 to form the state later named Tanzania.
-
Tanganyika becomes independent
-
Zanzibar becomes independent
-
Tanganyika and Zanzibar unite
Economy
Main activities
Agriculture, mining, tourism, manufacturing and services contribute to the economy. Gold and farm products are important exports. Dar es Salaam’s port also serves neighboring landlocked countries.
Industry and production
agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine); mining (diamonds, gold, and iron), salt, soda ash; cement, oil refining, shoes, apparel, wood products, fertilizer
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people70.52025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 13,492,677 | 13.493 |
| 1980 | 19,189,769 | 19.190 |
| 1990 | 26,110,207 | 26.110 |
| 2000 | 34,260,139 | 34.260 |
| 2010 | 44,758,488 | 44.758 |
| 2020 | 60,972,798 | 60.973 |
| 2025 | 70,545,865 | 70.546 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars78.82025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 13,747,792,169 | 13.748 |
| 1991 | 14,032,644,802 | 14.033 |
| 1992 | 14,114,640,651 | 14.115 |
| 1993 | 14,284,835,103 | 14.285 |
| 1994 | 14,508,773,001 | 14.509 |
| 1995 | 15,026,723,410 | 15.027 |
| 1996 | 15,709,592,840 | 15.710 |
| 1997 | 16,263,399,690 | 16.263 |
| 1998 | 16,866,529,754 | 16.867 |
| 1999 | 17,686,894,781 | 17.687 |
| 2000 | 18,486,481,203 | 18.486 |
| 2001 | 19,608,760,036 | 19.609 |
| 2002 | 20,999,647,619 | 21.000 |
| 2003 | 22,400,909,970 | 22.401 |
| 2004 | 24,081,832,736 | 24.082 |
| 2005 | 25,882,267,435 | 25.882 |
| 2006 | 27,572,954,444 | 27.573 |
| 2007 | 29,439,239,572 | 29.439 |
| 2008 | 31,113,277,454 | 31.113 |
| 2009 | 32,752,668,790 | 32.753 |
| 2010 | 34,828,049,321 | 34.828 |
| 2011 | 37,500,111,399 | 37.500 |
| 2012 | 39,187,673,998 | 39.188 |
| 2013 | 41,845,219,655 | 41.845 |
| 2014 | 44,662,433,112 | 44.662 |
| 2015 | 47,413,919,817 | 47.414 |
| 2016 | 50,669,888,784 | 50.670 |
| 2017 | 54,078,588,995 | 54.079 |
| 2018 | 57,054,358,530 | 57.054 |
| 2019 | 60,363,511,325 | 60.364 |
| 2020 | 61,565,931,105 | 61.566 |
| 2021 | 64,226,431,583 | 64.226 |
| 2022 | 67,159,014,151 | 67.159 |
| 2023 | 70,563,656,178 | 70.564 |
| 2024 | 74,463,225,268 | 74.463 |
| 2025 | 78,821,459,766 | 78.821 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.555Medium human developmentRank 165 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.381
20000.414
20100.513
20200.554
20230.555
67.0 yearsLife expectancy at birth
6.1 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Presidential republic. National Assembly (Bunge) has one chamber (a unicameral legislature). The president holds executive responsibilities; the legislature makes national laws.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Tanzania.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
In which year did this event occur in Tanzania: Tanganyika becomes independent?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.