Know Your Destination: Tanzania

Tanzania is located along the Indian Ocean on the eastern coast of Africa. It is bordered by Kenya to the north and Mozambique to the south, and it also shares a western border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Contained within its borders is Mt. Kilimanjaro, which is the highest point on the African continent. The country is home to over 38 million people, nearly half of whom are undernourished, and is about twice the size of the state of California.The HIV/AIDS pandemic has led to significant increases in infant mortality and death rates, lower life expectancies and lower population growth. The country is one of the poorest in the world and depends heavily on agriculture (which accounts for over 40% of its GDP). Tanzania also hosts the most refuges of any African nation, with over a half-million.

The People

Population : 41,892,895

Population Undernourished: 44%

Population w/o Improved Water Source: 38%

Population Living Below US$1/day: 57.8%

Population Living Below US$2/day: 89.9%

Population Below Nat’l Poverty Line: 35.7%

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 50.9 years

Female: 54.03 years (2010 est.)

Probability of Not Surviving to 40: 36.2% of cohort

HIV/AIDS

Adult Prevalence: 6.2%

People Living with HIV: 1.4 million

Labor Force: 80% Agriculture

The Land

Land Use:

Arable land: 4.23%

Permanent crops: 1.16%

Other: 94.61%

Irrigated Land: 1,840 sq km (2003)

Total Renewable Water Sources: 91 cu km (2001)

Natural Hazards: flooding during the rainy season; drought

Home to Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa

(Sources: 2007-08 Human Development Report (HDR); 2007 World Development Indicators (WDI); UN World Population Prospects; FAOSTAT, CIA World Factbook)