Official Name: United Republic of Tanzania, formerly United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar

Alternate Names: Tanzania

Former Names:United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar

Capital City: Dodoma


This flag can be purchased
at AfricaImports.comFlag: Divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is blue

Date of Independence: April 26,1964 (National Day); Tanganyika became independent December 9, 1961 from a UK-administered UN trusteeship; Zanzibar became independent December 19, 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar April 26, 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania October 29, 1964

National Anthem: Mungu Ibariki Afrika (God Bless Africa)

Population: 35 million



Size/Area: 365,000 sq miles (including the islands of Mafia, Pemba and Zanzibar) — about twice the size of California

Land Locked: No

Coastline: 1,424 km

Bordering Countries: Kenya, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire), Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique

Administrative Divisions: 25 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Kagera, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Singida, Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzibar North, Zanzibar Urban/West

Major Cities: Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mwanza, Zanzibar

Languages: Swahili (official) and English; some Arabic is also spoken in Zanzibar

Religions: Mainland - Christian 45%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 20%; Zanzibar — more than 99% Muslim

Major Holidays: Saba Saba Day, July 7. Also called Peasants' Day.
Union Day, April 26. Commemorates the unification of Zanzibar and Tanganyika in 1964.
Naming Day, October 29. The United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar officially changed its name to the United Republic of Tanzania on October 29, 1964.
Independence Day, December 9.
Heroes' Day, September 1. Dedicated to the heroes who defended the nation against colonization, and the Tanzania Defense Force.
Sultan's Birthday, August 26. Observed in Zanzibar.
Zanzibar Revolution Day, January 12.
Chama Cha Mapinduzi Day, February 5. Birthday of Chama Cha Mapinduzi.
Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labor Day (May 1), Christmas, Mouloud, Id al-Fitr, Id al-Hajj (Id al-Adha).

Currency: Tanzanian Shillings

Currency Code: TZS

Highest Point: Mount Kilimanjaro at 5,895 meters above sea-level

Lowest Point: Indian Ocean, 0 m

Bordering Bodies of Water: Indian Ocean and Lake Nyasa

Bodies of Water: Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika

Climate: Varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands. The rainy seasons are from November to early January and from March to May.

Major Industries: Agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine), diamond and gold mining, oil refining, shoes, cement, textiles, wood products, fertilizer, salt

Major Agricultural Products: Coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves, corn, wheat, cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats

Natural Resources: Hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel

Native Animals: Lion, giraffe, hippopotamus, elephant, colobus monkeys, wildebeest, zebra, rhinos, cape buffaloes, leopards, jackals, hyenas, baboons, vervet monkeys, impalas


Tribes of Africa eBook


This eBook is the most complete listing of African tribes available on the internet. The first section of this book is the tribes sorted alphabetically by country. The second section is the tribes sorted alphabetically by tribe name.