Tanzania

Population facts The population of this African country is more than 57,310,019 people. The majority of Tanzania's inhabitants reside in Dar es Salaam which is the country's most populous city. Tanzania has a high population when compared to most other countries across the world, its overall population density is approximately 46 people per sq km. The estimated population of Africa is approximately 1,186,178,000 inhabitants, making it the continent with the second largest population in the world. The continents in order of population, starting with highest population first, are: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Australia (Oceania Region) and Antarctica. The total population of the entire world is in excess of 7.6 billion people.

Capital & major cities Tanzania's capital city is called Dodoma. The names of other major cities situated in this country are Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Zanzibar, Arusha and Mbeya.

National symbol(s): Uhuru (Freedom) torch, giraffe

National colors: green, yellow, blue and black

National Anthem/Song: Mungu ibariki Afrika (Translation: God Bless Africa)

National Holiday(s): Union Day 26 April (1964)

National Motto(s): Uhuru na Umoja (Translation: Freedom and Unity). Zanzibar kwa Afrika; Zanzibar kwa ajili ya Dunia (Translation: Zanzibar for Africa - Zanzibar for the world)

Map of United Republic of Tanzania

Geography

Tanzania belongs to the continent of Africa, where it has a coastal position and is bordered by Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia and the Indian Ocean. There are seven continents in the world: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Antarctica, Australia (Oceania). Africa is the world's second largest continent, spanning a total area of 30,370,000 km2. Africa has 54 countries, and forms 20.4% of the world's landmass. Tanzania is a coastal country that spreads across a total area of approximately 945,087 km2. It is the thirteenth biggest country in Africa by area.

The following guideline provides details on the approximate border lengths of Tanzania:
Coastline 1,424 km, Burundi 589 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 479 km, Kenya 775 km, Malawi 512 km, Mozambique 840 km, Rwanda 222 km, Uganda 391 km, Zambia 353 km.

Climate

The climate of Tanzania can be described as temperate in elevated areas and tropical along the coastline. The geography of Tanzania is very interesting as this country is located in the African Great Lakes region, and features three major lakes: Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi). Victoria is offically Africa's largest freshwater lake, Tanganyika is the world's second deepest lake, and Nyasa contains more species of fish than any other lake. One amazing fact is that this country's lakes make up approximately 61,500 km2 of its surface area. Tanzania is home to another major geographical feature, the famous Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain. The geography of Tanzania also consists of coastal plains, central plateau, and areas of elevation to the northern and southern regions. The lowest point of Tanzania is the Indian Ocean at 0m, and the highest point of elevation is Kilimanjaro at 5,895m.

Culture

The official languages of Tanzania are Swahili and English. English is taught in schools and is used primarily in administration and commerce. Most people on the island of Zanzibar, which belongs to Tanzania, speak Kiswahili (Swahili) or Arabic.

The primary religion of Tanzania is Christian at approximately 61% of the population. Around 35% are Muslim. The remaining population either belongs to other religions or no religion at all.

Economy

Natural resources can be described as materials and substances found naturally occurring on Earth. Natural resources are very important across the world, and can be exploited for economic gain. An individual country's natural resources can depend on many factors including the climate, geography and location. Some countries, such as Russia, The United States, Saudi Arabia and Canada, are rich with natural resources, where as others have practically none. Three of the primary uses of natural resources are food, transport and construction. The following examples provide information on the everyday uses of natural resources: Fish occurs naturally in many bodies of water and can be caught for food consumption. Crude oils can be refined into various fuels in order to power vehicles/cars. Wood/timber can be extracted from forests and used to construct houses and furniture. The natural resources found in Tanzania include hydropower (water power), tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas and nickel.

The flag

Each country has its own individual culture, history and identity. Flags, emblems, symbols, colors, anthems, songs and mottos represent the national pride and identity of countries across the globe. These national symbols are forged through a nation's unique history and can represent both hardship and prosperity, embodying freedom, strength and unity. Flags, emblems, colors, songs and mottos reflect the past, present and future aspirations of a country, and create an important image to the rest of the world. National symbols can include a mixture of things that are symbolic to a nation such as wildlife, plants, geographical features, crops, tools of agriculture, and tools of war. Here are some important facts on the symbols, songs and colors of Tanzania: