C.PP.S. Mission Projects - Kamloops

add

POPULATION: As of 2006, the estimated population is 38,329,000, with an estimated growth rate of 2%. Population distribution is extremely uneven, with density varying from 1 person per square kilometer (3/mi²) in arid regions to 51 per square kilometer (133/mi²) in the mainland's well-watered highlands, to 134 per square kilometer (347/mi²) on Zanzibar. More than 80% of the population is rural.

POOR: Tanzania still has a very high unemployment rate,which is about 67%. It is ranked by some agencies as one of the five poorest countries in the world.

POLITICS: Dar es Salaam is the largest city and is the commercial capital; Dodoma, located in the center of Tanzania is the new capital and houses the Union's Parliament. Zanzibar Town houses the Zanzibar Parliament.

Located just south of the equator on the Indian Ocean in East Africa, Tanzania boasts a warm tropical climate on the coast, where the largest city, Dar es Salaam is located, and a dry, hot climate in the interior of the country where fresh water is scarce. Prolonged drought conditions the past several years have contributed to the continued problem of a lack of clean, dependable water sources for villages across the interior.

The annual per capita income is about $250, making this one of the five poorest countries in the world. Swahili and English are the official languages of this country of 38 million, where the life expectancy is about 53 years.

HIV/AIDS is estimated to affect over 13% of the population (over 20% in the 18-35 age group) and there are some 2.3 million children who do not have parents, or whose parents cannot raise or support them due to AIDS.

Originally gaining political independence in 1961 as the country of Tanganyika, it merged with the newly independent Zanzibar in April 1964 to form the country of Tanzania. With few natural resources, about 85% of the economy is related to agriculture and a significant percentage of the population lives in the rural environment.

Under the leadership of the first President, Julius Nyerere (1922-1999) the country was able to achieve relative stability. Following conflicts with neighbouring countries that brought severe economic conditions, it has returned to a level of stability but continues to struggle to build infrastructure.

It is the only country in the world today still operating a narrow gauge railway.  Known for wildlife and safari tourism in the Serengeti, and as home of the highest point in Africa, Mt. Kilimanjaro, it is seeking to build tourism as a new economic driver.