Overview of Tanzania

Tanzania offers a stable political climate alongside natural communities rich in biodiversity. The 2007 US State Department report ranks Tanzania’s governance among Africa’s top three countries alongside Ghana and South Africa.

Overview
	East African country, roughly equal to the size of Texas and California put together Almost 40 million people with more than 120 different linguistic groups; none with over 10% of the country’s total population Became independent from Britain in 1961 Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, since 1964 Kiswahili, English are official languages One of Africa’s most stable countries Quarter of country is reserved for wildlife, including the world-renowned Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, Mikumi, Gombe, and Olduvai Gorge The country has access to Indian Ocean and all Africa’s Great Lakes, including Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi (or Nyasa), and the world longest and second deepest Lake Tanganyika.
Economy
	Became staunchly socialist under Julius Nyerere after independence in 1961 Adopted a free market in 1985 One of the poorest countries in the world Half of GDP comes from agriculture, which accounts for 85% of exports and employs 80% of the total work force The country is the third largest producer of gold and exports other minerals such as diamonds, tin, and tanzanite, which is not found any where else in the world. It exports cash crops such as coffee, cotton, cashew nuts, sisal, tobacco, tea, and various spices from Zanzibar.