Population (2005 est.): 36,766,356 (growth rate: 1.8%); birth rate: 38.2/1000; infant mortality rate: 98.5/1000; life expectancy: 45.2; density per sq mi: 101

Average income per person: US $150 per year (1994)

Ethnicity/race: native African 99% (includes 95% Bantu, consisting of well over 100 ethnic groups); Asian, European, and Arab 1%.

Religion: mainland: Christian, Islam, indigenous; Zanzibar: more than 99% Islam

Education: Adult literacy rate 68%; Schools 4,891; University 1

Literacy rate: 78% (2003 est.)

Capital: Commercial capital and largest city is Dar es Salaam, (pop. 2,489,800). The administrative and official capital is Dodoma, (pop. 164,500).

Currency: Tanzanian shilling (TZS)

Economy: With 36% of the population below the poverty line (2002 est.)Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world.

National Holidays

Zanzibar Revolution- January 12

Karume Day- April 7 

Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar)- 26 April (1964)

May Day/Labour Day (East Africa)- May 1

Nane Nane- August 8

Nyerere Day-October 14

Independence Day- December 9