World Factbook
Tanzania
Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band, from the lower left corner to the upper right corner; the upper triangle (left side) is green, and the lower is blue meaning: colors come from the flags of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; green stands for natural vegetation, gold for rich mineral deposits, black for the Swahili people, and blue for lakes and rivers, as well as the Indian Ocean
Capital
name
Dodoma
etymology
the name comes from the name of a nearby mountain; the origin of the mountain's name is unclear
time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
6 48 S, 39 17 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Tanzania; if a child is born abroad, the father must be a citizen of Tanzania
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest adopted 25 April 1977
amendment process
proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments to constitutional articles including those on sovereignty of the United Republic, the authorities and powers of the government, the president, the Assembly, and the High Court requires two-thirds majority vote of the mainland Assembly membership and of the Zanzibar House of Representatives membership; House of Representatives approval of other amendments is not required
Country name
former
German East Africa, Trust Territory of Tanganyika, Republic of Tanganyika, People's Republic of Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar
etymology
the country's name is a combination of the first letters of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, the two states that merged to form Tanzania in 1964
local long form
Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania
local short form
Tanzania
conventional long form
United Republic of Tanzania
conventional short form
Tanzania
Independence
26 April 1964 (Tanganyika united with Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar); 29 October 1964 (renamed United Republic of Tanzania); notable earlier dates: 9 December 1961 (Tanganyika became independent from UK-administered UN trusteeship); 10 December 1963 (Zanzibar became independent from UK)
Legal system
English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Court of Appeal of the United Republic of Tanzania (consists of the chief justice and 14 justices); High Court of the United Republic for Mainland Tanzania (consists of the principal judge and 30 judges organized into commercial, land, and labor courts); High Court of Zanzibar (consists of the chief justice and 10 justices)
subordinate courts
Resident Magistrates Courts; Kadhi courts (for Islamic family matters); district and primary courts
judge selection and term of office
Court of Appeal and High Court justices appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission for Tanzania, a judicial body of high-level judges and 2 members appointed by the national president; Court of Appeal and High Court judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 60, but terms can be extended; High Court of Zanzibar judges appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Commission of Zanzibar; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65
Executive branch
note
note 1: Zanzibar elects a president as head of government for internal matters; election held on 28 October 2020; Hussein MWINYI (CCM) 76.3%, Maalim Seif SHARIF (ACT-Wazalendo) 19.9%, other 3.8% note 2: the president is both chief of state and head of government note 3: after the death of President John MAGUFULI in March 2021, Vice President Samia Suluhu HASSAN assumed the presidency
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly
chief of state
President Samia Suluhu HASSAN (since 19 March 2021)
election results
2025 : Samia Suluhu HASSAN reelected; percent of vote - Samia Suluhu HASSAN (CCM) 97.7%, others 2.3%
head of government
President Samia Suluhu HASSAN (since 19 March 2021)
most recent election date
29 October 2025
election/appointment process
president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president
expected date of next election
October 2030
National holiday
Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964)
National color(s)
green, yellow, blue, black
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
7 (3 cultural, 3 natural, 1 mixed)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Ngorongoro Conservation Area (m); Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara (c); Serengeti National Park (n); Selous Game Reserve (n); Kilimanjaro National Park (n); Stone Town of Zanzibar (c); Kondoa Rock-Art Sites (c)
Political parties
Alliance for Change and Transparency (Wazalendo) or ACT-Wazalendo Civic United Front (Chama Cha Wananchi) or CUF Party of Democracy and Development (Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo) or CHADEMA Revolutionary Party of Tanzania (Chama Cha Mapinduzi) or CCM
Legislative branch
note
note : the Attorney General fills the "other" seat as an ex-officio member
term in office
5 years
number of seats
403 (272 directly elected; 120 indirectly elected; 10 appointed; 1 other)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
National Assembly (Bunge)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
10/29/2025
expected date of next election
October 2030
percentage of women in chamber
39.5%
parties elected and seats per party
Revolutionary Party of Tanzania (CCM) (383); ACT-Wazalendo (2)
National anthem(s)
title
"Mungu ibariki Afrika" (God Bless Africa)
history
adopted 1961; the anthem, which is also a popular African popular song in Africa, shares the melody of Zambia's anthem and is part of South Africa's anthem
lyrics/music
collective/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA
National symbol(s)
Uhuru (freedom) torch, giraffe
Administrative divisions
31 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Geita, Iringa, Kagera, Kaskazini Pemba (Pemba North), Kaskazini Unguja (Zanzibar North), Katavi, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Kusini Pemba (Pemba South), Kusini Unguja (Zanzibar Central/South), Lindi, Manyara, Mara, Mbeya, Mjini Magharibi (Zanzibar Urban/West), Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Njombe, Pwani (Coast), Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Simiyu, Singida, Songwe, Tabora, Tanga
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 797-7408
chancery
1232 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone
[1] (202) 884-1080
chief of mission
Ambassador Elsie Sia KANZA (since 1 December 2021)
email address and website
ubalozi@tanzaniaembassy-us.org https://us.tzembassy.go.tz/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[255] (22) 229-4721
embassy
686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani, P.O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
telephone
[255] (22) 229-4000
mailing address
2140 Dar es Salaam Place, Washington, DC 20521-2140
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Andrew LENTZ (since January 2025)
email address and website
DRSACS@state.gov https://tz.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, EAC, EADB, EITI, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction