Tanzania is a country rich in natural resources, and of great geographic and cultural diversity. However, it remains one of the poorest countries in the world.  Thirty-six percent of Tanzanians live in extreme poverty, and almost one in five are hungry, living below the food poverty line.

An HIV prevalence of approximately 7%, a population growth rate of over 2% and a growing number of orphans and vulnerable children present huge obstacles to poverty alleviation efforts. Poverty in Tanzania is further exacerbated by environmental degradation, reflected in declining fertility of agricultural lands, deforestation, and destruction of water sources and catchment areas.

Masai family

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Excerpted from the Poverty and Human Development Report, 2005 & 2007
(Last Updated: March 2009)

Economy
 
GDP growth rate
6.7%
% of labor force employed in agriculture
90%
% living below the poverty line
36%
% living below the food poverty line
19%

Health
 
Children under the age of 18 who have lost mother, father or both
10%
Population with access to piped or protected water as their main source within 30 minutes round trip collection time
Urban: 82%; Rural 39%
Infant mortality per 1000 live births
68
Under five mortality per 1000 live births
112
Malnutrition: Children stunted
38%

Life expectancy

51

HIV prevalence among youth aged 15-24

6.1% (from 2005 data)

People with comprehensive knowledge about HIV

Female: 46%. Male: 54%

Population within 5 KMs of a health center or dispensary

75%. Urban: 98%. Rural: 68%.

Population within 10 KMs of a hospital

47%. Urban: 98%. Rural: 36%.

Education
 
Primary Net Enrollment
Girls: 97%. Boys: 97.5%
Secondary Net Enrollment  (2007)
20.6 (gender breakdown unavailable)
Literacy Rate
69%. Female: 62%. Male: 78%.

% of schools with adequate sanitation facilities

38.9%

Proportion of children aged 5-17 in child labour

21.1%

Pupil : Teacher Ratio

53:1

% of children graduating from Primary School (Grade 7) who continue to Secondary School

67.5%

Pupil : Textbook Ratio

3:1

% of students passing the Primary School Leaving Exam (Grade 7 exam)

70.5%

Biodiversity and Natural Resources  (Source: World Resources Institute)
Land mass covered by major forests
30%
Number of mammal species
322 (including 14 endemic)

Number of bird species

over 1,000*

Land mass covered in forest/woodland
38%
Total area falling within protected areas
40%

* Neil Baker