Economy-overview: Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the
world. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts
for 57% of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 90% of the work
force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated
crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry accounts for 17% of GDP
and is mainly limited to processing agricultural products and light
consumer goods. The economic recovery program announced in mid-1986
has generated notable increases in agricultural production and
financial support for the program by bilateral donors. The World Bank,
the International Monetary Fund, and bilateral donors have provided
funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's deteriorated economic infrastructure.
Growth in 1991-97 has featured a pickup in industrial production and a
substantial increase in output of minerals, led by gold. Natural gas
exploration in the Rufiji Delta looks promising and production could
start by 2002. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private
sector growth and investment.

GDP: purchasing power parity-$21.1 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate: 4.3% (1997 est.)

GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$700 (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 57%
industry: 17%
services: 26% (1995 est.)

Inflation rate-consumer price index: 15% (1997 est.)

Labor force:
total: 13.495 million
by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 10% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $959 million
expenditures: $1.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $214
million (FY96/97 est.)

Industries: primarily agricultural processing (sugar, beer,
cigarettes, sisal twine), diamond and gold mining, oil refining,
shoes, cement, textiles, wood products, fertilizer, salt

Industrial production growth rate: 0.4% (1995 est.)

Electricity-capacity: 439,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-production: 895 million kWh (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita: 31 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products: coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum
(insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashews, tobacco, cloves
(Zanzibar), corn, wheat, cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits,
vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats

Exports:
total value: $760 million (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: coffee, manufactured goods, cotton, cashew nuts,
minerals, tobacco, sisal (1995)
partners: EU, Japan, India, US (1995)

Imports:
total value: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1996)