lag description: divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band
from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is
green and the lower triangle is blue

Economy

Economy--overview: Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the
world. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which
accounts for 56% 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
15% 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 1991-98 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.
Short-term economic progress also depends on curbing corruption.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$22.1 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 3.8% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$730 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 56%
industry: 15%
services: 29% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: 51.1% (1991 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 30.2% (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13.5% (1998)

Labor force: 13.495 million

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

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $700 million
expenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY98/99 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--production: 1.82 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 12.09%
hydro: 87.91%
nuclear: 0%