Tanzania Economy
Is Tanzania a rich country?
Tanzania has achieved high growth rates based on its vast natural resource wealth and tourism with GDP growth in 2009-17 averaging 6%-7% per year. Dar es Salaam used fiscal stimulus measures and easier monetary policies to lessen the impact of the global recession and in general, benefited from low oil prices. Tanzania has largely completed its transition to a market economy, though the government retains a presence in sectors such as telecommunications, banking, energy, and mining.
The economy depends on agriculture, which accounts for slightly less than one-quarter of GDP and employs about 65% of the work force, although gold production in recent years has increased to about 35% of exports. All land in Tanzania is owned by the government, which can lease land for up to 99 years. Proposed reforms to allow for land ownership, particularly foreign land ownership, remain unpopular.
The financial sector in Tanzania has expanded in recent years and foreign-owned banks account for about 48% of the banking industry's total assets. Competition among foreign commercial banks has resulted in significant improvements in the efficiency and quality of financial services, though interest rates are still relatively high, reflecting high fraud risk. Banking reforms have helped increase private-sector growth and investment.
The World Bank, the IMF, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's aging infrastructure, including rail and port, which provide important trade links for inland countries. In 2013, Tanzania completed the world's largest Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) grant, worth $698 million, but in late 2015, the MCC Board of Directors deferred a decision to renew Tanzania’s eligibility because of irregularities in voting in Zanzibar and concerns over the government's use of a controversial cybercrime bill.
The new government elected in 2015 has developed an ambitious development agenda focused on creating a better business environment through improved infrastructure, access to financing, and education progress, but implementing budgets remains challenging for the government. Recent policy moves by President MAGUFULI are aimed at protecting domestic industry and have caused concern among foreign investors.
Tanzania Economy Data
What is the GDP of Tanzania?
| Currency Name and Code | Tanzanian Shilling (TZS) |
| GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP) | $152,790,000,000 (USD) |
| GDP - official exchange rate | $46,190,000,000 (USD) |
| GDP - real growth rate | 6.9% |
| GDP Per Capita | $3,000.00 (USD) |
| GDP by Sector- agriculture | 26.5% |
| GDP by Sector- Industry | 25.6% |
| GDP by Sector- services | 47.3% |
| GDP - composition, by end use |
household consumption: 68% government consumption: 16.1% investment in fixed capital: 29.3% investment in inventories: -0.3% exports of goods and services: 18.7% imports of goods and services: -31.8% |
| Population Below Poverty Line | 36% |
| Inflation Rate | 7.2% |
| Labor Force | 21,860,000 |
| Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture | 80% |
| Fiscal Year | 1 July - 30 June |
| Annual Budget | $4,263,000,000 (USD) |
| Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP | -5.6% |
| Public Debt (% of GDP) | 5% |
| Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP | 22.3% |
| Major Industries | agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine), diamond and gold mining, oil refining, shoes, cement, textiles, wood products, fertilizer, salt |
| Industrial Growth Rate | 7% |
| Agriculture Products | coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves, corn, wheat, cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats |
| Exchange Rate per US Dollar | Tanzanian shilling (TZS) |
| Labor Force By Occupation - industry and services | 20% |
| Child Labor - % of children ages 5-14 | 21% |
| Child Labor - # of children ages 5-14 | 2,815,085 |
| Child Labor - note | note: data represents children ages 5-17 |
| Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate | 13.6% |