Capital: Dodoma is the official capital, where the National Assembly meets, but the coastal city of Dar es Salaam is the de facto commercial capital.

Government type: Republic

Head of State: President Benjamin William Mkapa

Area: 365,000 sq miles (including the islands of Mafia, Pemba and Zanzibar) — about twice the size of California

Population: 35 million (July 2000 est.)

Religions: Mainland - Christian 45%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 20%; Zanzibar — more than 99% Muslim

Languages: Swahili (official) and English; some Arabic is also spoken in Zanzibar

Independence: April 26,1964 (National Day); Tanganyika became independent December 9, 1961 from a UK-administered UN trusteeship; Zanzibar became independent December 19, 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar April 26, 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania October 29, 1964

GDP: $7.46 billion (2000 est.)

GDP growth: 5.3% (2001/2002 forecast.)

Exchange rates: Tanzanian shillings (TSh) per US$1 - 890 (September 2001)