Socio-economic
The United Republic of Tanzania is the second largest economy in the East African Community and the twelfth largest in Africa. The country is largely dependent on agriculture for employment, accounting for about half of the employed workforce. The economy has been transitioning from a command economy to a market economy since 1985. However, closing the gap between the urban and rural population remains a challenge. Poverty in Tanzania is characterised by low income and consumption, poor nutritional status, low educational attainment, less access to public services including school and health services, less access to economic opportunities and exclusion from economic, social and political processes.
Health
Among the 1.4 million Tanzanians living with HIV/AIDS, 70.5 percent are 25 to 49 years old, and 15 percent are 15–24 years. In young women ages 15 to 24, there is an HIV prevalence rate of 3.8 percent, which is significantly higher than the 2.8 percent prevalence rate among young men in the same age group. More than half of available hospital beds are occupied by HIV-infected persons. The 2010 maternal mortality rate per 100,000 births for Tanzania is 790. This is compared with 449 in 2008 and 610.2 in 1990. In Tanzania there are only two midwives per 1,000 live births; and the lifetime risk of death during delivery for women is one in 23.
Environment
Tanzania’s two major environmental problems relate to its forests and untreated pollution.
A majority of Tanzanians rely on wood and agricultural residues for their energy needs, causing deforestation and environmental degradation. Deforested areas no longer provide a home for wildlife - leading to biodiversity loss - and are also susceptible to soil erosion.
In major towns and cities, solid and liquid wastes are left untreated. As a result, air and water are contaminated with pollutants, a major health hazard for those who live in under-privileged areas.
Education
The country has made significant gains in access and equity in primary education. Tanzania has one of the highest net enrolment ratios in Africa, with girls’ enrollment very close to parity with boys’ at all primary education levels.
Despite these successes, many challenges persist related to retention, completion and transition to secondary education, as well as quality of education, actual learning outcomes and the relevance of skills that graduates bring to the economy. Many children enrolled in school drop out before completing primary education, especially girls. At higher levels of the education system, the situation is even worse: the net enrollment rate for lower secondary education is 30.8 percent, and for upper secondary education only 1.9 percent.
