GENERAL ECONOMIC REVIEW | PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT AND CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES|
SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUE | DEVELOPMENTS IN DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY

The Domestic Economy
The State of the World Economy and International Economic Cooperation
External Sector
Government Finance
Money and Finance Institutions
Human Resources
Acronomys and Abbreviations

HUMAN  RESOURCES

Population and Development

111.            According to the national Population and Housing Census held in August 2002, the population of Tanzania reached a total of 34.6 million people, out of which 16.9 million are males and 17.7 million are females. Out of the total population, 33.6 million people were in Tanzania Mainland comprising 16.4 million males and 17.2 million females and 984,625 people in Tanzania Zanzibar of which 502,006 were females and 482,619 were males.

112.            Tanzania’s population growth rate has increased from 2.8 percent per annum during the intercensural period 1978 – 1988  to 2.9 percent per annum during the period 1988 – 2002. The population growth rate for Tanzania Mainland over the period 1988 – 2002 was 2.9 percent per annum while that of Tanzania Zanzibar was 3.1 percent per annum. Regional population growth rate differentials in Tanzania Mainland ranges from 1.4 percent for Lindi to 4.8 percent for Kigoma region.  On the part of Tanzania Zanzibar, the population growth rate  also varies between  regions.  The Zanzibar, Urban West region recorded the highest population growth rate of 4.5 percent while Unguja South had the lowest growth rate of 2.1 percent per annum.

113.            The 2002 Census results has also shown that Tanzania had 7 million households, out of which the Mainland had 6,811,087 households and Tanzania Zanzibar had 184,949 households.  Overall, Tanzania had an average household size of 4.9 people which is also the average size for Tanzania Mainland while Tanzania Zanzibar had an average size of 5.3 people per household.

114.            Population density has increased from the national average of 26 people in 1988 to 39 people per sq. km. in 2002.  Also at regional level, population density varies between regions, from 12 people per square kilometer for Lindi region to 1,793 people per sq. km. for Dar es Salaam region on the part of Tanzania Mainland. In Tanzania Zanzibar, regional population density range from 111 people per sq. km. in Unguja South to 1,700 people per sq. km. in Urban West.

115.            Implementation of the National Population Policy and its plans of action continued satisfactorily.  The largest population programme under implementation is the 5-year programme covering the period 2002-2006 that is supported by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA).  The annual review of first year of implementation of the programme conducted during February 2003 has shown that notable success has been achieved. Motivation of and support for population and development issues has continued to grow amongst leaders.  Reproductive health education and services have continued to improve both in volume and quality.  Capacity to implement, follow-up and coordinate population activities has also improved following training and working facilities provided to staff of various institutions engaged in implementation. However, the main problem faced in the implementation of population and development activities in the country are budgetary constraints, shortage of manpower, skills and working tools. Implementation of the Population Development Programme continued to depend to large extent on the support of UNFPA- an organization which of late has indicated to be experiencing a decline of its resources.

Labour Force and Employment

116.            The results of the Integrated Labour Force Survey conducted in 2000/01 show that total labour force (age 10 years and above) has increased from 11.2 million in 1990/91 to 17.8 million in 2001. This implies that more than 650,000 have been entering the labour market every year. Out of the 17.8 million people, according to Tanzania definition, those employed were 15.5 million. This definition takes into account the employment environment pertaining in Tanzania, where the majority of people are self-employed rather than wage earners, and most of the work is seasonal in the agricultural and informal sectors. Accordingly, of the 15.3 million people employed, 84.0 percent were in traditional agriculture, 6.0 per cent in the informal sector, 4.0 per cent in the private formal sector, 3.5 per cent in domestic work, 2.0 per cent in government, and 0.5 per cent in the parastatal sector.

117.            Unemployment for the whole country stood at 2.3 million people, which is equivalent to 12.9 per cent of the total labour force. Unemployed women were 1.3 million and men were 1.0 million. Nearly half of the unemployed were living in urban areas. Unemployment for the City of Dar es Salaam alone was 46.5 per cent while in the other urban areas it was 25.5 per cent and in rural areas 8.4 per cent. The survey results have also revealed that unemployment is a serious problem for the youth aged between 10 and 34. In terms of gender, young women are more vulnerable to this problem than men.

118.            Analysis of these survey results shows that the share of the public formal sector (i.e. government and parastatals) in creating employment has significantly declined. Traditional agriculture, the informal sector and the private formal sector are the greatest employers. Government efforts in addressing the problem of unemployment and poverty reduction is therefore focused on encouraging peasants to improve their agriculture by using appropriate technology, proper inputs and extension services so that they increase the quantity and quality of crop yield. It also promotes investment in agro-processing industries in order to add value to the agricultural products. Vocational training centres are encouraged to offer courses that are demanded in the labour market. The government continued to offer incentives to big investors (local and foreign) so that they establish industries that create more jobs and that have backward and forward linkages with the agricultural and informal sectors. The government is creating an enabling environment for the informal sector to grow and to use improved technology.

Table No.33