Tuesday,
4th
3rd draft
news release by JW 9/11/2002 8:12 AM, incorporating PW’s
changes
[Embargo: September 17,th 2002Date 09.00 GMT]
One of Africa’s
largesIts biggestt-ever
household surveys highlights…One of Africa’s largest-ever
household surveys,
with new robust poverty
baseline indicator, highlights…
MODEST DECLINE ‘IN COMPELLING
NEED’ TO REDUCE POVERTY IN TANZANIA
BUT oOver a third
still cannot satisfy
basic needs below basic needs poverty
line
In a decade of economic reform and demographic growth,
Tanzania Mainland[1]
has reduced
the share of its population in poverty. However, large differences remain between urban and
rural areas.
These key facts emerge
from a major new report out today from the country’s National Bureau of
Statistics (NBS).
The report was
launched today in
Dar es Salaam during Poverty Policy Week, soon after the Johannesburg Summit confirmed the
importance of reliable statistics for reducing poverty.
The findings come from
the 2000/01 Tanzanian Household Budget Survey, conducted with international
technical assistance. This survey, one of the largest of its kind in Africa, covered 22,000 households
and followed a similar but smaller one in 1991/92, enabling comparisons over
the decade.
After adjusting for
inflation, household consumption rose by around 17% during the decade, suggesting rising household incomes. The
biggest rise was in Dar es Salaam
(47%) while rural areas witnessed only 11%.
Today’s report shows there was a small fall in income
poverty of about three percentage points over the decade. Some 36% of
Tanzanians fall below the basic needs poverty line and 19% below the food
poverty line, compared with 39% and 22% in 1991/92. Despite improvements in
Tanzania over the last decade, income poverty is high and social
indicators usually poor. However, bBecause of
population growth there are now two million more people below the basic needs
poverty line than at the beginning of the 1990s.
These
key facts emerge from a major new report out today from the country’s National
Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The
report points to a “compelling need” to focus on reducing poverty, especially
in rural areas.
The findings come from
the 2000/01 Tanzanian Household Budget Survey, conducted by NBS. This
biggest-ever HBS covered 22,000 households and followed a similar but smaller
one in 1991/92, enabling comparisons over the decade.
Today’s report shows
there was a small fall in income poverty of about three percentage points over
the decade. Some 36% of Tanzanians fall below the basic needs poverty line and
19% below the food poverty line, compared with 39% and 22% in 1991/92.
Rural
areas have the highest poverty
levels, with 39% of the population below the basic needs poverty line compared
with 18% in Dar es Salaam and 26% in other urban areas.
The
absolute number of
individuals living in poverty increased during the 1990s because of population
growth. Using national population projections, there are now 11.4 million
Tanzanians below the basic needs poverty line compared with 9.5 million in
1991/92. The current total population is XXXXXX compared with XXXXXX 10
years ago.
And the richest 20% of the population
account for 44% of household spending; the poorest 20% for just 7%.
Women now head 1 in 4 households
All over the world there are changes in long-familiar patterns of family structure – and such a trend emerges from this survey: in Tanzania nearly 1 in 4 of all households is headed by a woman. The HBS shows that over the last decade the proportion of such households has risen from 18% to 23%.
The
Director-General of the NBS, Mr Cletus P.B. Mkai, [Name?] said
today: “We are not sure of the reasons for this trend. Changes in marriage
patterns, early widowhood and labour migration might all play a role. What is
clear is that households headed by a woman are on average no poorer than those
where a man is in charge.”
This
trend has been accompanied by a fall in household size – from an average of 5.7 to 4.9 people – and a small rise in the
proportion headed by the over-65s and over.
However,
women are about twice as likely as men to have no education. Rural
women
in particular have missed out – over one third have had no education at all and
41% are unable to read or write. However, current school enrolment rates are
slightly higher for girls – but boys
are more likely to stay in school at older ages.
Whether
headed by a man or woman, families have more modern housing conditions than 10
years ago. Some 43% of Tanzanian houses now have a metal roof and 25% have
walls of concrete, cement, stone or baked or burnt brick. These improvements
usually have been greater in urban areas – but are seen also in rural areas.
But…only 10% of Tanzanian households are connected to the electricity grid,
with an additional 2% having electricity from other sources. And…44% still use unprotected sources of
drinking.
Ownership
of consumer goods increased during the 1990s. While the
rise
was largest in Dar es Salaam and other urban areas, rural areas also
saw an increase in
goods not dependent on mains electricity, including bicycles and radios. Some
46% of rural households now own a radio.
Nationally,
84% of Tanzanian households now own their house.
Although
most Tanzanians still depend on agriculture, households have diversified their
economic activity. Some 70% are now headed by an individual who works in
agriculture or fishing, compared with 75% in 1991/92. There has also been a
drop in government and parastatal employment – from 5.2% to 2.5% of adults. There
is a rise in private sector employment and in self-employment, which are now
the main activities of 40% of adults in Dar es Salaam.
There
are signs of rising household incomes. After adjusting for inflation, household
consumption rose by around 17% between 1991/92 and 2000/01. Dar es Salaam saw the biggest rise – around
47%. Rural areas witnessed only around 11%. As a result, the gap between urban
and rural areas widened .
Food makes up 65% of total household
consumption. Households now purchase more and grow less of their
food they consume
than they did in 1991/922 .
The
share of household consumption represented by education and
medical
expenses has more than doubled.
Notes to editors
Details of the HBS’s
availability, etc + contact points for further information and any other info
considered vital.For more detailed information
see:
“Fact sheet” (faxed upon request)
HBS Website “www…”on
www.tanzania.go.tz
with downlooadable full reports in English and Keswahili
Fact sheet,
interviews and
explanations can be obtained faxing
NBS +255
22 2130852
or Vice President’s Office +255 22
2113856
or through e-mail:
Ř
nbs.dg@raha.com
Ř
nbs.socialstat@raha.com
Ř
census@raha.com
page eighteen
8. REPORTED INCOME