Geography & environment — Tanzania
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Tanzania: Africa
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Africa
- Geographic Coordinates
6 00 S, 35 00 E
- Total Area
365,753 Square Miles 947,300 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
342,007 Square Miles 885,800 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
23,745 Square Miles 61,500 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
2,399 Miles 3,861 Kilometers
- Border Countries
Burundi 451 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 459 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km
- Coastline
885 Miles 1,424 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
- plains along coast
- central plateau
- highlands in north, south
- Highest Point
5,895 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Kilimanjaro 5,895 m
- Lowest Point Location
Indian Ocean 0 m
- Natural Resources
hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel
- Irrigated Land
712 Square Miles 1,843 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
- Climate
- The coastal strip is tropical with high humidity
- temperatures range from 80°F–95°F. The country’s annual rainfall averages 65 inches. The central plateau (altitude 3,000–4,000 feet
- rainfall 2–30 inches), which covers much of the country, is hot and dry. The semi-temperate highlands (up to 6,000 feet
- rainfall 40–100 inches) are fertile and cool. The islands of Zanzibar (rainfall 60-75 inches), 25 miles off the coast, are tropical and humid. Tanzania has two rainy and two dry seasons. During the long rains, from March through May, heavy downpours can occur daily (though it is not unusual to have as many as 2-3 days of sunny, pleasant weather between showers). The short rains come in November and December. Temperatures and humidity are high from November to April, and surface winds are moderate. June through September is pleasant and generally mild. Another weather phenomenon are the monsoon winds, or tradewinds, which blow in different directions during the year. From April to November, the winds can be quite cool.
- Terrain
- plains along coast
- central plateau
- highlands in north, south
- Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique
- Total Area
365,753 Square Miles 947,300 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
Burundi 451 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 459 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
soil degradation
deforestation
desertification
destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats
recent droughts affected marginal agriculture
wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory
- Environment - International Agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements