Tanzania, located in East Africa, is one of the poorest countries in the world.

Swahili and English are the main languages spoken.

Today, Tanzania is relatively peaceful and stable politically, although ranking among the world's least-developed nations. It has few natural resources and under-developed agricultural practices, with most farmers cultivating their land by hand. More than 40 percent of its people live in areas where unreliable rainfall leads to chronic food shortages.

Nearly one-third of Tanzania's population lacks access to clean water, and various preventable diseases continue to threaten the lives of children -- including malaria, the biggest child killer.

The AIDS pandemic has also taken its toll on Tanzania. Currently there are nearly one million children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS and more than one million people currently living with HIV and AIDS. This has put tremendous pressure on already overstretched healthcare and community support services and has reduced the number of farmers working the land to grow food.

Humanitarian Profile: Tanzania

* Region: East Africa

* Total population: 40.4 million

* Ranked 159 out of 177 countries according to Human Development Indicators (HDI)

* Life expectancy: 51 years

* 6.5% of population living with HIV&AIDS

* One in eight children die before their fifth birthday

* Two in nine children are underweight

Sources: Sources: UNAIDS, UNDP 

Tanzania is comprised of 26 regions. SHARE works in the Kagera Region, remotely located in the northwestern corner of Tanzania.

There are 2.6 people living in the Kagera Region, which is primarily rural, with its main industry being agriculture.

Kagera is one of Tanzania’s poorest regions. Bukoba is the capital city of the Kagera Region, with a population of approximately 150,000. It is 1,500 km from Dar es Salaam (the main city in Tanzania) by car.

Tanzania: Quick Facts

• Swahili and English are the official languages of Tanzania
• 95% of Tanzanian girls do not graduate high school. This number is significantly higher in rural areas.
• The Tanzanian government spends $5 per student per year. In rural areas of Tanzania, $2 per student is spent annually. (In New Jersey, we spend over $14,117 per student, per year!)
• Population: 40.4 million
• Urban Population: 33%
• Major Ethnic and Linguistic Groups: African - 99%
• Religions: 35% Muslim, 35% Traditional Beliefs, 30% Christian
• Population Growth Rate: 1.72%
• Life Expectancy: 51 years
• Infant Mortality: 104 per 1,000 live births
• Under Five Mortality: 165 per 1,000 live births
• Maternal Mortality Rate: 530 per 100,000 live births
• GNP Per Capita: $270
• Percentage of Literate Adult Males: 86%
• Percentage of Literate Adult Females: 71%
• Percentage Population With Access to Safe Drinking Water: 68%