Zanzibar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It is located in the Indian Ocean, and consists of many small islands and two large ones: Unguja (the main island, referred to informally as Zanzibar) and Pemba Island.
The capital is Zanzibar City, located on the island of Unguja.
Its historic centre, Stone Town, is a World Heritage Site.
Zanzibar is also a semi-autonomous region that united with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the present-day United Republic of Tanzania.
The archipelago's main industries are spices, raffia, and tourism.
The main spices produced are clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, coconut, and black pepper.
The Zanzibar Archipelago, together with Tanzania's Mafia Island, is sometimes referred to locally as the "Spice Islands".
Tourism in Zanzibar is a more recent activity, driven by government promotion, which has increased from 19,000 tourists in 1985 to 376,000 in 2016 and 917,000 in 2025 [8].
The islands are accessible via five ports and the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, which can serve up to 1.5 million passengers per year.
Zanzibar's marine ecosystem plays a vital role in its fishing and algacultural industries; these ecosystems act as nurseries for Indian Ocean fish populations.
Moreover, the land ecosystem is the home of the endemic Zanzibar red colobus, the Zanzibar servaline genet, and the extinct or rare Zanzibar leopard.
Environmental pressure from the tourism and fishing industries, as well as larger threats such as sea-level rise caused by climate change, is creating growing environmental concerns throughout the region.
Etymology
The word Zanzibar came from Arabic zanjibār
The name is one of several toponyms sharing similar etymologies, ultimately meaning "land of the blacks" or similar meanings, in reference to the dark skin of its inhabitants.
Zanzibar (Swahili)
Anthem: "Mungu ibariki Afrika"
"God bless Africa"
Status
Semi-autonomous region of Tanzania
Capital
Zanzibar City
Official languages
Swahili
Arabic
English
Ethnic groups
Swahili
Arabs
Hadimu
Shirazi
Tumbatu
Religion
98% Islam
1.16% Christianity
0.84% Others (including Indigenous and Irreligious)
Demonym
Zanzibari
Government
Federacy
• President
• First Vice President
• Second Vice President
Legislature
House of Representatives
Establishment history
• Zanzibar Sultanate
19 October 1856
• Zanzibar Revolution
12 January 1964
• Unification of Tanganyika and Zanzibar
26 April 1964
Area
Total • 2,462 km2 (951 sq mi)
Population
• 2022 census / 1,889,773
• Density
768.2/km2 (1,989.6/sq mi)
GDP (nominal) 2020 estimate
• Total
$3.75 billion
• Per capita
$2,500
HDI (2018)
0.613 medium
Currency
Tanzanian shilling (TZS)
Time zone
UTC+3 (EAT)
Calling code
+255
Internet TLD
.tz
FEATURED - FIFA - Tanzania confirms Zanzibar's bid for Fifa membership
Zanzibar was admitted as a full (CAF) member in March.
5 Jun 2017
CAF - NATIONAL TEAM - Zanzibar admitted as full CAF member
CAF is now the joint-biggest confederation in Fifa.
23 Mar 2017
CAF - Madagascar FA chief Ahmad elected as new CAF president
Ahmad won 34 of the 54 votes in the election.
16 Mar 2017
CAF’s Nyantakyi and Camara elected to Fifa council
Nyantakyi was a narrow winner to take up a new seat on the council.
2 Oct 2016
FEATURED - CAF sets three-term limit on presidency
Issa Hayatou could still be CAF president for another 12 years.
29 Sep 2016
AFRICAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2016 - PRELIMINARY ROUND - 2nd leg - all results
A late penalty helped Sundowns beat Chicken Inn to advance.
29 Feb 2016
AFRICAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2016 - Preliminary round - 1st leg - all results
Sundowns lose to Zimbabwe's Chicken Inn.
14 Feb 2016
CAF set to elect new Fifa executive committee members
Two new members will be elected as Africa's representatives on Fifa's executive committee on Tuesday.
6 Apr 2015
AFRICAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2015 - PRELIMINARIES - 2nd leg - all results
...
2 Mar 2015
AFRICAN CONFEDERATION CUP 2015 - PRELIMINARIES - 2nd leg - all results
...
1 Mar 2015
