Life expectancy in Tanzania shoots up from 45 to 67 years’ average. Reveals President Samia Suluhu

Life expectancy among Tanzanians has increased from an average of 45 years recorded in 1964 to around 67 years in 2024. A major stride gained within the six decades of the Mainland and Isles union.

In her address to the nation President Samia Suluhu Hassan revealed that the country has so far conducted six population and housing census, with the one counted in 1964 revealing that the country had nearly 10 million residents while the latest census saw the population shooting to 62 million people and counting.

The Head of State speech was in commemoration of the 60 years of the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar which produced the current United Republic of Tanzania.

As far as President Samia is concerned, the union made both countries to bury their respective colonial histories.

Listing some of the achievements realized during the six decades’ milestone, President Samia pointed out that in 1964 there was only one institute of higher learning, the University Of Dar es salaam (UDSM)

“During that time students from Zanzibar had to cross to the mainland in order to secure tertiary education,” said President Samia, adding that at the moment the country boasts a total of 49 universities, three of which are located on the Islands.

“And while there were only 14 University students 60 years ago, today the higher learning institutions in the country have nearly 245,000 scholars as of 2024,” said the Head of State.

The President highlighted another achievement in women participation in governance and decision making.

“Sixty years ago there were only three female members of the parliament but today the National Assembly boasts a total of 148 women legislators out of the current 392 Members of the parliament,” pointed out the president.

Mama Samia maintained that of the three pillars of governance, two are headed by women including the head of government, a female president as well as the Legislative, which now has a female speaker.

And when it comes to communication, the country seems to have made an even bigger stride in the 60 years of the Union.

According to President Samia, there are a total of 72 million mobile Sim cards subscriptions from services being offered by five Telecommunication companies.

At least 53 million phone lines are registered to conduct mobile money transaction services, while over 1435 towers have been installed in rural areas to boost communications in local villages.