Most people live on the northern border or the eastern coast, with much of the remainder of the country being sparsely populated.

[5]: 4 Over 100 languages are spoken in Tanzania, making it the most linguistically diverse country in East Africa.

Non-Africans residing on the mainland and Zanzibar account for 1 percent of the total population.

The Asian community including Hindus, Sikhs, Shi'a and Sunni Muslims, Parsis, and Goans, exceed 60,000.

[11] According to the 2012 census, the total population was 44,928,923 compared to 12,313,469 in 1967,[2]: 1  resulting in an annual growth rate of 2.9 percent.

): [15] The Tanzanian Demographic and Health Survey 2010 estimated that the infant mortality rate for 2005–10 was 51.

The numerical relationship between followers of the two religions is regarded as politically sensitive and questions about religious affiliation have not been included in census questionnaires since 1967.

For many years estimates have been repeated that about a third of the population each follows Islam, Christianity and traditional religions.