3.1 Size and Geographical Location
Zanzibar is a small archipelago constituting of Unguja (Commonly referred as Zanzibar Island), Pemba and several small surrounding islands. It is part of the United Republic of Tanzania (URT) and it has its own Government. The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar takes care of the internal affairs of the state. Zanzibar is located in the Indian ocean, separated by a 40 km channel from the mainland coast, lying at 390 East and 60 South of Equator. The island of Unguja and Pemba have an area of 1660km2 and 981 km2 respectively equivalent to a quarter million ha of land.
Administratively, Zanzibar is divided into 5 regions (3 in Unguja and 2 in Pemba) comprised of 10 districts as shown in table 1.1 below. The administrative capital and seat of government is Zanzibar Town while the administrative center at Pemba is the Chake Chake town. Each district however has an administrative center from which government service is coordinated.
Table 1.1: Administrative set-up for Zanzibar
Zanzibar
|
Regions and Districts
|
Unguja Island
|
North Unguja Region
|
| | | | | | | |
Pemba Island
| |
| | | | | | |
3.2: Population and settlement patterns
According to Tanzania Census (2002), Zanzibar inhabits 981,754 people of which 620,957 are in Unguja and 360,797 are in Pemba. The annual population growth rate was estimated to be 3.54% giving a projected population of 1,089,540 inhabitants in 2004 with 712,553 in Unguja and 370,020 in Pemba. The average household size is 5 persons per household (Masoud 1990). The population density as at 2002 was 399 persons per Km2 indicating that Zanzibar is among the most highly populated islands in the world and this was expected to increase to 413 persons per square kilometer by 2004. Given the finite nature of land, especially in the isles, increasing population density has major implications on future land demand for conflicting uses such as for agriculture to feed the growing population and secure export crops, forestry to supply wood demands to an increasing population, housing and settlement, industries, recreation, conservation, etc.
Table 1.2: Total Population of Zanzibar by District and Region
|
|
|
|
|
|
1978
|
1988
|
2002
|
2003*
|
2004*
|
Zanzibar
|
476,111
|
640,685
|
981,754
|
1,033,653
|
1,089,540
|
Unguja Island
|
270,807
|
375,873
|
620,957
|
664,850
|
712,553
|
Pemba Island
|
205,304
|
264,812
|
360,797
|
368,803
|
376,987
|
North Unguja Region
|
77,017
|
96,989
|
136,639
|
139,958
|
143,358
|
North ‘A’ District
|
48,124
|
59,990
|
84,147
|
86,191
|
88,285
|
North ‘B’ District
|
28,893
|
36,999
|
52,492
|
53,767
|
55,073
|
South Unguja Region
|
51,749
|
70,313
|
94,244
|
97,228
|
100,320
|
South District
|
21,952
|
25,061
|
31,853
|
33,386
|
34,992
|
Central District
|
29,797
|
45,252
|
62,391
|
63,843
|
65,328
|
Urban West Region
|
142,041
|
208,571
|
390,074
|
427,663
|
468,875
|
Urban District
|
110,506
|
157,626
|
205,870
|
225,709
|
247,459
|
West District
|
31,535
|
50,945
|
184,204
|
201,955
|
221,416
|
North Pemba Region
|
106,290
|
137,189
|
185,326
|
189,344
|
193,449
|
Wete District
|
58,923
|
76,125
|
102,060
|
104,226
|
106,438
|
Micheweni District
|
47,367
|
61,064
|
83,266
|
85,118
|
87,012
|
South Pemba Region
|
99,014
|
127,623
|
175,471
|
179,459
|
183,538
|
Chake Chake District
|
47,208
|
60,051
|
82,998
|
84,929
|
86,905
|
Mkoani District
|
51,806
|
67,572
|
92,473
|
94,530
|
96,633
|
Source: 1978, 1988 & 2002 Population Census ; *Data for 2003 & 2004 are projections
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