BY SYLIVESTER DOMASA
26th September 2013
Census figures projections show an increase from 51 to 57 years
The Tanzanians’ life expectancy is now 57 years, based on the National Population and Housing Census of 2012, she said.
According to the Bureau, the increase in life expectancy is due to a decrease in child and adult mortality cases.
Dr Chuwa said health and per capita income among Tanzanians have improved, allowing life expectancy of individuals to increase also.
Dr Chuwa made the remarks in Dar es Salaam yesterday shortly after the launch of the population distribution results on age and sex which show among other things a slight decrease in number of children below the age of 15.
The results which were unveiled by the Zanzibar Second Vice President Ambassador Seif Idd indicate that there was a 1.9 percent decrease in this age group from 45.8 percent in 1988 to 43.9 percent in 2012.
At the ceremony attended by government officials, Members of Parliament, diplomats and representatives of international organization and civil societies, Ambassador Idd said such figures call for urgent review of the country’s policy in setting up development agenda.
Ambassador Idd who is also the current National Population and Housing Census Committee Vice Chairperson revealed that 15.6 million people (equivalent to 34.7 percent) of the entire population are adults aged between 15 and 35 years.
Elders between 60 years and above total 2.5 million people which is equivalent to 5.6 percent of the population.
“This is a special group according to the National Elders’ Policy which needs medical services, shelter and other basic services. The government will continue to support this group depending on its financial capacity,” he said. Ambassador Idd said the figures released will enable the government to set up socio-economic plans for the country.
He warned that the results will be of little value to the nation if they end up in shelves and fail to reach the targeted people.
He urged government authorities to translate the figures into a layman’s language so that majority of Tanzanians can have access and use them for development plans.
Elaborating on the figures, Dr Chuwa said such a decrease in percentage was a result of the reduced rate of reproduction.
Referring to a report on ‘Mother and Children’ released in 2010, she said the average number of children per mother aged between 15 and 49 years is currently 5.4 children.
“Only 27 percent of married women use modern contraceptives,” she noted.
She said that a survey on child mortality rate will be released in December this year.
Dr Chuwa told the participants and the general public that Tanzania is ‘well’ in terms of human capital for setting up and increasing the country’s income and fighting poverty.
“What is needed is that all people should join hands and use the available opportunity for production,” she said.
"More than half of the people in Simiyu, Rukwa and Geita regions are children aged less than 15 years, while Dar es Salaam has the largest adolescent group of 46.8 percent (those aging between 15 and 35 years). However Singida Region closes the line with 30.7 percent,”
The number of elders has declined from 6.2 percent in 1988 to 5.6 percent last year, she said, adding that the regions with highest percentage of elderly people are Kilimanjaro (9.7percent), Mtwara (9.5 percent), Lindi (9.0 percent), Coast (8.5 percent) and Dar es Salaam (3.5 percent).
Tanzania’s United Nation Population Fund Representative Mariam Khan said the released statistics are crucial for the country’s social and economic planning.
She said the figures also will help the country to determine the target population which will take part during the forthcoming General Election of 2015.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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