The World Bank has warned that the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Tanzania may retard the country's economic growth by 2015.

The warning was sounded to coincide with the planned visit to the east African country by the World Bank governor.

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz is scheduled to arrive in Tanzania later on Wednesday for a three-day official visit.

The global financial institution warned in its country brief about Tanzania that the still rising numbers of HIV infections would have "dire consequences for the productive labor force and hence growth."

The World Bank country brief rated adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Tanzania at 11 percent. The Tanzanian government, however, put the rate at 7 percent of the population aged between 15 and 49.

The World Bank predicted that the country's gross domestic product growth could be 15-20 percent lower by 2015 due to the HIV/ AIDS epidemic.

Counting on available Bank of Tanzania figures, the HIV/AIDS- triggered decrease may cause the country's GDP to drop to between 10.2 billion and 11.6 billion U.S. dollars by 2015.

In 2005, Tanzania registered a GDP of 13.7 billion dollars.

Source: Xinhua