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  Tunisia  
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This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


Map of Tunisia
Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Tunisia Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
Rivalry between French and Italian interests in Tunisia culminated in a French invasion in 1881 and the creation of a protectorate. Agitation for independence in the decades following World War I was finally successful in getting the French to recognize Tunisia as an independent state in 1956. The country's first president, Habib BOURGUIBA, established a strict one-party state. He dominated the country for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism and establishing rights for women unmatched by any other Arab nation. In November 1987, BOURGUIBA was removed from office and replaced by Zine el Abidine BEN ALI in a bloodless coup. BEN ALI is currently serving his fourth consecutive five-year term as president; the next elections are scheduled for October 2009. Tunisia has long taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in its foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse rising pressure for a more open political society.
   Geography    Tunisia Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
34 00 N, 9 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Africa
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 163,610 sq km
land: 155,360 sq km
water: 8,250 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1,424 km
border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
1,148 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 17.05%
permanent crops: 13.08%
other: 69.87% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
3,940 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
4.6 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
Total: 2.64 cu km/yr (14%/4%/82%)
Per capita: 261 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
   People    Tunisia Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10,276,158 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 24% (male 1,270,208/female 1,191,619)
15-64 years: 69.2% (male 3,571,228/female 3,538,458)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 333,801/female 370,844) (2007 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 28.3 years
male: 27.7 years
female: 28.8 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.989% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
15.54 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.17 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
-0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.066 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.009 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.015 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 22.94 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.75 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 75.34 years
male: 73.6 years
female: 77.21 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.73 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 0.1% (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
Definition Field Listing
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: may be a significant risk in some locations during the transmission season (typically April through November) (2007)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Tunisian(s)
adjective: Tunisian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.3%
male: 83.4%
female: 65.3% (2004 census)
   Government    Tunisia Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Tunisian Republic
conventional short form: Tunisia
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
local short form: Tunis
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Tunis
geographic coordinates: 36 48 N, 10 11 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
24 governorates; Ariana (Aryanah), Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin 'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba (Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili (Qibili), Kef (Al Kaf), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah), Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax (Safaqis), Sidi Bou Zid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse (Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan (Zaghwan)
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
20 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 20 March (1956); also the anniversary of BEN ALI's takeover, 7 November (1987)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
1 June 1959; amended 1988, 2002
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
20 years of age; universal except for active duty military
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November 1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI (since 17 November 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 24 October 2004 (next to be held in October 2009); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected for a fourth term; percent of vote - Zine El Abidine BEN ALI 94.5%, Mohamed BOUCHIHA 3.8%, Mohamed Ali HALOUANI 1%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
bicameral system consists of the Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (189 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Advisors (126 seats; 85 members elected by municipal counselors, deputies, mayors, and professional associations and trade unions; 41 members are presidential appointees; members serve six-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Deputies - last held on 24 October 2004 (next to be held in October 2009); Chamber of Advisors - last held on 3 July 2005 (next to be held in July 2011)
election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RCD 152, MDS 14, PUP 11, UDU 7, Al-Tajdid 3, PSL 2; Chamber of Advisors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RCD 71 (14 trade union seats vacant (boycotted))
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Al-Tajdid Movement [Ahmed IBRAHIM]; Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD (official ruling party) [President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI]; Green Party for Progress or PVP [Mongi KHAMASSI]; Liberal Social Party or PSL [Mounir BEJI]; Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS [Ismail BOULAHYA]; Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed BOUCHIHA]; Progressive Democratic Party [Maya JERIBI]; Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Ahmed INOUBLI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
18 October Group [collective leadership]; Democratic Forum for Labor and Liberties or FDTL [Mustapha Ben JAFAAR]; Tunisian League for Human Rights or LTDH [Mokhtar TRIFI]; note - the Islamic fundamentalist party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is outlawed
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC (suspended), OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Nejib HACHANA
chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850
FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert F. GODEC
embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis 1053
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [216] 71 107-000
FAX: [216] 71 107-090
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam
   Economy    Tunisia Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control of economic affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened over the past decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the tax structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Progressive social policies also have helped raise living conditions in Tunisia relative to the region. Real growth, which averaged almost 5% over the past decade, reached 6.3% in 2007 because of development in non-textile manufacturing, a recovery in agricultural production, and strong growth in the services sector. However, Tunisia will need to reach even higher growth levels to create sufficient employment opportunities for an already large number of unemployed as well as the growing population of university graduates. Broader privatization, further liberalization of the investment code to increase foreign investment, improvements in government efficiency, and reduction of the trade deficit are among the challenges ahead.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$77.16 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$34.54 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.3% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$7,500 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 11.5%
industry: 30%
services: 58.5% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.591 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 55%
industry: 23%
services: 22% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13.9% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
7.4% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 31.5% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
40 (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.9% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
23.6% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $8.355 billion
expenditures: $9.476 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
54.5% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
olives, olive oil, grain, tomatoes, citrus fruit, sugar beets, dates, almonds; beef, dairy products
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.1% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12.85 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
11.17 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
76,900 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
90,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
75,060 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
85,680 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
307.6 million bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.398 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.124 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.726 billion cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
74.68 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-$935 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$14.81 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons, electrical equipment
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
France 28.9%, Italy 20.4%, Germany 8.6%, Spain 6.1%, Libya 4.9%, US 4% (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$17.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
France 25.1%, Italy 22%, Germany 9.5%, Spain 4.7% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$376.5 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$7.183 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$18.56 billion (December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$21.22 billion (2006 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$57 million (2006 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$4.446 billion (2006)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Tunisian dinar (TND)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Tunisian dinars per US dollar - 1.2776 (2007), 1.331 (2006), 1.2974 (2005), 1.2455 (2004), 1.2885 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Tunisia Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.268 million (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.339 million (2006)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: above the African average and continuing to be upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; Internet access available
domestic: in an effort jumpstart expansion of the fixed-line network, the government has awarded a concession to build and operate a VSAT network with international connectivity; competition between the two mobile-cellular service providers has resulted in lower activation and usage charges and a strong surge in subscribership; overall fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 85 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 216; a landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel; 2 international gateway digital switches
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 7, FM 20, shortwave 2 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.tn
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,163 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.295 million (2006)
   Transportation    Tunisia Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
30 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 7 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
gas 2,945 km; oil 1,227 km; refined products 351 km (2006)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 2,153 km
standard gauge: 471 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,674 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)
dual gauge: 8 km 1.435 m and 1.000-m gauges (three rails) (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 19,232 km
paved: 12,655 km (includes 262 km of expressways)
unpaved: 6,577 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 130,475 GRT/91,013 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 1, chemical tanker 2, passenger/cargo 4
foreign-owned: 1 (Libya 1) (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Rades, Sfax, Skhira
   Military    Tunisia Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Army, Navy, Republic of Tunisia Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah At'tunisia) (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
20 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 20-49: 2,441,741
females age 20-49: 2,406,362 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 20-49: 2,035,431
females age 20-49: 2,000,757 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 108,817
females age 20-49: 103,087 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.4% (2006)
   Transnational Issues    Tunisia Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


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