Tunisia

Republic of TunisiaAl Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah

republicIndependence 20 March 1956 (from France)

Tunisia as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 80 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalTunis

Area163,610 sq km

LocationNorthern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between

Populationas each edition published it

8.88 million July 1995 est. · 8.1m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.69% 1995 est. · 1.84% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 26.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

73.25 years 1995 est. · 72.54 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.73 children per woman 1995 est. · 4 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

32.3 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 40 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$4,250 1994 est. · $1,650 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4.4% 1994 est. · 8% in 1993

Geography

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between | Algeria and Libya

14 fields

Land useshare of 163,610 sq km

arable land 20%permanent crops 10%meadows and pastures 19%forest and woodland 4%other 47%irrigated 2,750 sq km (1989)

Area

163,610sq km

land area: 155,360 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Georgia

Coastline

1,148km

contiguous zone: 24 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

1,424km

total · Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km

Location

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya

International disputes

maritime boundary dispute with Libya;
land boundary dispute with Algeria settled in 1993;
Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

Climate

temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south

Terrain

mountains in north;
hot, dry central plain;
semiarid south merges into the Sahara

Natural resources

petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt

Environment

current issues:: toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and presents human health risks;
water pollution from raw sewage;
limited natural fresh water resources;
deforestation;
overgrazing;
soil erosion;
desertification
natural hazards:: NA
international agreements:: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands;
signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Marine Life Conservation

Note

strategic location in central Mediterranean

People

15 fields

Population

8,879,845

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 1.69% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

22.52Death

4.86Net migration

-0.74

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years73.25

71.16 · 75.44

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy57%

69% · 45%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1989)

Ethnic divisions

Arab-Berber 98%European 1%Jewish less than 1%

Religions

Muslim 98%Christian 1%Jewish 1%

Labor force

2.25million

by occupation: agriculture 32%note: shortage of skilled labor

Age structure

0-14 years:: 35% (female 1,507,866; male 1,563,411)
15-64 years:: 60% (female 2,665,586; male 2,672,712)
65 years and over:: 5% (female 226,201; male 244,069) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

32.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Tunisian(s)
adjective:: Tunisian

Languages

Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce)

Government

Republic; President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November 1987); Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since 26 September 1989)

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

97.7%

RCD 97.7%MDS 1.0%others 1.3%

Legislature, 163 seatsone dot, one seat

RCD 144MDS 10others 9

Names

conventional long form:: Republic of Tunisia
conventional short form:: Tunisia
local long form:: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
local short form:: Tunis

23 governorates; Beja, Ben Arous, Bizerte, Gabes, Gafsa, Jendouba, Kairouan, Kasserine, Kebili, L'Ariana, Le Kef, Mahdia, Medenine, Monastir, Nabeul, Sfax, Sidi Bou Zid, Siliana, Sousse, Tataouine, Tozeur, Tunis, Zaghouan

Independence

20 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday

National Day, 20 March (1956)

Constitution

1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988

Legal system

based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November 1987);
election last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999);
results - President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI was reelected without opposition
head of government:: Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since 26 September 1989)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

Legislative branch

unicameral

Chamber of Deputies (Majlis al-Nuwaab)

elections last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999);
results - RCD 97.7%, MDS 1.0%, others 1.3%;
seats - (163 total) RCD 144, MDS 10, others 9;
note - the government changed the electoral code to guarantee that the opposition won seats

Judicial branch

Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation)

Political parties and leaders

Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (RCD), President BEN ALI (official ruling party);
Movement of Democratic Socialists (MDS), Mohammed MOUAADA;
five other political parties are legal, including the Communist Party

Other political or pressure groups

the Islamic fundamentalist party, An Nahda (Rebirth), is outlawed

Member of

ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAPEC (withdrew from active membership in 1986), OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNPROFOR, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Mohamed Azzouz ENNAIFER
chancery:: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone:: [1] (202) 862-1850

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Mary Ann CASEY
embassy:: 144 Avenue de la Liberte, 1002 Tunis-Belvedere
mailing address:: use embassy street address
telephone:: [216] (1) 782-566

FAX

[216] (1) 789-719

Flag

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 has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, | mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors.

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$4,250

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

4.4%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 5% (1989); accounts for 22% of GDP, including petroleum

Inflation, consumer prices

4.5%

(1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

16.2%

(1993 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$4.3 billionExpenditures

$5.5 billion (1993 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures to $NA

Installed generating capacity, 1,410,000 kW

Electricity production

5.4 billionElectricity consumption per capita

595 (1993)

Overview

Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Detailed governmental control of economic affairs has gradually lessened over the past decade, including increasing privatization of trade and commerce, simplification of the tax structure, and a cautious approach to debt.

Real growth has averaged roughly 5% in 1991-94, and inflation has been moderate. Growth in tourism and IMF support have been key elements in this solid record. Further privatization and further improvements in government administrative efficiency are among the challenges for the future.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $37.1 billion (1994 est.)

Exports

$4.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities:: hydrocarbons, agricultural products, phosphates and chemicals
partners:: EC countries 75%, Middle East 10%, Algeria 2%, India 2%, US 1%

Imports

$6.5 billion (c.i.f., 1993)

commodities:: industrial goods and equipment 57%, hydrocarbons 13%, food 12%, consumer goods
partners:: EC countries 70%, US 5%, Middle East 2%, Japan 2%, Switzerland 1%, Algeria 1%

External debt

$7.7 billion (1993 est.)

Industries

petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, food, beverages

Agriculture

accounts for 16% of GDP and one-third of labor force;
output subject to severe fluctuations because of frequent droughts;
export crops - olives, dates, oranges, almonds;
other products - grain, sugar beets, wine grapes, poultry, beef, dairy;
not self-sufficient in food

Economic aid

recipient:: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $730 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89) $52 million;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $684 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $410 million

Currency

1 Tunisian dinar (TD) = 1,000 millimes

Exchange rates

Tunisian dinars (TD) per US$1 - 0.9849 (January 1995), 1.0116 (1994), 1.0037 (1993), 0.8844 (1992), 0.9246 (1991), 0.8783 (1990)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 31 in all

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

1,524 to 2,438 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

29,183Railroads

2,260

Highways: paved: bituminous 17,510 km · unpaved: improved, unimproved earth 11,673 km · Railroads: standard gauge: 492 km 1.435-m gauge · narrow gauge: 1,758 km 1.000-m gauge · dual gauge: 10 km 1.000-m and 1.435-m gauges

Railroads

total:: 2,260 km
standard gauge:: 492 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:: 1,758 km 1.000-m gauge
dual gauge:: 10 km 1.000-m and 1.435-m gauges

Highways

total:: 29,183 km
paved:: bituminous 17,510 km
unpaved:: improved, unimproved earth 11,673 km

Pipelines

crude oil 797 km;
petroleum products 86 km;
natural gas 742 km

Ports

Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Sfax, Sousse, Tunis, Zarzis

Merchant marine

total:: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 129,035 GRT/168,032 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 6, cargo 5, chemical tanker 4, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

233,000 telephones;
28 telephones/1,000 persons;
the system is above the African average;
key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis

local:: NA
intercity:: facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxial cable, and microwave radio relay
international:: 5 submarine cables;
1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 ARABSAT earth station with back-up control station;
coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya