Tunisia

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

republicIndependence 20 March 1956 (from France)

Tunisia as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 115 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

Position34 00 N, 9 00 E

Area163,610 sq km land: 155,360 sq km water: 8,250 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

9.71 million July 2001 est. · 8.1m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.15% 2001 est. · 1.84% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 26.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

73.92 years 2001 est. · 72.54 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.99 children per woman 2001 est. · 4 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

29.04 deaths per 1,000 live births 2001 est. · 40 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$6,500 2000 est. · $1,650 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

5% 2000 est. · 8% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Following independence from France in 1956, President Habib BOURGIUBA 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 recent years, Tunisia has taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in its foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to diffuse rising pressure for a more open political society.

Geography

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

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Coastline

1,148km

contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Irrigated land

3,850sq km

(1993 est.)

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

34 00 N, 9 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 163,610 sq km land: 155,360 sq km water: 8,250 sq km

Land boundaries

total: 1,424 km border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km

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

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

arable land: 19% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 4% other: 44% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards

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

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note

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

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Population

9,705,102

(July 2001 est.)growth rate: 1.15% (2001 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2001 est.)

Birth

17.11Death

4.99Net migration

-0.67

Ethnic groups

Arab 98%European 1%Jewish and other 1%

Religions

Muslim 98%Christian 1%Jewish and other 1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.04%

(1999 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 28.74% (male 1,440,636; female 1,348,133) 15-64 years: 65.12% (male 3,157,988; female 3,161,596) 65 years and over: 6.14% (male 296,930; female 299,819) (2001 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

29.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.92 years male: 72.35 years female: 75.62 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.99 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS - deaths

Nationality

noun: Tunisian(s) adjective: Tunisian

Languages

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

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 66.7% male: 78.6% female: 54.6% (1995 est.)

Government

Republic

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Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab, 182 seatsone dot, one seat

RCD 148MDS 13UDU 7PUP 7Al-Tajdid 5PSL 2

Country name

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

Government type

republic

Capital

Tunis

Administrative divisions

23 governorates; Ariana (Aryanah), Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin 'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), El Kef (Al Kaf), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba (Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili (Qibili), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), 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

20 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday

Independence 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) 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;
election last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004);
prime minister appointed by the president election results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected for a third term without opposition;
percent of vote - Zine El Abidine BEN ALI nearly 100%

Legislative branch

unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (182 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - RCD 92%;
seats by party - RCD 148, MDS 13, UDU 7, PUP 7, Al-Tajdid 5, PSL 2;
note - reforms enabled opposition parties to win up to 20% of seats;
the opposition increased number of seats from 19 to 34

Judicial branch

Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation

Political parties and leaders

Al-Tajdid Movement [Adel CHAOUCH];
Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD [President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (official ruling party)];
Liberal Social Party or PSL [Mounir BEJI];
Movement of Democratic Socialists or MDS [Khamis CHAMMARI];
Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed Belhaj AMOR];
Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Abderrahmane TLILI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

the Islamic fundamentalist party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is outlawed

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, BSEC (observer), CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Rust DEMMING 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 description

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.

32 fields

Real growth rate

(2000 est.)industrial production growth: 4.1% (2000 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

(2000 est.)

Unemployment rate

15.6%

(2000 est.)

Population below poverty line

(2000 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

28%

Germany

23%

22%

France

23%

17%

Italy

15%

Belgium

Libya

Exports $6.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)Imports $8.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)(1999)

Electricity

Electricity production

9.173 billion (1999)Electricity consumption

8.677 billion (1999)Electricity exports

19 million (1999)Electricity imports

165 million (1999)

Economy - overview

Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, energy, 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.

Real growth averaged 5.5% in the past four years, and inflation is slowing. Growth in tourism and increased trade have been key elements in this steady growth. Tunisia's association agreement with the European Union entered into force on 1 March 1998, the first such accord between the EU and Mediterranean countries to be activated.

Under the agreement Tunisia will gradually remove barriers to trade with the EU over the next decade. Broader privatization, further liberalization of the investment code to increase foreign investment, and improvements in government efficiency are among the challenges for the future.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $62.8 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $6,500 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 14% industry: 32% services: 54% (1999 est.)

Labor force

2.65 million (2000 est.) note: shortage of skilled labor

Labor force - by occupation

services 55%, industry 23%, agriculture 22% (1995 est.)

Budget

revenues: $7.5 billion expenditures: $8.1 billion, including capital expenditures to $1.6 billion (2000 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 99.2% hydro: 0.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Agriculture - products

olives, olive oil, grain, dairy products, tomatoes, citrus fruit, beef, sugar beets, dates, almonds

Exports

$6.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

textiles, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, agricultural products, hydrocarbons

Imports

$8.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, food

Debt - external

$13 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$933.2 million (1995); note - ODA, $90 million (1998 est.)

Currency

Tunisian dinar (TND)

Currency code

TND

Exchange rates

Tunisian dinars per US dollar - 1.3753 (January 2001), 1.4667 (November 2000), 1.1862 (1999), 1.1387 (1998), 1.1059 (1997), 0.9734 (1996)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

10 fields

Mobile cellular

50,000

(1998)

Internet users

(2000)

Fixed lines

654,000

(1997) · country code .tn

Telephone system

general assessment:: above the African average and continuing to be upgraded;
key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis;
Internet access available domestic: trunk facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxial cable, and microwave radio relay international: 5 submarine cables;
satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat;
coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya;
participant in Medarabtel;
two international gateway digital switches