Tunisia

Tunisian RepublicAl Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah

republicIndependence 20 March 1956 (from France)

Tunisia as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 132 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, UTC+1

Position34 00 N, 9 00 E

Area163,610 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

10.38 million July 2008 est. · 8.1m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.989% 2008 est. · 1.84% in 1993

Median ageyears

28.8 years 2008 est. · 26.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

75.56 years 2008 est. · 72.54 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.73 children per woman 2008 est. · 4 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

23.43 deaths per 1,000 live births 2008 est. · 40 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$7,400 2007 est. · $1,650 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

6.3% 2007 est. · 8% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

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

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

20 fields

Land useshare of 163,610 sq km

arable land 17.05%permanent crops 13.08%other 69.87% (2005)irrigated 3,940 sq km (2003)

Area

163,610sq km

land: 155,360 sq kmwater: 8,250 sq kmslightly larger than Georgia

Coastline

1,148km

territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 12 nm

Highest point

1,544m

Jebel ech Chambilowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m

Land boundaries

1,424km

border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

34 00 N, 9 00 E

Map references

Africa

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

Total renewable water resources

4.6 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total:: 2.64 cu km/yr (14%/4%/82%)
per capita:: 261 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

Environment - current issues

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

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

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

21 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2008 est.)

345,590

65 and over7.1%

391,187

3,638,062

15-6469.7%

3,595,254

1,246,105

0-1423.2%

1,167,379

MaleFemale

Population

10,383,577

(July 2008 est.)growth rate: 0.989% (2008 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2008 est.)

Birth

15.5Death

5.17Net migration

-0.44

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2008 est.)75.56

73.79 · 77.46Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)23.43

25.7 · 20.98Literacy (2004 census)74.3%

83.4% · 65.3%

TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2008 est.)28.8

28.2 · 29.3School life expectancy years (2006)14

13 · 14

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

Arab 98%European 1%Jewish and other 1%

Religions

Muslim 98%Christian 1%Jewish and other 1%

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.73 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Tunisian(s)
adjective:: Tunisian

Languages

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

Education expenditures

7.3% of GDP (2005)

Government

Republic; President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November 1987); Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI (since 17 November 1999)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

94.5%

Zine El Abidine BEN ALI 94.5%Mohamed BOUCHIHA 3.8%Mohamed Ali HALOUANI 1%election last held on 24 October 2004 (next to be held in October 2009)

Country name

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

Government type

republic

Capital

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

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

20 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 20 March (1956); also the anniversary of BEN ALI's assumption of the presidency, 7 November (1987)

Constitution

1 June 1959; amended 1988, 2002

Legal system

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

18 years of age; universal except for active government security forces (including the police and the military), people with mental disabilities, people who have served more than three months in prison (criminal cases only), and people given a suspended sentence of more than six months

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 (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

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 (due to boycott))

Judicial branch

Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation

Political parties and leaders

Al-Tajdid Movement [Ahmed IBRAHIM];
Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD (official ruling party) [President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI];
Democratic Forum for Labor and Liberties or FDTL [Mustapha Ben JAFAAR];
Green Party for Progress or PVP [Mongi KHAMASSI];
Liberal Social Party or PSL [Mondher THABET];
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];
note - the Islamist party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is outlawed

Political pressure groups and leaders

18 October Group [collective leadership]; Tunisian League for Human Rights or LTDH [Mokhtar TRIFI]

International organization participation

ABEDA, 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, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador (vacant); Charge D'Affaires Tarek Ben YOUSSEF
chancery:: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone:: [1] (202) 862-1850
FAX:: [1] (202) 862-1858

Diplomatic representation from the US

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] 71 963-263

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, tourism, and manufacturing sectors.

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GDP, purchasing power parity

$76.07billion

(2007 est.)official exchange rate: $35.01 billion (2007 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

$7,400

(2007 est.)

Real growth rate

6.3%

(2007 est.)industrial production growth: 7.2% (2007 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

3.1%

(2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2007 est.)

agriculture 11.6%industry 25.7%services 62.8% (2007 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

31.3%

France

23.8%

21%

Italy

21.9%

8.5%

Germany

9.7%

5.5%

Spain

5.5%

Libya

4.4%

Exports $15.15 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)Imports $18.02 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)(2007)

Budget

Revenues

$8.466 billionExpenditures

$9.475 billion (2007 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production

12.65 billion (2006 est.)Electricity consumption

10.75 billion (2006 est.)Electricity exports

135 million (2006 est.)

Economy - overview

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.

Labor force

3.593 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

14.1% (2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40 (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

23.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Public debt

55.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Stock of money

$9.491 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$13.56 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit

$25.23 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

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

Oil - production

86,210 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption

91,110 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

73,790 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

89,130 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves

400 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

2.55 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

3.85 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2005)

Natural gas - proved reserves

65.13 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$905 million (2007 est.)

Exports

$15.15 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons, electrical equipment

Imports

$18.02 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, foodstuffs

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$7.854 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external

$19.27 billion (December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$26.22 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$118 million (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4.446 billion (2006)

Currency (code)

Tunisian dinar (TND)

Exchange rates

Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar - 1.2776 (2007), 1.331 (2006), 1.2974 (2005), 1.2455 (2004), 1.2885 (2003)

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

7.842 million

(2007)

Internet users

376

(2008)

Fixed lines

1.273 million

(2007) · 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:: 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;
expansion of mobile-cellular services to include multimedia messaging and e-mail and Internet to mobile phone services also leading to a surge in subscribership;
overall fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 90 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

AM 7, FM 38, shortwave 2 (2007)

Television broadcast stations

26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)

Internet users

1.722 million (2007)

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

Paved 14Unpaved 16

Networkskm

Roadways

19,232Railways

2,153

Roadways: paved: 12,655 km (includes 262 km of expressways) · unpaved: 6,577 km (2004) · Railways: 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)