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Tunisia
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 fifth consecutive five-year term as president. 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.
Location :
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya
Geographic Coordinates Center :
34 00 N, 9 00 E (Latitude, Longtitude)
Geographic Coordinates Rectangle :
| West | 7.52 |
| North | 37.54 |
| East | 11.60 |
| South | 30.24 |
Map references :
Africa
Area :
| total | 163 610 | square km |
| land | 155 360 | square km |
| water | 8 250 | square km |
Land boundaries :
| total | 1 424 | km |
| Algeria (dz) | 965 | km |
| Libya (ly) | 459 | km |
Coastline :
1148.00 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 | 17 | metres |
| highest point | 1 544 | metres |
Natural resources :
| iron ore | lead |
| petroleum | phosphates |
| salt | zinc |
Land use :
| arable land | 17.05 | % |
| permanent crops | 13.08 | % |
| other | 69.87 | % |
Irrigated land :
3 940 square km
Total renewable water resources :
4 cubic km
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
international agreements :
| Biodiversity | Climate Change |
| Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol | Desertification |
| Endangered Species | Environmental Modification |
| Hazardous Wastes | Law of the Sea |
| Marine Dumping | Marine Life Conservation |
| Ozone Layer Protection | Ship Pollution |
| Wetlands |
Population :
10 486 339
Indicators :
| Growth rate | 0.98 | % |
| Birth rate | 15.42 | births/1,000 population |
| Total fertility rate | 1.72 | children born/woman |
| Death rate | 5.20 | deaths/1,000 population |
| Net migration rate | -0.41 | migrant(s)/1,000 population |
Age structure :
| 0-14 years | 22.70 | % |
| 15-64 years | 70.10 | % |
| 65 years and over | 7.20 | % |
Median age :
| total | 29.20 | years |
| male | 28.70 | years |
| female | 29.80 | years |
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 | 0.87 | male(s)/female |
| total population | 1.01 | male(s)/female |
Health :
| Infant mortality rate | 22.57 | deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth - total population | 75.78 | years |
| Life expectancy at birth - male | 73.98 | years |
| Life expectancy at birth - female | 77.70 | years |
| HIV-AIDS adult prevalence rate | 0.10 | % |
| HIV-AIDS people living with HIV-AIDS | 3 700 | |
| HIV-AIDS deaths | 200 |
Religions :
| Muslim | 98.00 | % |
| Christian | 1.00 | % |
| Jewish and other | 1.00 | % |
Languages :
| Arabic | |
| French |
Literacy :
| total population | 74.30 | % |
| male | 83.40 | % |
| female | 65.30 | % |
Country name :
| conventional long form | Tunisian Republic |
| conventional short form | Tunisia |
| local long form | Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah |
| local short form | Tunis |
Country Codes :
| ISO 3166 | TN |
| ISO Numeric | 788 |
| ISO3 | TUN |
| FIPS | TS |
| ccTLD | tn |
| English | Tunisia |
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)
Capital :
| name | Tunis |
| geographic coordinates | 36 48 N, 10 11 E |
| time difference | 1.00 |
| daylight saving time | 1 |
International organization participation :
| ABEDA | AFESD |
| AMF | AMU |
| AU | AfDB |
| BSEC (observer) | FAO |
| G-77 | IAEA |
| IBRD | ICAO |
| ICC | ICRM |
| IDA | IDB |
| IFAD | IFC |
| IFRCS | IHO |
| ILO | IMF |
| IMO | IMSO |
| IOC | IOM |
| IPU | ISO |
| ITSO | ITU |
| ITUC | Interpol |
| 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 |
Independence :
1956-03-20
National holiday :
| Independence Day | 1956-03-20 |
| BEN ALIs assumption of the presidency | 1987-11-07 |
Executive branch :
| President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI | Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI |
GDP - Gross Domestic product :
| PPP - Purchasing Power Parity | 83 550 000 000 | $ |
| Official Exchange Rate | 39 570 000 000 | |
| RGR - Real Growth rate | 0.70 | % |
| PPP - per capita | 8 000 | $ |
GDP Composition by sector :
| agriculture | 11.10 | % |
| industry | 34.90 | % |
| services | 54.00 | % |
Labor force - by occupation :
| agriculture | 55.00 | % |
| industry | 23.00 | % |
| services | 22.00 | % |
Other Indicators :
| Labor force | 3 730 000 | people |
| Unemployment rate | 15.70 | % |
| Population below poverty line | 7.40 | % |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 40.00 | |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 3.40 | % |
| Investment (gross fixed) | 22.50 | % of GDP |
| Current account balance | - 1 191 000 000 | $ |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | 8 350 000 000 | $ |
| Debt external | 18 110 000 000 | $ |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad | 177 000 000 | $ |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home | 30 790 000 000 | $ |
| Market value of publicly traded shares | 6 374 000 000 | $ |
| Military expenditures | 1.40 | % of GDP |
| Public debt | 53.80 | % of GDP |
Household income or consumption by percentage share :
| lowest 10% | 2.30 | % |
| highest 10% | 31.50 | % |
Budget :
| revenues | 8 711 000 000 | $ |
| expenditures | 11 190 000 000 | $ |
Agriculture - products :
| almonds | beef |
| citrus | dairy |
| dates | grain |
| olive oil | olives |
| sugar beets | tomatoes |
Industries :
| agricultural products | beverages |
| footwear | mining |
| petroleum | phosphate and iron ore |
| textiles | tourism |
Energy :
| Electricity Production | 13 790 000 000 | kWh |
| Electricity Consumption | 11 900 000 000 | kWh |
| Electricity Exports | 130 000 000 | kWh |
| Electricity Imports | 145 000 000 | kWh |
| Oil Production | 86 930 | bbl/day |
| Oil Consumption | 90 000 | bbl/day |
| Oil Exports | 77 130 | bbl/day |
| Oil Imports | 87 300 | bbl/day |
| Oil Proved reserves | 425 000 000 | bbl |
| Natural gas Production | 2 970 000 000 | cubic metres |
| Natural gas Consumption | 4 219 999 999 | cubic metres |
| Natural gas Imports | 1 250 000 000 | cubic metres |
| Electricity Exports | 65 129 999 999 | cubic metres |
Value :
13 390 000 000 $
Partners :
| France (fr) | 27.80 | % |
| Italy (it) | 17.60 | % |
| Germany (de) | 9.40 | % |
| Libya (ly) | 5.70 | % |
| Spain (es) | 4.90 | % |
Commodities :
| agricultural products | clothing |
| electrical equipment | hydrocarbons |
| mechanical products | phosphates and chemicals |
| semi-finished products and textiles |
Value :
17 370 000 000 $
Partners :
| France (fr) | 21.30 | % |
| Italy (it) | 19.20 | % |
| Germany (de) | 8.60 | % |
| Libya (ly) | 4.60 | % |
| Russia (ru) | 4.40 | % |
| Spain (es) | 4.40 | % |
Commodities :
| chemicals | foodstuffs |
| hydrocarbons | machinery and equipment |
| textiles |
Currency-code :
TND
Currency-name :
Tunisian dinar
Communications :
| Telephons Main lines in use | 1 239 000 | |
| Telephons Mobile, Cellular | 8 569 000 | |
| FM Radio broadcast stations | 38 | |
| Television broadcast stations | 26 | |
| Internet Country code (ccTLD) | tn | |
| Internet Hosts | 406 | |
| Internet Users | 2 800 000 |
Transportation :
| Airports with paved runways | 16 | |
| Pipelines - gas | 2 179 | km |
| Pipelines - oil | 1 285 | km |
| Pipelines - refined products | 372 | km |
| Roadways - total | 19 232 | km |
| Roadways - expressways | 262 | km |
| Roadways - paved | 12 655 | km |
| Roadways - unpaved | 6 577 | km |
| Railways | 2 159 | km |
Flag
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