from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Tunisia
Introduction
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.
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
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea,
between Algeria and Libya
Geographic 34 00 N, 9 00 E
coordinates:
Map Africa
references:
Area: total: 163,610 sq km
land: 155,360 sq km
water: 8,250 sq km
Area - slightly larger than Georgia
comparative:
Land total: 1,424 km
boundaries: border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
Coastline: 1,148 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm
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 lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
extremes: highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
Natural petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
resources:
Land use: arable land: 17.05%
permanent crops: 13.08%
other: 69.87% (2005)
Irrigated 3,940 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural NA
hazards:
Environment - toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and
current poses health risks; water pollution from raw sewage;
issues: limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
international Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
agreements: 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 - strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and
note: Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of
the continental shelf between their countries,
particularly for oil exploration
People
Population: 10,175,014 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 24.6% (male 1,293,235/female 1,212,994)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 3,504,283/female 3,478,268)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 327,521/female 358,713)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 27.8 years
male: 27.3 years
female: 28.3 years (2006 est.)
Population 0.99% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 15.52 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 5.13 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration -0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
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: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 23.84 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 26.7 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 20.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 75.12 years
expectancy at male: 73.4 years
birth: female: 76.96 years (2006 est.)
Total 1.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - less than 0.1% (2005 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 1,000 (2003 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - less than 200 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Major degree of risk: intermediate
infectious food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and
diseases: hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: may be a significant risk in some
locations during the transmission season (typically
April through November) (2005)
Nationality: noun: Tunisian(s)
adjective: Tunisian
Ethnic groups: Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Religions: Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Languages: Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce),
French (commerce)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.3%
male: 83.4%
female: 65.3% (2004 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Tunisian Republic
conventional short form: Tunisia
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
local short form: Tunis
Government republic
type:
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 24 governorates; Ariana (Aryanah), Beja (Bajah), Ben
divisions: 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 Independence Day, 20 March (1956)
holiday:
Constitution: 1 June 1959; amended 1988, 2002
Legal system: based on French civil law system and Shari'a law; some
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme
Court in joint session
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI
branch: (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 24
October 2004 (next to be held 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 bicameral system consists of the Chamber of Deputies or
branch: 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 24 October
2004 (next to be held October 2009); Chamber of
Advisors - last held 3 July 2005 (next to be held 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 Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation
branch:
Political Al-Tajdid Movement [Ali HALOUANI]; Constitutional
parties and Democratic Rally Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel
leaders: Democratique) or RCD [President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI
(official ruling party)]; 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 [Nejib CHEBBI];
Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Ahmed INOUBLI]
Political the Islamic fundamentalist party, Al Nahda
pressure (Renaissance), is outlawed
groups and
leaders:
International ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC
organization (observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
participation: ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MONUC,
NAM, OAPEC (suspended), OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, ONUB,
OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNMEE, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Nejib HACHANA
representation chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
in the US: 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850
FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador designate Robert F. GODEC
representation embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis
from the US: 1053
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [216] 71 107-000
FAX: [216] 71 107-090
Flag red with a white disk in the center bearing a red
description: crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; the
crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam
Economy
Economy - Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important
overview: 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. Progressive social policies also have
helped raise living conditions in Tunisia relative to
the region. Real growth slowed to a 15-year low of 1.9%
in 2002 because of agricultural drought and lackluster
tourism. Better rains in 2003 through 2005, however,
helped push GDP growth to about 5% for these years.
Tourism also recovered after the end of combat
operations in Iraq. Tunisia is gradually removing
barriers to trade with the EU. 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 $82.85 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $30.94 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 4.2% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $8,200 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 13.2%
composition by industry: 31.8%
sector: services: 55% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 3.41 million
note: shortage of skilled labor (2005 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: 55%
by occupation: industry: 23%
services: 22% (1995 est.)
Unemployment 14.2% (2005 est.)
rate:
Population 7.4% (2005 est.)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: 2.3%
income or highest 10%: 31.8% (1995)
consumption by
percentage
share:
Distribution 40 (2005 est.)
of family
income - Gini
index:
Inflation rate 2.1% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 22.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $7.322 billion
expenditures: $8.304 billion; including capital
expenditures of $1.6 billion (2005 est.)
Public debt: 59.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - olives, olive oil, grain, tomatoes, citrus fruit, sugar
products: beets, dates, almonds; beef, dairy products
Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron
ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness,
beverages
Industrial 0.9% (2005 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 11.56 billion kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 99.5%
production by hydro: 0.5%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 10.76 billion kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 10 million kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 5 million kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 76,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
production:
Oil - 90,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Oil - proved 1.7 billion bbl (2005 est.)
reserves:
Natural gas - 2.15 billion cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 3.84 billion cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2001 est.)
exports:
Natural gas - 1.58 billion cu m (2001 est.)
imports:
Natural gas - 77.87 billion cu m (2005)
proved
reserves:
Current $-359.2 million (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $10.3 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - textiles, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals,
commodities: agricultural products, hydrocarbons
Exports - France 30.9%, Italy 21.1%, Germany 9.4%, Spain 5.5%,
partners: Libya 4.5% (2005)
Imports: $12.86 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons,
commodities: chemicals, food
Imports - France 25.5%, Italy 22.9%, Germany 9.5%, Spain 5.5%
partners: (2005)
Reserves of $4.375 billion (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $16.09 billion (2005 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $114.6 million (2002)
recipient:
Currency Tunisian dinar (TND)
(code):
Currency code: TND
Exchange Tunisian dinars per US dollar - 1.2974 (2005), 1.2455
rates: (2004), 1.2885 (2003), 1.4217 (2002), 1.4387 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 1,257,500 (2005)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 5.681 million (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: above the African average and
system: 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: country code - 216; 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
Radio AM 7, FM 20, shortwave 2 (1998)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 2.06 million (1997)
Television 26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 920,000 (1997)
Internet .tn
country code:
Internet 428 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 1 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 953,800 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 30 (2006)
Airports - total: 14
with paved over 3,047 m: 3
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - total: 16
with unpaved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 7 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 2,945 km; oil 1,227 km; refined products 351 km
(2006)
Railways: 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) (2005)
Roadways: total: 18,997 km
paved: 12,424 km (including 142 km of expressways)
unpaved: 6,573 km (2001)
Merchant total: 9 ships (1000 GRT or over) 146,759 GRT/115,118
marine: DWT
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 1, chemical tanker 3,
passenger/cargo 4 (2006)
Ports and Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Skhira
terminals:
Military
Military Army, Navy, Air Force (2003)
branches:
Military 20 years of age for compulsory military service;
service age conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of
and age for voluntary military service (2004)
obligation:
Manpower males age 20-49: 2,441,741
available for females age 20-49: 2,406,362 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 20-49: 2,035,431
for military females age 20-49: 2,000,757 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 108,817
reaching females age 20-49: 103,087 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $356 million (FY99)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 1.5% (FY99)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - none
international: