2003 Edition

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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 27% (male 1,388,839; female 1,297,313) 15-64 years: 66.6% (male 3,306,782; female 3,299,883) 65 years and over: 6.4% (male 309,103; female 322,822) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

30 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)

total

14

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7

under 914 m

7 (2002) Military Tunisia

Area

land

155,360 sq km

total

163,610 sq km

water

8,250 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Georgia

Background

Following independence from France in 1956, 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 recent years, Tunisia has 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 Tunisia

Birth rate

16.53 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$5.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.6 billion (2002 est.)

revenues

$5.2 billion

Capital

Tunis

Climate

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

Coastline

1,148 km

Constitution

1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988

Country name

conventional long form

Tunisian Republic

conventional short form

Tunisia

local long form

Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah

local short form

Tunis

Currency

Tunisian dinar (TND)

Currency code

TND

Death rate

5.02 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$13.6 billion (2003 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Rust M. DEMING

embassy

Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis, 2045 La Goulette, Tunisia

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[216] 71 782-566

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Hatem ATALLAH

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Distribution of family income - Gini index

41.7 (1995)

Economic aid - recipient

$222.7 million (2000)

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 5.4% in 1997-2001 but slowed to 1.9% in 2002 because of agricultural drought, slow investment, and lackluster tourism. Increased rainfall portends higher growth levels for 2003, but continued regional tension from the war in Iraq will most likely continue to suppress tourism earnings. Tunisia has agreed to gradually remove barriers to trade with the European Union over the next decade. 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 for the future.

Electricity - consumption

9.748 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

1 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

10.48 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

99.5%

hydro

0.5%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m

lowest point

Shatt al Gharsah -17 m

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, 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

Ethnic groups

Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%

Exchange rates

Tunisian dinars per US dollar - 1.42 (2002), 1.44 (2001), 1.37 (2000), 1.19 (1999), 1.14 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November 1987)

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%

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

head of government

Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI (since 17 November 1999)

Exports

$6.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

France 31.3%, Italy 21.6%, Germany 11.5%, Spain 4.8%, Libya 4.7%, Belgium 4.3% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 862-1858

[216] 71 789-719

chancery

1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005

telephone

[1] (202) 862-1850

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Tunisia

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $67.13 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

12%

industry

32%

services

56% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $6,800 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.8% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

34 00 N, 9 00 E

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 Tunisia

Government type

republic

Highways

paved

12,310 km (including 142 km of expressways)

total

18,997 km

unpaved

6,687 km (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.04% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

31.8% (1995)

lowest 10%

2.3%

Imports

$8.7 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities

textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, food

Imports - partners

France 25.6%, Italy 19.5%, Germany 8.9%, Spain 5% (2002)

Independence

20 March 1956 (from France)

Industrial production growth rate

3.5% (2002 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

23.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

29.89 deaths/1,000 live births

total

26.91 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.5% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.tn

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

400,000 (2002) Transportation Tunisia

Irrigated land

3,800 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation

Labor force

2.69 million

note

shortage of skilled labor (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Land boundaries

border countries

Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km

total

1,424 km

Land use

arable land

18.67%

other

68.46% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

12.87%

Languages

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (182 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

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, increasing the number of seats they hold from 19 in the last election to 34 now

elections

last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)

Life expectancy at birth

female

76.15 years (2003 est.)

male

72.77 years

total population

74.4 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

64.4% (2003 est.) Government Tunisia

male

84%

total population

74.2%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

26.7 years (2002)

male

25.7 years

total

26.2 years

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 2, cargo 3, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1 (2002 est.)

total

14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 139,990 GRT/148,394 DWT

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces, National Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$356 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.5% (FY99) Transnational Issues Tunisia

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

2,866,984 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

1,629,241 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

106,513 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 20 March (1956)

Nationality

adjective

Tunisian

noun

Tunisian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

3.83 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.58 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

2.25 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

77.16 billion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

87,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

72,580 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

417 million bbl (37257)

Pipelines

gas 3,059 km; oil 1,203 km; refined products 345 km (2003)

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

Population

9,924,742 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

6% (2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.09% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 20, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios

2.06 million (1997)

Railways

dual gauge

10 km 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (three rails) (2002)

narrow gauge

1,674 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)

standard gauge

468 km 1.435-m gauge

total

2,152 km

Religions

Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.08 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

trunk facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxial cable, and microwave radio relay

general assessment

above the African average and continuing to be upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; Internet access available

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

Telephones - main lines in use

654,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

50,000 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions

920,000 (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

1.9 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

15.4% (2002 est.)

Waterways

none