2010 Edition

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.

Area

land

155,360 sq km

total

163,610 sq km

water

8,250 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Georgia

Climate

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

Coastline

1,148 km

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, 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

261 cu m/yr (2000)

total

2.64 cu km/yr (14%/4%/82%)

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

Irrigated land

3,940 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km

total

1,424 km

Land use

arable land

17.05%

other

69.87% (2005)

permanent crops

13.08%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

12 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

4.6 cu km (2003)

Age structure

0-14 years: 22.7% (male 1,227,238/female 1,149,796) 15-64 years: 70.1% (male 3,701,661/female 3,652,322) 65 years and over: 7.2% (male 352,003/female 403,319) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

15.31 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

5.24 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

7.2% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,700 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

19.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

23.94 deaths/1,000 live births

total

21.75 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.94 years (2010 est.)

male

74.17 years

total population

75.99 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

65.3% (2004 census)

male

83.4%

total population

74.3%

Median age

female

30.3 years (2010 est.)

male

29.1 years

total

29.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Tunisian

noun

Tunisian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

10,589,025 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.969% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2008)

male

14 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.073 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.71 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

67% of total population (2008)

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

geographic coordinates

36 48 N, 10 11 E

name

Tunis

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

1 June 1959; amended 1988, 2002

Country name

conventional long form

Tunisian Republic

conventional short form

Tunisia

local long form

Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah

local short form

Tunis

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Gordon GRAY

embassy

Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis 1053

FAX

[216] 71 963-263

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[216] 71 107-000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005

chief of mission

Ambassador Mohamed Salah TEKAYA

FAX

[1] (202) 862-1858

telephone

[1] (202) 862-1850

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

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

election results

President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected for a fifth term; percent of vote - Zine El Abidine BEN ALI 89.6%, Mohamed BOUCHIHA 5%, Ahmed INOUBLI 3.8%, Ahmed BRAHIM 1.6%; voter turnout 89.4%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 25 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI (since 17 November 1999)

Flag description

red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; resembles the Ottoman flag (red banner with white crescent and star) and recalls Tunisia's history as part of the Ottoman Empire; red represents the blood shed by martyrs in the struggle against oppression, white stands for peace; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam note: the flag is based on that of Turkey, itself a successor state to the Ottoman Empire

Government type

republic

Independence

20 March 1956 (from France)

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), FAO, G-11, 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, MONUSCO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation

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

Legislative branch

bicameral system consists of 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); and the Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (214 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - RCD 84.6%, MDS 4.6%, PUP 3.4%, UDU 2.6%, PSL 2.2%, PVP 1.7%, Al-Tajdid 0.5%; seats by party - RCD 161, MDS 16, PUP 12, UDU 9, PSL 8, PVP 6, Al-Tajdid 2; voter turnout 89.4%

elections

Chamber of Advisors - last held on 3 July 2005 (next to be held in July 2011); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 25 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014);

National anthem

lyrics/music

Mustafa Sadik AL-RAFII and Aboul-Qacem ECHEBBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB note: adopted 1957, replaced 1958, restored 1987; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of the United Arab Emirates

name

"Humat Al Hima" (Defenders of the Homeland)

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

Al-Tajdid Movement [Ahmed IBRAHIM]; Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD; 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]

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

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

NA% (31 December 2009) NA% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA%

Current account balance

-$1.389 billion (2010 est.) -$1.234 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$18.76 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $19.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40 (2005 est.) 41.7 (1995 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, declined to 4.6% in 2008 and to 3-4% in 2009-10 because of economic contraction and slowing of import demand in Europe - Tunisia's largest export market. However, development of non-textile manufacturing, a recovery in agricultural production, and strong growth in the services sector somewhat mitigated the economic effect of slowing exports. 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. The challenges ahead include: privatizing industry, liberalizing the investment code to increase foreign investment, improving government efficiency, reducing the trade deficit, and reducing socioeconomic disparities in the impoverished south and west.

Electricity - consumption

11.8 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

130 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

145 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

11.08 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar - 1.4367 (2010), 1.3503 (2009), 1.211 (2008), 1.2776 (2007), 1.331 (2006)

Exports

$16.11 billion (2010 est.) $14.42 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

France 29.6%, Italy 21%, Germany 8.8%, Libya 5.8%, Spain 5%, UK 4.8% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

10.6%

industry

34.6%

services

54.8% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$9,500 (2010 est.) $9,300 (2009 est.) $9,100 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.4% (2010 est.) 3% (2009 est.) 4.6% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$43.86 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$100.3 billion (2010 est.) $97.03 billion (2009 est.) $94.22 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 31.5% (2000)

Imports

$20.02 billion (2010 est.) $18.12 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

France 20.1%, Italy 16.4%, Germany 8.8%, China 5%, Spain 4.5%, US 4% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

1.6% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.5% (2010 est.) 3.5% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

26.1% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

3.83 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

18.3%

industry

31.9%

services

49.8% (2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$9.12 billion (31 December 2009) $6.374 billion (31 December 2008) $5.355 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

4.22 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.25 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

2.97 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

65.13 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

89,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

77,130 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

87,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

91,380 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

425 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

3.8% (2005 est.)

Public debt

49.5% of GDP (2010 est.) 47.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$11.23 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $11.06 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$29.39 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $26.88 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$251 million (31 December 2010 est.) $233 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$33.56 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $31.86 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$31.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $28.45 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$11.49 billion (31 December 2010 est) $11.02 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

14% (2010 est.) 13.3% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

broadcast media is mainly government-controlled; the state-run Tunisian Radio and Television Establishment (ERTT) operates 2 national television networks, several national radio networks, and a number of regional radio stations; 1 TV and 3 radio stations are privately-owned and report domestic news stories directly from the official Tunisian news agency; the state retains control of broadcast facilities and transmitters through L'Office National de la Telediffusion; Tunisians also have access to Egyptian, pan-Arab, and European satellite TV channels (2007)

Internet country code

.tn

Internet hosts

490 (2010)

Internet users

3.5 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

in an effort to jumpstart expansion of the fixed-line network, the government has awarded a concession to build and operate a VSAT network with international connectivity; rural areas are served by wireless local loops; competition between the two mobile-cellular service providers has resulted in lower activation and usage charges and a strong surge in subscribership; a third mobile, fixed, and ISP operator was licensed in 2009 and will begin offering services in 2010; 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 100 telephones per 100 persons

general assessment

above the African average and continuing to be upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; telephone network is completely digitized; Internet access available throughout the country

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

Telephones - main lines in use

1.279 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

9.754 million (2009)

Airports

32 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

16 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 7 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 1, cargo 2, chemical tanker 2, passenger/cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2

registered in other countries

1 (Panama 1) (2010)

total

11

Pipelines

gas 2,179 km; oil 1,285 km; refined products 372 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Bizerte, Gabes, Rades, Sfax, Skhira

Railways

dual gauge

8 km (2008)

narrow gauge

1,688 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)

standard gauge

471 km 1.435-m gauge

total

2,167 km

Roadways

paved

12,655 km (includes 262 km of expressways)

total

19,232 km

unpaved

6,577 km (2006)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 3,065,431 females age 16-49: 2,974,060 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,594,602 females age 16-49: 2,510,159 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

90,599 (2010 est.)

male

96,697

Military branches

Tunisian Armed Forces (Forces Armees Tunisiens, FAT): Army, Navy, Republic of Tunisia Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah At'tunisia) (2009)

Military expenditures

1.4% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

20 years of age for compulsory military service, 18 years of age for voluntary military service; 1-year conscript service obligation (2007)

Disputes - international

none page last updated on January 24, 2011 ======================================================================