2015 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 convincing 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. Street protests that began in Tunis in December 2010 over high unemployment, corruption, widespread poverty, and high food prices escalated in January 2011, culminating in rioting that led to hundreds of deaths. On 14 January 2011, the same day BEN ALI dismissed the government, he fled the country, and by late January 2011, a "national unity government" was formed. Elections for the new Constituent Assembly were held in late October 2011, and in December, it elected human rights activist Moncef MARZOUKI as interim president. The Assembly began drafting a new constitution in February 2012 and, after several iterations and a months-long political crisis that stalled the transition, ratified the document in January 2014. Parliamentary and presidential elections for a permanent government were held at the end of 2014. Beji CAID ESSEBSI was elected as the first president under the country’s new constitution.

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 freshwater 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

295.8 cu m/yr (2001)

total

2.85 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

3,970 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (2)

Algeria 1,034 km, Libya 461 km

total

1,495 km

Land use

arable land 18.3%; permanent crops 15.4%; permanent pasture 31.1%

agricultural land

64.8%

forest

6.6%

other

28.6% (2011 est.)

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 (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

23.03% (male 1,309,910/female 1,232,149)

15-24 years

15.53% (male 860,967/female 853,502)

25-54 years

44.58% (male 2,388,056/female 2,532,035)

55-64 years

8.82% (male 494,054/female 479,469)

65 years and over

8.04% (male 435,737/female 451,346) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

16.64 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.3% (2012)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

62.5% (2011/12)

Death rate

5.98 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

11%

potential support ratio

9.1% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

44.8%

youth dependency ratio

33.8%

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population

rural: 93.2% of population

total: 97.7% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 6.8% of population

total: 2.3% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

6.2% of GDP (2012)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

7.1% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.04% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

100 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,700 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.1 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

18.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

25.71 deaths/1,000 live births

total

22.35 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic (official, one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce), Berber (Tamazight)

note

despite having no official status, French plays a major role in the country and is spoken by about two-thirds of the population

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.14 years (2015 est.)

male

73.79 years

total population

75.89 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

74.2% (2015 est.)

male

89.6%

total population

81.8%

Major urban areas - population

TUNIS (capital) 1.993 million (2015)

Median age

female

32.3 years (2015 est.)

male

31.5 years

total

31.9 years

Nationality

adjective

Tunisian

noun

Tunisian(s)

Net migration rate

-1.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

27.1% (2014)

Physicians density

1.22 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

11,037,225 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.89% (2015 est.)

Religions

Muslim (official; Sunni) 99.1%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Shia Muslim, and Baha'i) 1%

Sanitation facility access

urban: 97.4% of population

rural: 79.8% of population

total: 91.6% of population

urban: 2.6% of population

rural: 20.2% of population

total: 8.4% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2010)

male

14 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.94 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.97 male(s)/female

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.99 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total

42.3% (2011 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.38% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

66.8% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

24 governorates (wilayat, singular - wilayah); 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), L'Ariana (Aryanah), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah), Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax (Safaqis), Sidi Bouzid (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

several previous; latest approved by Constituent Assembly 26 January 2014, signed by president on 27 January 2014 (2014)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Tunisia

conventional short form

Tunisia

local long form

Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah

local short form

Tunis

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Jacob WALLES (since 24 July 2012)

embassy

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

FAX

[216] 71 963-263

mailing address

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

telephone

[216] 71 107-000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005

chief of mission

Ambassador Faycal GOUIA (since 18 May 2015)

FAX

[1] (202) 862-1858

telephone

[1] (202) 862-1850

Executive branch

cabinet

selected by the prime minister and approved by the Constituent Assembly

chief of state

President Beji CAID ESSEBSI (since 31 December 2014)

election results

Beji CAID ESSEBSI elected president; percent of vote in runoff - Beji CAID ESSEBSI (Tunisia's Call) 55.7%, Moncef MARZOUKI (CPR) 44.3%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 November and 21 December 2014 (next to be held in 2019); following legislative elections, the prime minister is selected by the majority party or major coalition and appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Habib ESSID (since 6 February 2015)

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 law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation (organized into civil and criminal chambers and consists of NA judges)

judge selection and term of office

judges nominated by the Higher Magistracy Council (also called the Superior Council of the Judiciary), a 7-member body of judges and prosecutors; judges appointed by presidential decree; judge tenure NA

subordinate courts

Administrative Court; Courts of Appeal; Housing Court; courts of first instance; lower district courts; military courts

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Chamber of the People's Deputies (217 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - Tunisia's Call 39.6%, al-Nahda 31.8%, UPL 7.4%, Popular Front 6.9%, Afek Tounes 3.7%, CPR 1.8%, other 8.8%; seats by party - Tunisia's Call 86, al-Nahda 69, UPL 16, Popular Front 15, Afek Tounes 8, CPR 4, other 17, independent 2

elections

initial election held on 26 October 2014 (next to be held in 2019)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Mustafa Sadik AL-RAFII and Aboul-Qacem ECHEBBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB

name

"Humat Al Hima" (Defenders of the Homeland)

note

adopted 1957, replaced 1958, restored 1987; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of the United Arab Emirates

National holiday

Independence Day, 20 March (1956); Revolution and Youth Day, 14 January (2011)

National symbol(s)

encircled red star and crescent; national colors: red, white

Political parties and leaders

Afek Tounes [Emna MINF]

Alliance for Tunisia (a coalition of Tunisia's Call [Beji CAID ESSEBSI], Republican Party [Maya JRIBI and Najib CHBBI], Democratic Path [Ahmed BRAHIM])

al-Nahda (The Renaissance) [Rachid GHANNOUCHI]

Congress for the Republic or CPR [Moncef MARZOUKI]

Democratic Forum for Labor and Liberties or FDTL (Ettakatol) [Mustapha Ben JAAFAR]

Democratic Modernist Pole or PDM (a coalition)

Democratic Socialist Movement or MDS

Et-Tajdid Movement [Ahmed IBRAHIM]

Free Patriotic Union or UPL (Union patriotique libre) [Slim RIAHI]

Green Party for Progress or PVP [Mongi KHAMASSI]

Liberal Social Party or PSL [Mondher THABET]

Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS [Ismail BOULAHYA]

Popular Front (a coalition of 9 parties including Democractic Patriots' Movement, Workers' Party, Green Tunisia, Tunisian Ba'ath Movement, and Party of the Democractic Arab Vanguard)

Popular Petition (Aridha Chaabia) [Hachemi HAMDI]

Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed BOUCHIHA]

Progressive Democratic Party or PDP [Maya JERIBI]

The Initiative [Kamel MORJANE] (formerly the Constitutional Democratic Rally or RCD)

Tunisia's Call (Nidaa Tounes) [Beji CAID ESSEBSI]

Tunisian Workers' Communist Party or PCOT [Hamma HAMMAMI]

Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Ahmed INOUBLI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

18 October Group [collective leadership]

Tunisian League for Human Rights or LTDH [Mokhtar TRIFI]

Tunisian General Labor Union or UGTT [Hassine ABASSI]

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

Budget

expenditures

$15.53 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$12.43 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

5.75% (31 December 2010)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.31% (31 December 2014 est.)

6.76% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$4.332 billion (2014 est.)

-$3.861 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$29.56 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$26.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40 (2005 est.)

41.7 (1995 est.)

Economy - overview

Tunisia's diverse, market-oriented economy has long been cited as a success story in Africa and the Middle East, but it faces an array of challenges following the 2011 revolution. Following an ill-fated experiment with socialist economic policies in the 1960s, Tunisia embarked on a successful strategy focused on bolstering exports, foreign investment, and tourism, all of which have become central to the country's economy. Key exports now include textiles and apparel, food products, petroleum products, chemicals, and phosphates, with about 80% of exports bound for Tunisia's main economic partner, the European Union. Tunisia's liberal strategy, coupled with investments in education and infrastructure, fueled decades of 4-5% annual GDP growth and improving living standards. Former President (1987-2011) Zine el Abidine BEN ALI continued these policies, but as his reign wore on cronyism and corruption stymied economic performance and unemployment rose among the country's growing ranks of university graduates. These grievances contributed to the January 2011 overthrow of BEN ALI, sending Tunisia's economy into a tailspin as tourism and investment declined sharply. During 2012 and 2013, security and political upheaval during transition led to a deterioration of the economy and resulted in several downgrades of Tunisia’s credit rating. Tunisia's government faces challenges reassuring businesses and investors, bringing budget and current account deficits under control, shoring up the country's financial system, bringing down high unemployment, and reducing economic disparities between the more developed coastal region and the impoverished interior.

Exchange rates

Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar -

1.704 (2014 est.)

1.6247 (2013 est.)

1.56 (2012 est.)

1.4078 (2011 est.)

1.4314 (2010 est.)

Exports

$16.61 billion (2014 est.)

$17.03 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

France 29.7%, Italy 17.1%, Germany 11.5%, Libya 5.4% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

45.6%

government consumption

18.5%

household consumption

64.8%

imports of goods and services

-55.6%

investment in fixed capital

22.2%

investment in inventories

3.5%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

8.7%

industry

29%

services

62.3% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$11,300 (2014 est.)

$11,000 (2013 est.)

$10,800 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.3% (2014 est.)

2.3% (2013 est.)

3.7% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$48.55 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$124.3 billion (2014 est.)

$121.5 billion (2013 est.)

$118.8 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

11.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

13.7% of GDP (2013 est.)

16.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

31.5% (2000)

lowest 10%

2.3%

Imports

$23.4 billion (2014 est.)

$22.87 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

France 19.9%, Italy 19.5%, Germany 7.6%, China 5.5%, Spain 5.4%, Turkey 4.1% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

1% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.9% (2014 est.)

6.1% (2013 est.)

Labor force

3.95 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

14.8%

industry

33.2%

services

51.7% (2014 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$8.887 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$9.662 billion (31 December 2011)

$10.68 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

3.8% (2005 est.)

Public debt

49.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

46.2% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$7.198 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$7.447 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$31.32 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$30.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$310 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$295 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$35.47 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$34.49 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$38 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$36.94 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$13.22 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$13.21 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

25.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

15.3% (2014 est.)

15.8% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

20.27 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

77,980 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

3,680 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

64,150 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

425 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

12.94 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

172 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

97.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

1.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1.3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

175 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

4.076 million kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

15.23 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

3.683 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.819 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

1.863 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

65.13 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

90,080 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

3,391 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

80,980 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

11,170 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

broadcast media is mainly government-controlled; the state-run Tunisian Radio and Television Establishment (ERTT) operates 2 national TV 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 users

percent of population

45.5% (2014 est.)

total

5 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 38, shortwave 2 (2007)

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 began offering services in 2010; expansion of mobile-cellular services to include multimedia messaging and e-mail and Internet to mobile phone services has also lead to a surge in subscribership; overall fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity has reached about 125 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 (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

9 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

950,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

131 (2014 est.)

total

14.3 million

Television broadcast stations

26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)

Airports

29 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

2

2,438 to 3,047 m

6

914 to 1,523 m

3 (2013)

over 3,047 m

4

total

15

Airports - with unpaved runways

8 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

5

total

14

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 1, cargo 2, passenger/cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2 (2010)

total

9

Pipelines

condensate 68 km; gas 3,111 km; oil 1,381 km; refined products 453 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Bizerte, Gabes, Rades, Sfax, Skhira

Railways

dual gauge

8 km 1.435-1.000-m gauge

narrow gauge

1,694 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2014)

standard gauge

471 km 1.435-m gauge

total

2,173 km (1,991 in use)

Roadways

paved

14,756 km (includes 357 km of expressways)

total

19,418 km

unpaved

4,662 km (2010)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

2,952,180 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,846,572

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

2,484,097 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,397,716

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

87,346 (2010 est.)

male

90,436

Military branches

Tunisian Armed Forces (Forces Armees Tunisiens, FAT): Tunisian Army (includes Tunisian Air Defense Force), Tunisian Navy, Republic of Tunisia Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah At'Tunisia) (2012)

Military expenditures

1.55% of GDP (2012)

1.34% of GDP (2011)

1.55% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

20-23 years of age for compulsory service, 1-year service obligation; 18-23 years of age for voluntary service; Tunisian nationality required (2012)

Disputes - international

none

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Tunisia is a source, destination, and possible transit country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Tunisia’s increased number of street children, children working to support their families, and migrants who have fled unrest in neighboring countries are vulnerable to human trafficking; Tunisian women have been forced into prostitution domestically and elsewhere in the region under false promises of legitimate work; East and West African women may be subjected to forced labor as domestic servants

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Tunisia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; prior commitments to enact draft anti-trafficking legislation have not been fulfilled, but a slightly increased number of trafficking offenders were prosecuted and convicted in 2013 under existing trafficking-related laws; the government instituted victim identification procedures and developed a victim referral mechanism, although it was not utilized during the reporting period; anti-trafficking awareness campaigns continued to be implemented, and the government worked with an international organization to produce a baseline study on human trafficking in Tunisia (2014)