Tunisia Population: 10,629,186
730 VISITORS FROM HERE!Next Country  » Back to Flag Counter Overview |  |
| 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. 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, Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI announced the formation of a "national unity government" with the head of the Chamber of Deputies, Fouad M'BAZAA, as the interim president. |
 |
 | |
| Geography | |
| Strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration | |
| Location: | Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya |
| Geographic coordinates: | 34 00 N, 9 00 E |
| Area: | total: 163,610 sq km land: 155,360 sq km water: 8,250 sq km Size comparison: slightly larger than Georgia |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 1,424 km border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km |
| Coastline: | 1,148 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 12 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 extremes: | lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m |
| Natural resources: | petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt |
| Land use: | arable land: 17.05% permanent crops: 13.08% other: 69.87% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 4,450 sq km (2008) |
| Natural hazards: | NA |
| Current Environment 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 |
| International Environment 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 |
| ^Back to Top | |
| People | |
| Population: | 10,629,186 (July 2011 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 23.2% (male 1,274,348/female 1,193,131) 15-64 years: 69.3% (male 3,638,014/female 3,728,294) 65 years and over: 7.5% (male 390,055/female 405,344) (2011 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 30 years male: 29.6 years female: 30.4 years (2011 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.978% (2011 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 17.4 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Death rate: | 5.83 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -1.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| 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: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 25.92 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 21.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 75.01 years male: 73 years female: 77.17 years (2011 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.03 children born/woman (2011 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | less than 0.1% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 2,400 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 100 (2009 est.) |
| 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, 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 census) |
| ^Back to Top | |
| Government | |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Tunisian Republic conventional short form: Tunisia local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah local short form: Tunis |
| Government type: | republic |
| Capital: | name: Tunis geographic coordinates: 36 48 N, 10 11 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| 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) |
| Independence: | 20 March 1956 (from France) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 20 March (1956); also the anniversary of BEN ALI's assumption of the presidency, 7 November (1987) |
| Constitution: | 1 June 1959; amended 1988, 2002 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: Interim President Fouad M'BAZAA (since 15 January 2011); note - an interim government took office on 17 January 2011 to replace the government of former President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI head of government: Prime Minister Beji CAID ESSEBSI (since 27 February 2011) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - the formation of a new cabinet was announced on 17 January 2011 (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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 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% |
| Legislative branch: | note - following the 2010-2011 political revolution in Tunisia, an interim government was formed to include an interim legislative body, the "Constituent Assembly" elections: note - initial election of 217 "Constituent Assembly" members held on 23 October 2011 election results: NA |
| Judicial branch: | Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation |
| Political parties and leaders: | al-Nahda (Renaissance) [Rachid GHANNOUCHI]; Congress for the Republic [Moncef MARZOUKI]; Democratic Forum for Labor and Liberties or FDTL [Mustapha Ben JAFAAR]; Et-Tajdid Movement [Ahmed IBRAHIM]; 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 or PDP [Maya JERIBI]; 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] |
| 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 |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Salah TEKAYA chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850 FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Gordon GRAY embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis 1053 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [216] 71 107-000 FAX: [216] 71 963-263 |
| ^Back to Top | |
| Economy | |
| 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. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $100 billion (2010 est.) $96.43 billion (2009 est.) $93.54 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $44.29 billion (2010 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 3.7% (2010 est.) 3.1% (2009 est.) 4.5% (2008 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $9,400 (2010 est.) $9,200 (2009 est.) $9,000 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 10.6% industry: 34.6% services: 54.8% (2010 est.) |
| Labor force: | 3.829 million (2010 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 18.3% industry: 31.9% services: 49.8% (2009 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 13% (2010 est.) 13.3% (2009 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 3.8% (2005 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 31.5% (2000) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 40 (2005 est.) 41.7 (1995 est.) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.4% (2010 est.) 3.5% (2009 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 28.1% of GDP (2010 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $9.714 billion expenditures: $11.63 billion (2010 est.) |
| Public debt: | 50.4% of GDP (2010 est.) 47.1% of GDP (2009 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | olives, olive oil, grain, tomatoes, citrus fruit, sugar beets, dates, almonds; beef, dairy products |
| Industries: | petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 7.8% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 14.4 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 12.49 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 129 million kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 7 million kWh (2008 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 83,720 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 84,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 91,200 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 78,460 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 425 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 3.6 billion cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 4.85 billion cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 1.25 billion cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 65.13 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$973.4 million (2010 est.) -$1.234 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports: | $16.69 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 26.5%, Italy 17.4%, Germany 9.6%, Libya 6.2%, UK 5.6%, Spain 4.2% (2010) |
| Imports: | $20.26 billion (2010 est.) $18.12 billion (2009 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, foodstuffs |
| Imports - partners: | France 20.4%, Italy 20.2%, Germany 9.1%, Spain 5.2%, China 4.5% (2010) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $9.462 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $11.06 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $21.45 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $21.71 billion (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 direct foreign investment - abroad: | $251 million (31 December 2010 est.) $233 million (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $10.68 billion (31 December 2010) $9.12 billion (31 December 2009) $6.374 billion (31 December 2008) |
| Exchange rates: | Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar - 1.4367 (2010) 1.3503 (2009) 1.211 (2008) 1.2776 (2007) 1.331 (2006) |
| ^Back to Top | |
| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 1.279 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 70 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 9.754 million (2009) |
| Telephone system: | 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 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 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 |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .tn |
| Internet hosts: | 490 (2010) |
| Internet users: | 3.5 million (2009) |
| ^Back to Top | |
| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 32 (2010) country comparison to the world: 112 |
| Airports (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 (unpaved runways): | total: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 7 (2010) |
| Pipelines: | gas 2,386 km; oil 1,323 km; refined products 453 km (2010) |
| Railways: | total: 2,165 km standard gauge: 471 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 1,694 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2010) |
| Roadways: | total: 19,232 km paved: 12,655 km (includes 262 km of expressways) unpaved: 6,577 km (2008) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 11 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) |
| Ports and terminals: | Bizerte, Gabes, Rades, Sfax, Skhira |
| ^Back to Top | |
| Military | |
| Military branches: | Tunisian Armed Forces (Forces Armees Tunisiens, FAT): Army, Navy, Republic of Tunisia Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah At'Tunisia) (2011) |
| 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) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 2,846,572 females age 16-49: 2,952,180 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 2,397,716 females age 16-49: 2,484,097 (2010 est.) |
| ^Back to Top | |
Next Country
» Back to Flag Counter OverviewSource: CIA - The World Factbook