Tunisia
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues
Introduction	Back To Top
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 fourth consecutive five-year term as president; the next elections are scheduled for October 2009. 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	Back To Top
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): total: 2.64 cu km/yr (14%/4%/82%) per capita: 261 cu m/yr (2000) Total renewable water resources: 4.6 cu km (2003) Land boundaries: total: 1,424 km border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km 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 Climate: temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south Map references: Africa Geographic coordinates: 34 00 N, 9 00 E Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt Elevation extremes: lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m Terrain: mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara 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 Area: total: 163,610 sq km land: 155,360 sq km water: 8,250 sq km Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya Coastline: 1,148 km Area - comparative: slightly larger than Georgia Irrigated land: 3,940 sq km (2003) 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 Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 12 nm Natural hazards: NA Land use: arable land: 17.05% permanent crops: 13.08% other: 69.87% (2005)
People	Back To Top
Total fertility rate: 1.73 children born/woman (2008 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: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2005 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 1,000 (2003 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.56 years male: 73.79 years female: 77.46 years (2008 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 74.3% male: 83.4% female: 65.3% (2004 census) Net migration rate: -0.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.) Ethnic groups: Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1% Median age: total: 28.8 years male: 28.2 years female: 29.3 years (2008 est.) Population: 10,383,577 (July 2008 est.) Education expenditures: 7.3% of GDP (2005) Population growth rate: 0.989% (2008 est.) Languages: Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce) Death rate: 5.17 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 23.43 deaths/1,000 live births male: 25.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: fewer than 200 (2003 est.) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006) Age structure: 0-14 years: 23.2% (male 1,246,105/female 1,167,379) 15-64 years: 69.7% (male 3,638,062/female 3,595,254) 65 years and over: 7.1% (male 345,590/female 391,187) (2008 est.) Birth rate: 15.5 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) Religions: Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1% Nationality: noun: Tunisian(s) adjective: Tunisian
Government	Back To Top
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert F. GODEC 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 National holiday: Independence Day, 20 March (1956); also the anniversary of BEN ALI's assumption of the presidency, 7 November (1987) 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 Government type: republic Political pressure groups and leaders: 18 October Group [collective leadership]; Tunisian League for Human Rights or LTDH [Mokhtar TRIFI] Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Tarek Ben YOUSSEF chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850 FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858 International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), FAO, 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, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC (suspended), OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Legislative branch: bicameral system consists of the Chamber of Deputies or 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 on 24 October 2004 (next to be held in October 2009); Chamber of Advisors - last held on 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 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 (due to boycott)) 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 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 Independence: 20 March 1956 (from France) Country name (Goverment): conventional long form: Tunisian Republic conventional short form: Tunisia local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah local short form: Tunis Political parties and leaders: Al-Tajdid Movement [Ahmed IBRAHIM]; Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD (official ruling party) [President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI]; 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 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 Constitution: 1 June 1959; amended 1988, 2002 Executive branch: chief of state: President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI (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 on 24 October 2004 (next to be held in 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% 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) Judicial branch: Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation
Economy	Back To Top
Exports - partners: France 31.3%, Italy 21%, Germany 8.5%, Spain 5.5%, Libya 5.5% (2007) Electricity - consumption: 10.75 billion kWh (2006 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2007 est.) Current account balance: -$993 million (2008 est.) Debt - external: $19.33 billion (31 December 2008 est.) Unemployment rate: 14% (2008 est.) Oil - exports: 73,790 bbl/day (2005) GDP - per capita (PPP): $8,000 (2008 est.) Investment (gross fixed): 24.4% of GDP (2008 est.) Stock of domestic credit: $25.23 billion (31 December 2007) GDP (purchasing power parity): $83.4 billion (2008 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $41.77 billion (2008 est.) Distribution of family income - Gini index: 40 (2005 est.) Exchange rates: Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar - 1.211 (2008 est.), 1.2776 (2007), 1.331 (2006), 1.2974 (2005), 1.2455 (2004) GDP - real growth rate: 4.7% (2008 est.) Stock of money: $9.491 billion (31 December 2007) Labor force: 3.676 million (2008 est.) Imports - partners: France 23.8%, Italy 21.9%, Germany 9.7%, Spain 5%, Libya 4.4% (2007) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (2008 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10.8% industry: 28.3% services: 61% (2008 est.) Oil - imports: 89,130 bbl/day (2005) Exports: $19.7 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 3.85 billion cu m (2006 est.) Currency (code): Tunisian dinar (TND) 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 4.7% in 2008 and probably will decline further in 2009 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. Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2007 est.) Imports - commodities: textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, foodstuffs Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages Electricity - exports: 135 million kWh (2006 est.) Population below poverty line: 7.4% (2005 est.) Stock of quasi money: $13.56 billion (31 December 2007) Electricity - production: 12.65 billion kWh (2006 est.) Imports: $23 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.) Oil - proved reserves: 400 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 55% industry: 23% services: 22% (1995 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 65.13 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $8.875 billion (31 December 2008 est.) Oil - consumption: 91,110 bbl/day (2006 est.) Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: $130 million (2008 est.) Public debt: 53.1% of GDP (2008 est.) Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: $28.51 billion (2008 est.) Market value of publicly traded shares: $5.355 billion (31 December 2007) Currency code: TND Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 31.5% (2000) Exports - commodities: clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons, electrical equipment Economic aid - recipient: $376.5 million (2005) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.5% hydro: 0.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2005) Natural gas - production: 2.55 billion cu m (2006 est.) Budget: revenues: $9.652 billion expenditures: $11.03 billion (2008 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Oil - production: 86,210 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Communications	Back To Top
Internet users: 1.722 million (2007) Telephones - main lines in use: 1.273 million (2007) Televisions: 920,000 (1997) Internet country code: .tn Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 38, shortwave 2 (2007) Radios: 2.06 million (1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: 7.842 million (2007) Television broadcast stations: 26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995) Telephone system: general assessment: above the African average and continuing to be upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; Internet access available domestic: in an effort jumpstart expansion of the fixed-line network, the government has awarded a concession to build and operate a VSAT network with international connectivity; competition between the two mobile-cellular service providers has resulted in lower activation and usage charges and a strong surge in subscribership; 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 90 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 Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000) Internet hosts: 376 (2008)
Transportation	Back To Top
Pipelines: gas 2,665 km; oil 1,235 km; refined products 353 km (2007) 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) (2006) Ports and terminals: Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Rades, Sfax, Skhira Merchant marine: total: 7 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 4 registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008) Airports - with paved runways: total: 14 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 (2007) Roadways: total: 19,232 km paved: 12,655 km (includes 262 km of expressways) unpaved: 6,577 km (2004) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 7 (2007) Airports: 30 (2007)
Military	Back To Top
Military service age and obligation: 20 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007) Manpower available for military service: males age 16-49: 2,992,249 females age 16-49: 2,912,819 (2008 est.) Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 2,539,962 females age 16-49: 2,465,295 (2008 est.) Military branches: Army, Navy, Republic of Tunisia Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah At'tunisia) (2008) Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 101,794 female: 95,198 (2008 est.) Military expenditures: 1.4% of GDP (2006)
Transnational Issues	Back To Top
Disputes - international: none

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