Tunisia Population: 10,835,873
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| 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, 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 released a second working draft in December 2012. The interim government has proposed presidential and parliamentary elections be held in 2013. |
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| 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 (2003) |
| 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 |
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| People | |
| Population: | 10,835,873 (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 23% (male 1,286,781/female 1,206,678) 15-24 years: 16.5% (male 899,534/female 890,909) 25-54 years: 44.7% (male 2,356,154/female 2,484,023) 55-64 years: 8.1% (male 442,983/female 429,767) 65 years and over: 7.7% (male 411,590/female 427,454) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 30.5 years male: 30.1 years female: 30.9 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.964% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 17.28 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 5.87 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -1.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 24.98 deaths/1,000 live births male: 28.58 deaths/1,000 live births female: 21.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 75.24 years male: 73.2 years female: 77.42 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.01 children born/woman (2013 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 (Islam - official) 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1% |
| Languages: | Arabic (official, one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce), Berber (Tamazight) |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 74.3% male: 83.4% female: 65.3% (2004 census) |
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| 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 (wilayat, singular - wilayah); 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); Revolution and Youth Day, 14 January (2011) |
| Constitution: | 1 June 1959; amended 1988, 2002; note - the Constituent Assembly formed in October 2011 following the country's political revolution was charged with writing a new constitution |
| 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: | note: Tunisia's interim government was appointed in December 2011 and will remain in power pending drafting of a new constitution and holding of general elections in 2013 chief of state: Interim President Moncef MARZOUKI (since 12 December 2011) head of government: Prime Minister Ali LARAYEDH (since 27 February 2013) cabinet: Prime Minister-Designate Ali LARAYEDH was asked to form a new government in early March 2013 (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by Constituent Assembly; election last held on 12 December 2011(next to be held in 2013); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President MARZOUKI elected by Constituent Assembly with 153 of 156 votes |
| Legislative branch: | unicameral Constituent Assembly (217 seats); note - it is unclear as to the legislative role of the Constituent Assembly elections: initial election of 217 Constituent Assembly members held on 23 October 2011 (next to be held in 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - al-Nahda 89, CPR 29, Popular Petition 26, FDTL 20, PDP 16, PDM 5, The Initiative 5, Afek Tounes 4, PCOT 3, other minor parties each with fewer than three seats 20 |
| Judicial branch: | Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation |
| Political parties and leaders: | Afek Tounes [Emna MINF]; Alliance for Tunisia (a coalition of Tunisia's Call [Beji Caid ESSEBSI], Republicsn Party {Maya JRIBI and Najib CHBBI],Democratic Path [Ahmed BRAHIM]); al-Nahda (The Renaissance) [Rachid GHANNOUCHI]; Congress Party 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]; Green Party for Progress or PVP [Mongi KHAMASSI]; Liberal Social Party or PSL [Mondher THABET]; Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS [Ismail BOULAHYA]; 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); 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] |
| International organization participation: | ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador-Designate Mokhtar CHAOUACHI 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 Jacob WALLES 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 |
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| Economy | |
| 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 during the country's ongoing political transition. 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. As the economy recovers, 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. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $104.4 billion (2012 est.) $101.7 billion (2011 est.) $103.5 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $44.7 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 2.7% (2012 est.) -1.8% (2011 est.) 3.1% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $9,700 (2012 est.) $9,500 (2011 est.) $9,800 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 8.9% industry: 29.6% services: 61.5% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 4.014 million (2012 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 18.3% industry: 31.9% services: 49.8% (2009 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 18.8% (2012 est.) 19% (2011 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): 5.9% (2012 est.) 3.5% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 23.1% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $10.63 billion expenditures: $14.43 billion (2012 est.) |
| Public debt: | 52.3% of GDP (2012 est.) 45.1% of GDP (2011 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: | -6.4% (2011 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 14.76 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 12.75 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 81 million kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 122 million kWh (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 2.03 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 3.28 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 1.25 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 65.13 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$3.57 billion (2012 est.) -$3.331 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $17.87 billion (2012 est.) $17.61 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons, electrical equipment |
| Exports - partners: | France 29.5%, Italy 19.3%, Germany 10.3%, Libya 6.6% (2011) |
| Imports: | $23.49 billion (2012 est.) $22.95 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, foodstuffs |
| Imports - partners: | France 21.1%, Italy 17.6%, Germany 8.9%, Spain 5%, China 4.7%, Russia 4.5% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $7.424 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $7.357 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $24.49 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $23.18 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $33.66 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $32.55 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $345 million (31 December 2012 est.) $310 million (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $9.662 billion (31 December 2011) $10.68 billion (31 December 2010) $9.12 billion (31 December 2009) |
| Exchange rates: | Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar - 1.563 (2012 est.) 1.4078 (2011 est.) 1.4314 (2010 est.) 1.3503 (2009) 1.211 (2008) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 1.218 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 69 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 12.388 million (2011) |
| 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 began 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 has reached about 125 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: | 576 (2012) |
| Internet users: | 3.5 million (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 29 (2012) country comparison to the world: 118 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 15 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 14 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 8 (2012) |
| 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) (2008) |
| Roadways: | total: 19,232 km paved: 12,655 km (includes 262 km of expressways) unpaved: 6,577 km (2006) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 9 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 2, passenger/cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2 (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Bizerte, Gabes, Rades, Sfax, Skhira |
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| Military | |
| 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 service age and obligation: | 20-23 years of age for compulsory service, one year service obligation; 18-23 years of age for voluntary service; Tunisian nationality required (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.) |
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