Tunisia

Internet country code

.tn

Internet hosts

281 (2004)

Internet users

630,000 (2003)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 20, shortwave 2 (1998)

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: trunk facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxial cable, and microwave radio relay international: country code - 216; 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel; two international gateway digital switches

Telephones - main lines in use

1,163,800 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1,899,900 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $6.101 billion expenditures: $6.855 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.6 billion (2003 est.)

Currency

Tunisian dinar (TND)

Currency code

TND

Current account balance

$-738.6 million (2003)

Debt - external

$14.39 billion (2003 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

41.7 (1995)

Economic aid - recipient

$378 million (2001)

Economy - overview

Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, energy, 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. Real growth, averaging 5% for the latter half of the last decade, slowed to a 15-year low of 1.9% in 2002 because of agricultural drought, slow investment, and lackluster tourism. Better rains in 2003, however, pushed GDP growth up to an estimated 6 percent, and tourism also recovered after the end of combat operations in Iraq. GDP growth remained at 6% in 2004. Tunisia has agreed to gradually remove barriers to trade with the European Union over the next decade. Broader privatization, further liberalization of the investment code to increase foreign investment, improvements in government efficiency, and reduction of the trade deficit are among the challenges for the future.

Electricity - consumption

9.748 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

1 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

10.48 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

Tunisian dinars per US dollar - 1.2885 (2003), 1.4217 (2002), 1.4387 (2001), 1.3707 (2000), 1.1862 (1999)

Exports

$8.035 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

textiles, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, agricultural products, hydrocarbons

Exports - partners

France 32.6%, Italy 21.9%, Germany 10.7%, Spain 4.7%, Libya 4.4% (2003)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $68.23 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 13.9% industry: 32.2% services: 53.9% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $6,900 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.1% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 31.8% (1995)

Imports

$10.3 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, food

Imports - partners

France 26.1%, Italy 19.8%, Germany 8.9%, Spain 5.2% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

-0.1% (2003 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.7% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

24.2% of GDP (2003)

Labor force

3.461 million note: shortage of skilled labor (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

services 55%, industry 23%, agriculture 22% (1995 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

3.83 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.58 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

2.25 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

77.16 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption

87,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

72,580 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

417 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line

7.6% (2001 est.)

Public debt

59.5% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold

$2.949 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate

14.3% (2003 est.)

Area

total: 163,610 sq km land: 155,360 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

lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 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

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

3,800 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 1,424 km border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km

Land use

arable land: 17.86% permanent crops: 13.74% other: 68.4% (2001)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 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

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

Tunis

Constitution

1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988

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 William J. HUDSON embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis, 2045 La Goulette, Tunisia mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [216] 71 107-000 FAX: [216] 71 962-115

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affaires Tarek Azouz chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850 FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858

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; election last held 24 October 2004 (next to be held 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%

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

Government type

republic

Independence

20 March 1956 (from France)

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNOCI, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, 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

Legislative branch

unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (189 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 24 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RCD 152, MDS 14, PUP 11, UDU 7, Al-Tajdid 3, PSL 2

National holiday

Independence Day, 20 March (1956)

Political parties and leaders

Al-Tajdid Movement [Ali HALOUANI]; Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD [President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (official ruling party)]; Liberal Social Party or PSL [Mounir BEJI]; Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS [Ismail BOULAHYA]; Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed BOUCHIHA]; Progressive Democratic Party [Nejib CHEBBI]; Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Abderrahmane TLILI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

the Islamic fundamentalist party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is outlawed

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Background

Following independence from France in 1956, 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 recent years, Tunisia has taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in its foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse rising pressure for a more open political society.

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$356 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.5% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 2,918,524 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,655,910 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation

20 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2004)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 106,565 (2004 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 26% (male 1,337,546; female 1,253,814) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 3,373,199; female 3,360,402) 65 years and over: 6.5% (male 315,151; female 334,610) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

15.74 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

5.05 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 25.76 deaths/1,000 live births male: 28.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 22.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.66 years male: 73 years female: 76.44 years (2004 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 74.2% male: 84% female: 64.4% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 26.8 years male: 26.3 years female: 27.3 years (2004 est.)

Nationality

noun: Tunisian(s) adjective: Tunisian

Net migration rate

-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

9,974,722 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

1.01% (2004 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.79 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

30 (2003 est.)

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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)

Highways

total: 18,997 km paved: 12,310 km (including 142 km of expressways) unpaved: 6,687 km (2000)

Merchant marine

total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 124,733 GRT/122,664 DWT by type: bulk 2, cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, liquefied gas 1, short-sea/passenger 3 registered in other countries: 2 (2004 est.)

Pipelines

gas 3,059 km; oil 1,203 km; refined products 345 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Sfax, Sousse, Tunis, Zarzis

Railways

total: 2,152 km standard gauge: 468 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 1,674 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) dual gauge: 10 km 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (three rails) (2003)