Tunisia

Broadcast media

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

490 (2010) country comparison to the world: 181

Internet users

3.5 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 60

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

Telephones - main lines in use

1.279 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 69

Telephones - mobile cellular

9.754 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 65

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

NA% (31 December 2009) NA% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA%

Current account balance

-$1.389 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 -$1.234 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$18.76 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 73 $19.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 41.7 (1995 est.)

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 4.6% 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.

Electricity - consumption

11.8 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Electricity - exports

130 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

145 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

11.08 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Exchange rates

Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar - 1.4367 (2010), 1.3503 (2009), 1.211 (2008), 1.2776 (2007), 1.331 (2006)

Exports

$16.11 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 $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 29.6%, Italy 21%, Germany 8.8%, Libya 5.8%, Spain 5%, UK 4.8% (2009)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$43.86 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$100.3 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 $97.03 billion (2009 est.) $94.22 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 10.6% industry: 34.6% services: 54.8% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$9,500 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 $9,300 (2009 est.) $9,100 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 3% (2009 est.) 4.6% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 31.5% (2000)

Imports

$20.02 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 $18.12 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

France 20.1%, Italy 16.4%, Germany 8.8%, China 5%, Spain 4.5%, US 4% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

1.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 3.5% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

26.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Labor force

3.83 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 18.3% industry: 31.9% services: 49.8% (2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$9.12 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 76 $6.374 billion (31 December 2008) $5.355 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

4.22 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Natural gas - imports

1.25 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Natural gas - production

2.97 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Natural gas - proved reserves

65.13 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Oil - consumption

89,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Oil - exports

77,130 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Oil - imports

87,300 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Oil - production

91,380 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Oil - proved reserves

425 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Population below poverty line

3.8% (2005 est.)

Public debt

49.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 47.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$11.23 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 51 $11.06 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$29.39 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 $26.88 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$251 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 $233 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$33.56 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 $31.86 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$31.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 $28.45 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$11.49 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 70 $11.02 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

14% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 13.3% (2009 est.)

Area

total: 163,610 sq km country comparison to the world: 92 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 2.64 cu km/yr (14%/4%/82%) per capita: 261 cu m/yr (2000)

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

3,940 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

arable land: 17.05% permanent crops: 13.08% other: 69.87% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 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 (2003)

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

name: Tunis geographic coordinates: 36 48 N, 10 11 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

1 June 1959; amended 1988, 2002

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 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

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

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 (For more information visit theWorld 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%

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 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

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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral system consists of 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); and the Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (214 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Chamber of Advisors - last held on 3 July 2005 (next to be held in July 2011); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 25 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014); election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - RCD 84.6%, MDS 4.6%, PUP 3.4%, UDU 2.6%, PSL 2.2%, PVP 1.7%, Al-Tajdid 0.5%; seats by party - RCD 161, MDS 16, PUP 12, UDU 9, PSL 8, PVP 6, Al-Tajdid 2; voter turnout 89.4%

National anthem

name: "Humat Al Hima" (Defenders of the Homeland) lyrics/music: Mustafa Sadik AL-RAFII and Aboul-Qacem ECHEBBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB 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); also the anniversary of BEN ALI's assumption of the presidency, 7 November (1987)

Political parties and leaders

Al-Tajdid Movement [Ahmed IBRAHIM]; Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD; 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

Political pressure groups and leaders

18 October Group [collective leadership]; Tunisian League for Human Rights or LTDH [Mokhtar TRIFI]

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

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 fifth consecutive five-year term as president. 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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 3,065,431 females age 16-49: 2,974,060 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,594,602 females age 16-49: 2,510,159 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 96,697 female: 90,599 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Tunisian Armed Forces (Forces Armees Tunisiens, FAT): Army, Navy, Republic of Tunisia Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah At'tunisia) (2009)

Military expenditures

1.4% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 109

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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 22.7% (male 1,227,238/female 1,149,796) 15-64 years: 70.1% (male 3,701,661/female 3,652,322) 65 years and over: 7.2% (male 352,003/female 403,319) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

15.31 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Death rate

5.24 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Education expenditures

7.2% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 18

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,700 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Infant mortality rate

total: 21.75 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 94 male: 23.94 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.99 years country comparison to the world: 73 male: 74.17 years female: 77.94 years (2010 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 74.3% male: 83.4% female: 65.3% (2004 census)

Median age

total: 29.7 years male: 29.1 years female: 30.3 years (2010 est.)

Nationality

noun: Tunisian(s) adjective: Tunisian

Net migration rate

-0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Population

10,589,025 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Population growth rate

0.969% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2008)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.073 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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.71 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Urbanization

urban population: 67% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

32 (2010) country comparison to the world: 113

Airports - with 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 - with unpaved runways

total: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 7 (2010)

Merchant marine

total: 11 country comparison to the world: 111 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)

Pipelines

gas 2,179 km; oil 1,285 km; refined products 372 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Bizerte, Gabes, Rades, Sfax, Skhira

Railways

total: 2,167 km country comparison to the world: 70 standard gauge: 471 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 1,688 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) dual gauge: 8 km (2008)

Roadways

total: 19,232 km country comparison to the world: 111 paved: 12,655 km (includes 262 km of expressways) unpaved: 6,577 km (2006)