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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces, National Guard

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $535 million, 2.8% of GDP (1995)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,354,513 males fit for military service: 1,349,728 males reach military age (20) annually: 91,866 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 7, FM 8, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

1,693,527 (1991 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

the system is above the African average; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis domestic: trunk facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxial cable, and microwave radio relay international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat with back-up control station; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

233,000 (1987 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

670,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

olives, dates, oranges, almonds, grain, sugar beets, grapes; poultry, beef, dairy products

Budget [time series]

revenues: $4.3 billion expenditures: $5.5 billion, including capital expenditures to $NA (1993 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Tunisian dinar (TD) = 1,000 millimes

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $221 million (1993)

Economic overview [time series]

Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Detailed governmental control of economic affairs has gradually lessened over the past decade, including increasing privatization of trade and commerce, simplification of the tax structure, and a cautious approach to debt. Real growth has averaged 4.2% in 1991-95, and inflation has been moderate. Growth in tourism and IMF support have been key elements in this solid record. Drought, especially in the south, held back GDP growth in 1995. Further privatization and further improvements in government administrative efficiency are among the challenges for the future.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 1,410,000 kW production: 5.4 billion kWh consumption per capita: 595 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Tunisian dinars (TD) per US$1 - 0.9635 (January 1996), 0.9458 (1995), 1.0116 (1994), 1.0037 (1993), 0.8844 (1992), 0.9246 (1991)

Exports [time series]

$4.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: hydrocarbons, agricultural products, phosphates and chemicals partners: EU countries 75%, Middle East 10%, Algeria 2%, India 2%, US 1%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$7.7 billion (1993 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $37.1 billion (1994 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 15% industry: 30% services: 55% (1995 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$4,250 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

4.4% (1994 est.)

Imports [time series]

$6.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: industrial goods and equipment 57%, hydrocarbons 13%, food 12%, consumer goods partners: EU countries 70%, US 5%, Middle East 2%, Japan 2%, Switzerland 1%, Algeria 1%

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5% (1989)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5.5% (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.917 million (1993 est.) by occupation: services 55%, industry 23%, agriculture 22% (1995 est.) note: shortage of skilled labor

Unemployment rate [time series]

16.2% (1993 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 163,610 sq km land area: 155,360 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Georgia

Climate [time series]

temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south

Coastline [time series]

1,148 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and presents human health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates [time series]

34 00 N, 9 00 E

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

strategic location in central Mediterranean

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

maritime boundary dispute with Libya; land boundary dispute with Algeria settled in 1993; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

Irrigated land [time series]

2,750 sq km (1989)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 20% permanent crops: 10% meadows and pastures: 19% forest and woodland: 4% other: 47%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 24 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt

Terrain [time series]

mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m highest point: Jabal ash Shanabi 1,544 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

23 governorates; Beja, Ben Arous, Bizerte, Gabes, Gafsa, Jendouba, Kairouan, Kasserine, Kebili, L'Ariana, Le Kef, Mahdia, Medenine, Monastir, Nabeul, Sfax, Sidi Bou Zid, Siliana, Sousse, Tataouine, Tozeur, Tunis, Zaghouan

Capital [time series]

Tunis

Legislative branch (Chamber of Deputies (Majlis al-Nuwaab)) [time series]

elections last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - RCD 97.7%, MDS 1.0%, others 1.3%; seats - (163 total) RCD 144, MDS 10, others 9; note - the government changed the electoral code to guarantee that the opposition won seats

Constitution [time series]

1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Azzouz ENNAIFER chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November 1987) was reelected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI was reelected without opposition head of government: Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since 26 September 1989) was appointed by the president cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[216] (1) 789-719

Flag [time series]

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 [time series]

20 March 1956 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, BSEC (observer), CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNAMIR, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation)

Legal system [time series]

based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Tunisia conventional short form: Tunisia local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah local short form: Tunis

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 20 March (1956)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

the Islamic fundamentalist party, An Nahda (Rebirth), is outlawed

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (RCD), President BEN ALI (official ruling party); Movement of Democratic Socialists (MDS), Mohammed MOUAADA; five other political parties are legal, including the Communist Party

Suffrage [time series]

20 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Ann CASEY embassy: 144 Avenue de la Liberte, 1002 Tunis-Belvedere mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [216] (1) 782-566

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 34% (male 1,583,636; female 1,489,784) 15-64 years: 61% (male 2,738,013; female 2,719,998) 65 years and over: 5% (male 254,403; female 233,853) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

24.03 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.18 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Arab-Berber 98%, European 1%, Jewish less than 1%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

35.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 72.6 years male: 71.27 years female: 74.03 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 66.7% male: 78.6% female: 54.6%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Tunisian(s) adjective: Tunisian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

9,019,687 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.81% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish 1%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.09 male(s)/female all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.92 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 29 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 6 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 with paved runways under 914 m: 6 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 29,183 km paved: 17,510 km (including 52 km of expressways) unpaved: 11,673 km (1989 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 125,840 GRT/164,277 DWT ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 4, chemical tanker 3, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, short-sea passenger 1 (1995 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 797 km; petroleum products 86 km; natural gas 742 km

Ports [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

total: 2,260 km standard gauge: 492 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 1,758 km 1.000-m gauge dual gauge: 10 km 1.000-m and 1.435-m gauges (1993 est.)