Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

4 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 7, FM 20, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios [time series]

2.06 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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: 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 - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

628,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

50,000 (1998)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

19 (plus some low power stations) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

920,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $5.1 billion expenditures: $5.8 billion, including capital expenditures to $1.6 billion (1999 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Tunisian dinar (TD) = 1,000 millimes

Debt - external [time series]

$12.1 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$933.2 million (1995); note - ODA, $90 million (1998 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 averaged 5.0% in the 1990s, and inflation is slowing. Growth in tourism and increased trade have been key elements in this steady growth. Tunisia's association agreement with the European Union entered into force on 1 March 1998, the first such accord between the EU and Mediterranean countries to be activated. Under the agreement Tunisia will gradually remove barriers to trade with the EU over the next decade. Broader privatization, further liberalization of the investment code to increase foreign investment, and improvements in government efficiency are among the challenges for the future.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

7.549 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

165 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

7.94 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 99.5% hydro: 0.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

Tunisian dinars (TD) per US$1 - 1.2455 (January 2000), 1.2546 (December 1999), 1.1387 (1998), 1.1059 (1997), 0.9734 (1996), 0.9458 (1995)

Exports [time series]

$5.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

France 27%, Italy 22%, Germany 15%, Belgium 6%, Libya 4% (1998)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $52.6 billion (1999 est.)

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

agriculture: 12% industry: 28% services: 60% (1998 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $5,500 (1999 est.)

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

6% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 30.7% (1990)

Imports [time series]

$8.3 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, fuel, food

Imports - partners [time series]

France 27%, Italy 20%, Germany 12%, Spain 4%, Belgium 4%, US 4% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

8% (1998 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.7% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

3 million (1997 est.) note: shortage of skilled labor

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

14.1% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

16.5% (1999 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 163,610 sq km land: 155,360 sq km water: 8,250 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m highest point: Jabal ash Shanabi 1,544 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates [time series]

34 00 N, 9 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

strategic location in central Mediterranean

Irrigated land [time series]

3,850 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 19% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 4% other: 44% (1993 est.)

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 hazards [time series]

NA

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara

Administrative divisions [time series]

23 governorates; Al Kaf, Al Mahdiyah, Al Munastir, Al Qasrayn, Al Qayrawan, Aryanah, Bajah, Banzart, Bin 'Arus, Jundubah, Madanin, Nabul, Qabis, Qafsah, Qibili, Safaqis, Sidi Bu Zayd, Silyanah, Susah, Tatawin, Tawzar, Tunis, Zaghwan

Capital [time series]

Tunis

Constitution [time series]

1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

TS

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Robin L. RAPHEL embassy: 144 Avenue de la Liberte, 1002 Tunis-Belvedere mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [216] (1) 782-566 FAX: [216] (1) 789-719

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Noureddine MEJDOUB 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) head of government: Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since NA 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 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected for a third term without opposition; percent of vote - Zine El Abidine BEN ALI nearly 100%

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

republic

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, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIPONUH, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, 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 Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (163 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held NA October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - the government changed the electoral code to guarantee that the opposition won seats

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 20 March (1956)

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

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

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

20 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

Following independence from France in 1956, President Habib BOURGIUBA 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 diffuse rising pressure for a more open political society.

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$356 million (FY99)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

1.5% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,669,934 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,523,849 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 102,464 (2000 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 30% (male 1,469,048; female 1,375,782) 15-64 years: 64% (male 3,080,631; female 3,089,244) 65 years and over: 6% (male 290,388; female 288,309) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

17.38 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.98 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

30.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.69 years male: 72.14 years female: 75.36 years (2000 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Tunisian(s) adjective: Tunisian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

9,593,402 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.17% (2000 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.04 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

maritime boundary dispute with Libya; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports [time series]

32 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 15 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 7 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 23,100 km paved: 18,226 km unpaved: 4,874 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 151,084 GRT/159,576 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 5, chemical tanker 3, liquified gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

total: 2,168 km standard gauge: 471 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 1,687 km 1.000-m gauge dual gauge: 10 km 1.000-m and 1.435-m gauges (three rails)