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Communications

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

1 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.tn

Internet users [time series]

400,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 7, FM 20, shortwave 2 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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: 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]

654,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

50,000 (1998)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $5.2 billion expenditures: $5.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.6 billion (2002 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Tunisian dinar (TND)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

TND

Debt - external [time series]

$13.6 billion (2003 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

41.7 (1995)

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

$222.7 million (2000)

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 5.4% in 1997-2001 but slowed to 1.9% in 2002 because of agricultural drought, slow investment, and lackluster tourism. Increased rainfall portends higher growth levels for 2003, but continued regional tension from the war in Iraq will most likely continue to suppress tourism earnings. 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 [time series]

9.748 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

1 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

10.48 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 99.5% hydro: 0.5% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

Tunisian dinars per US dollar - 1.42 (2002), 1.44 (2001), 1.37 (2000), 1.19 (1999), 1.14 (1998)

Exports [time series]

$6.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

France 31.3%, Italy 21.6%, Germany 11.5%, Spain 4.8%, Libya 4.7%, Belgium 4.3% (2002)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $67.13 billion (2002 est.)

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

agriculture: 12% industry: 32% services: 56% (2003 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $6,800 (2002 est.)

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

4.8% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$8.7 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities [time series]

textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, food

Imports - partners [time series]

France 25.6%, Italy 19.5%, Germany 8.9%, Spain 5% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.5% (2002 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.5% (2002 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.69 million note: shortage of skilled labor (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

3.83 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

1.58 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

2.25 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

77.16 billion cu m (37257)

Oil - consumption [time series]

87,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

72,580 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

417 million bbl (37257)

Population below poverty line [time series]

6% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

15.4% (2002 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 163,610 sq km water: 8,250 sq km land: 155,360 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: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

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; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

Irrigated land [time series]

3,800 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 18.67% permanent crops: 12.87% other: 68.46% (1998 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]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [time series]

Tunis

Constitution [time series]

1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Rust M. DEMING embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis, 2045 La Goulette, Tunisia mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [216] 71 782-566 FAX: [216] 71 789-719

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Hatem ATALLAH FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858 telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850 chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005

Executive branch [time series]

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 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), ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Court of Cassation or 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 (182 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - RCD 92%; seats by party - RCD 148, MDS 13, UDU 7, PUP 7, Al-Tajdid 5, PSL 2; note - reforms enabled opposition parties to win up to 20% of seats, increasing the number of seats they hold from 19 in the last election to 34 now

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 20 March (1956)

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

Al-Tajdid Movement [Adel CHAOUCH]; 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 Democratic Socialists or MDS [Khamis CHAMMARI]; Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed Belhaj AMOR]; Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Abderrahmane TLILI]

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

Introduction

Background [time series]

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

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: 2,866,984 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,629,241 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

20 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 106,513 (2003 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 27% (male 1,388,839; female 1,297,313) 15-64 years: 66.6% (male 3,306,782; female 3,299,883) 65 years and over: 6.4% (male 309,103; female 322,822) (2003 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

16.53 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.02 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.04% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 26.91 deaths/1,000 live births female: 23.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 29.89 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.4 years male: 72.77 years female: 76.15 years (2003 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 26.2 years male: 25.7 years female: 26.7 years (2002)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Tunisian(s) adjective: Tunisian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population [time series]

9,924,742 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.09% (2003 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: 0.96 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.9 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

30 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 7 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 139,990 GRT/148,394 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1 (2002 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 3,059 km; oil 1,203 km; refined products 345 km (2003)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

total: 2,152 km standard gauge: 468 km 1.435-m gauge dual gauge: 10 km 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (three rails) (2002) narrow gauge: 1,674 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)

Waterways [time series]

none