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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.tn

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

406 (2009) country comparison to the world: 175

Internet users [time series]

2.8 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 62

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 7, FM 38, shortwave 2 (2007)

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: in an effort jumpstart expansion of the fixed-line network, the government has awarded a concession to build and operate a VSAT network with international connectivity; competition between the two mobile-cellular service providers has resulted in lower activation and usage charges and a strong surge in subscribership; 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 95 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 - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

1.239 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 70

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

8.569 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 67

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $9.843 billion expenditures: $11.3 billion (2008 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$1.667 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 -$904 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$20.81 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 71 $20.4 billion (31 December 2007)

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

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

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 4.7% in 2008 and probably will decline further in 2009 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 [time series]

11.9 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Electricity - exports [time series]

130 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

145 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

13.79 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Exchange rates [time series]

Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar - 1.211 (2008 est.), 1.2776 (2007), 1.331 (2006), 1.2974 (2005), 1.2455 (2004)

Exports [time series]

$19.22 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 73 $15.15 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons, electrical equipment

Exports - partners [time series]

France 28.3%, Italy 17.9%, Germany 9.6%, Libya 5.8%, Spain 5% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$40.84 billion (2008 est.)

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

$81.98 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 $78.53 billion (2007 est.) $73.67 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

agriculture: 10.5% industry: 37% services: 52.5% (2008 est.)

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

$7,900 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $7,600 (2007 est.) $7,200 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

4.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 6.6% (2007 est.) 5.3% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$23.23 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 $18.02 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners [time series]

France 21.5%, Italy 19.3%, Germany 9%, Libya 4.6%, Spain 4.5% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 3.1% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

21.8% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Labor force [time series]

3.66 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$6.374 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 86 $5.355 billion (31 December 2007) $4.446 billion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

4.22 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 101

Natural gas - imports [time series]

1.25 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Natural gas - production [time series]

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

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

65.13 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Oil - consumption [time series]

90,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Oil - exports [time series]

77,130 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Oil - imports [time series]

87,300 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Oil - production [time series]

86,930 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

425 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Population below poverty line [time series]

7.4% (2005 est.)

Public debt [time series]

48.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 41 59.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$8.853 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 $7.854 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$162 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 $118 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$28.67 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 $26.22 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$26.5 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 55 $25.23 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$9.892 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 44 $9.491 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$14.72 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 46 $13.56 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

14.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 150 14.1% (2007 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

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

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]

3,940 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

4.6 cu km (2003)

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]

name: Tunis geographic coordinates: 36 48 N, 10 11 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Constitution [time series]

1 June 1959; amended 1988, 2002

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert F. GODEC 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 [time series]

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

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 (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 (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, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), FAO, 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, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC (suspended), OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

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 - NA; seats by party - RCD 161, MDS 16, PUP 12, UDU 9, PSL 8, PVP 6, Et-Tajdid 2; voter turnout 89.4%

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 20 March (1956); also the anniversary of BEN ALI's assumption of the presidency, 7 November (1987)

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

Al-Tajdid Movement [Ahmed IBRAHIM]; Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD (official ruling party) [President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI]; 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 parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

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

Suffrage [time series]

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

Introduction

Background [time series]

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 fourth consecutive five-year term as president; the next elections are scheduled for October 2009. 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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 2,992,249 females age 16-49: 2,912,819 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 2,569,403 females age 16-49: 2,489,651 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 100,478 female: 94,055 (2009 est.)

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

Army, Navy, Republic of Tunisia Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah At'tunisia) (2008)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.4% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 114

Military service age and obligation [time series]

20 years of age for compulsory military service, 18 years of age for voluntary military service; 1-year conscript service obligation (2007)

People

Age structure [time series]

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) (2009 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.42 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Death rate [time series]

5.2 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

7.3% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 19

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

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

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 22.57 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 98 male: 24.81 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.78 years country comparison to the world: 72 male: 73.98 years female: 77.7 years (2009 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 29.2 years male: 28.7 years female: 29.8 years (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Tunisian(s) adjective: Tunisian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Population [time series]

10,486,339 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Population growth rate [time series]

0.98% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Religions [time series]

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.72 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Urbanization [time series]

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

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

32 (2009) country comparison to the world: 114

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 16 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2009)

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 (2009)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 7 country comparison to the world: 126 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 4 registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 2,102 km; oil 1,195 km; refined products 372 km (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Rades, Sfax, Skhira

Railways [time series]

total: 2,159 km country comparison to the world: 69 standard gauge: 471 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 1,688 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways [time series]

total: 19,232 km country comparison to the world: 112 paved: 12,655 km (includes 262 km of expressways) unpaved: 6,577 km (2004)