Statistical information Tunisia 1994

Tunisia in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Northern Africa, 144 km from Italy across the Strait of Sicily, between Algeria and Libya
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the WorldAreaTotal area total: 163,610 km²
Land: 155,360 km²
Land boundaries: total 1,424 km, Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
Coastline: 1,148 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea:12 nm
Climate: temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
Terrain: mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara
ElevationNatural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Land useArable land: 20%
Permanent crops: 10%
Meadows and pastures: 19%
Forest and woodland: 4%
Other: 47%
Irrigated land: 2,750 km² (1989)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: NA
GeographyNote: strategic location in central Mediterranean
top of pagePopulation: 8,726,562 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 1.76% (1994 est.)
Nationality: noun:Tunisian(s)
Ethnic groups: Arab-Berber 98%, European 1%, Jewish less than 1%
Languages: Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce)
Religions: Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish 1%
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.76% (1994 est.)
Birth rate: 23.4 births/1000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate: 4.95 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.85 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and presents human health risks; water pollution from untreated sewage; water scarcity; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 34.1 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 72.89 years
Male: 70.85 years
Female: 75.03 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.88 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Total population: 65%
Male: 74%
Female: 56%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Tunisia
Conventional short form:local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
local short form; Tunis
Government type: republic
Capital: Tunis
Administrative divisions: 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
Dependent areasIndependence: 20 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 20 March (1956)
Constitution: 1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988
Legal system: based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Gen. Zine el Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November 1987); election last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA); results - Gen. Zine el Abidine BEN ALI was reelected without opposition
Head of government: Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since 26 September 1989)
Legislative branch: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces, National Guard
Chamber of Deputies Majlis alNuwaab: elections last held 2 April 1989 (next to be held NA March 1994); results - RCD 80.7%, independents/Islamists 13.7%, MDS 3.2%, other 2.4%; seats - (141 total) RCD 141
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation)
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAPEC (withdrew from active membership in 1986), OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representationFrom the us chief of mission: Ambassador John T. McCARTHY
From the us chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,005
From the us telephone: [216] (1) 782-566
From the us embassy: 144 Avenue de la Liberte, 1002 Tunis-Belvedere
From the us mailing address: use embassy street address
From the us FAX: [216] (1) 789-719
Flag description
: 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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, energy, tourism and manufacturing sectors. The economy grew rapidly in the mid-1980s, GDP growth averaging 5.4% in 1983-85. Following a foreign exchange crisis caused by a sharp drop in agricultural output and tourism, combined with the oil price collapse in 1986, Tunisia inaugurated an IMF-sponsored economic rehabilitation scheme. Subsequent government structural reforms have helped liberalize and open the economy, and GDP growth has been positive since the start of the program. A sharp rebound in tourism from the downturn caused by the Gulf war and strong agricultural performance boosted real GDP growth to more than 8% in 1992; growth fell back to 2.6% in 1993. Further privatization and further improvements in government administrative efficiency are among the challenges for the future.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 2.6% (1993 est.)
Real gdp per capita: $4,000 (1993 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 16% of GDP and one-third of labor force; output subject to severe fluctuations because of frequent droughts; export crops - olives, dates, oranges, almonds; other products - grain, sugar beets, wine grapes, poultry, beef, dairy; not self-sufficient in food
Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, food, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1989; accounts for about 25% of GDP, including petroleum
Labor force: 2.25 million
By occupation: agriculture 32%
By occupation note: shortage of skilled labor
Unemployment rate: 16.2% (1993 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues:$4.3 billion
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $4.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
Commodities: hydrocarbons, agricultural products, phosphates and chemicals
Partners: EC countries 75%, Middle East 10%, Algeria 2%, India 2%, US 1%
Imports: $6.4 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
Commodities: industrial goods and equipment 57%, hydrocarbons 13%, food 12%, consumer goods
Partners: EC countries 70%, US 5%, Middle East 2%, Japan 2%, Switzerland 1%, Algeria 1%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $7.7 billion (1993 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Tunisian dinars (TD) per US$1 - 1.0514 (January 1994), 1.0037 (1993), 0.8844 (1992), 0.9246 (1991), 0.8783 (1990), 0.9493 (1989)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 1,545,000 kW
Production: 5,096 kWh
Consumption per capita: 600 kWh (1992)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: exchange rate conversion - $618 million, 3.7% of GDP (1993 est.)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 31
Usable: 27
With permanentsurface runways: 14
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 9
With runways 1220-2439 m: 5
Note: a new airport opened 6 May 1993, length and type of surface NA
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil 797 km; petroleum products 86 km; natural gas 742 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 152,683 GRT/199,273 DWT, bulk 6, cargo 6, chemical tanker 6, liquefied gas 1, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1
Ports and terminalsTunisia - Transnational issues 1994
top of pageDisputes international: maritime boundary dispute with Libya; land boundary dispute with Algeria settled in 1993
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs