Background: 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.

Land boundaries: 1,424 km total; 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

Natural resources: crude oil, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt

Land use: 20% arable land; 10% permanent crops; 19% meadows and pastures; 4% forest and woodland; 47% other; includes 1% irrigated

Geography
Note: strategic location in central Mediterranean; only 144 km from Italy across the Strait of Sicily; borders Libya on east

Population: 8,095,492 (July 1990), growth rate 2.2% (1990)

Nationality: noun--Tunisian(s; adjective--Tunisian

Ethnic groups: 98% Arab, 1% European, less than 1% Jewish

Languages: Arabic (official; Arabic and French (commerce)

Religions: 98% Muslim, 1% Christian, less than 1% Jewish

Birth rate: 28 births/1000 population (1990)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1000 population (1990)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1990)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Infant mortality rate: 40 deaths/1000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 70 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate: 4.0 children born/woman (1990)

Literacy: 62% (est.)

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Tunisia; note--may be changed to Tunisian Republic

Government type: republic

Capital: Tunis

Administrative divisions: 23 governorates (wilayat, singular--wilayah; 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

Independence: 20 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday: National Day, 20 March (1956)

Constitution: 1 June 1959

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

Suffrage: universal at age 20

Executive branch: Chief of State--President Gen. Zine el Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November 1987; Head of Government--Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since 26 September 1989)

Legislative branch: Army, Navy, Air Force

Judicial branch: Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation)

International organization participation: AfDB, Arab League, AIOEC, CCC, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB--Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, ILZSG, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOOC, ITU, IWC--International Wheat Council, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Ambassador Abdelaziz HAMZAOUI; Chancery at 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,005; telephone (202) 862-1850; US--Ambassador Robert H. PELLETREAU, Jr.; Embassy at 144 Avenue de la Liberte, 1002 Tunis-Belvedere; telephone p216o (1) 782-566

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

Economy overview: The economy depends primarily on petroleum, phosphates, and tourism for continued growth. Two successive drought-induced crop failures have strained the government's budget and increased unemployment. The current account fell from a $23 million surplus in 1988 to a $390 million deficit in 1989. Despite its foreign payments problems, Tunis appears committed to its IMF-supported structural adjustment program. Nonetheless, the government may have to slow its implementation to head off labor unrest. The increasing foreign debt--$7.6 billion at yearend 1989--is also a key problem. Tunis probably will seek debt relief in 1990.

Agriculture 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; fish catch of 99,200 metric tons (1986)

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

Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (1988)

Labor force: 2,250,000; 32% agriculture; shortage of skilled labor

Unemployment rate: 25% (1989)

Budget: revenues $2.9 billion; expenditures $3.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $0.8 billion (1989 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $3.1 billion (f.o.b., 1989)
Commodities: hydrocarbons, agricultural products, phosphates and chemicals
Partners: EC 73%, Middle East 9%, US 1%, Turkey, USSR

Imports: $4.4 billion (f.o.b., 1989)
Commodities: industrial goods and equipment 57%, hydrocarbons 13%, food 12%, consumer goods
Partners: EC 68%, US 7%, Canada, Japan, USSR, China, Saudi Arabia, Algeria

Debt external: $7.6 billion (December 1989)

Exchange rates: Tunisian dinars (TD) per US$1--0.9055 (January 1990), 0.9493 (1989), 0.8578 (1988), 0.8287 (1987), 0.7940 (1986), 0.8345 (1985)

Electricity
Capacity: 1,493,000 kW capacity; 4,210 million kWh produced, 530 kWh per capita (1989)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: 2.7% of GDP, or $235 million (1989 est.)

Airports: 30 total, 28 usable; 13 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 7 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 7 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Pipelines: 797 km crude oil; 86 km refined products; 742 km natural gas

Merchant marine: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 160,172 GRT/218,970 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 4 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 6 chemical tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 5 bulk

Disputes international: maritime boundary dispute with Libya