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.

Geographic coordinates: 34 00 N 9 00 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Comparative: slightly larger than Georgia

Coastline: 1148 km

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: petroleum phosphates iron ore lead zinc salt arable land

Irrigated land: 3,850 km² (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Geography
Note: strategic location in central Mediterranean

Population: 9,593,402 (July 2000 est.)
Growth rate: 1.17% (2000 est.)
Below poverty line: 14.1% (1990 est.)

Ethnic groups: Arab 98% European 1% Jewish and other 1%

Languages: Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce) French (commerce)

Religions: Muslim 98% Christian 1% Jewish and other 1%

Population growth rate: 1.17% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 17.38 births/1000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 4.98 deaths/1000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.7 migrant(s)/1000 population (2000 est.)

Environment
Current issues: 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

Infant mortality rate: 30.09 deaths/1000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.04 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Government type: republic

Capital: Tunis

Administrative divisions: 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

Independence: 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

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal

Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (163 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

Judicial branch: Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation)

Political parties and leaders: 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

International organization participation: 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

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: 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.

Real gdp growth rate: 6% (1999 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,500 (1999 est.)

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

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

Industrial production growth rate: 8% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 3 million (1997 est.)
By occupation services: 55%
By occupation industry: 23%
By occupation agriculture: 22% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate: 16.5% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line: 14.1% (1990 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.7% (1999 est.)

Exports: $5.8 billion (f.o.b. 1999 est.)
Commodities: textiles mechanical goods phosphates and chemicals agricultural products hydrocarbons
Partners: France 27% Italy 22% Germany 15% Belgium 6% Libya 4% (1998)

Imports: $8.3 billion (c.i.f. 1999 est.)
Commodities: machinery and equipment hydrocarbons chemicals fuel food
Partners: France 27% Italy 20% Germany 12% Spain 4% Belgium 4% US 4% (1998)

Debt external: $12.1 billion (1999 est.)

Exchange rates: 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)

Electricity
Production: 7.94 billion kWh (1998)
Consumption: 7.549 billion kWh (1998)
Exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Imports: 165 million kWh (1998)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 628,000 (1997)
Mobile cellular: 50,000 (1998)

Telephone system: above the African average and continuing to be upgraded; key centers are Sfax Sousse Bizerte and Tunis; Internet access available

Internet
Service providers isps: 4 (1999)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $356 million (FY99)
Percent of gdp: 1.5% (FY99)

Airports: 32 (1999 est.)

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

Disputes international: maritime boundary dispute with Libya; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries particularly for oil exploration