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.

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

34 00 N, 9 00 E

Africa

slightly larger than Georgia

1,148 km

temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south

mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara

petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt

3,940 sq km (2003)

4.6 cu km (2003)

NA

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

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

10,486,339 (July 2009 est.)

0.98% (2009 est.)

15.42 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)

5.2 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)

-0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)

1.72 children born/woman (2009 est.)

less than 0.1% (2007 est.)

3,700 (2007 est.)

fewer than 200 (2007 est.)

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

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

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

7.3% of GDP (2005)

republic

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)

20 March 1956 (from France)

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

1 June 1959; amended 1988, 2002

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

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

bicameral system consists of the Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (189 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and 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)

Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation

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

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

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

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

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.

$81.88 billion (2008 est.)

$78.21 billion (2007)

$73.56 billion (2006)

$41.77 billion (2008 est.)

4.7% (2008 est.)

6.3% (2007 est.)

5.4% (2006 est.)

$7,900 (2008 est.)

$7,600 (2007 est.)

$7,200 (2006 est.)

3.676 million (2008 est.)

14% (2008 est.)

14.1% (2007 est.)

7.4% (2005 est.)

40 (2005 est.)

24.4% of GDP (2008 est.)

53.1% of GDP (2008 est.)

5% (2008 est.)

3.1% (2007 est.)

$9.892 billion (31 December 2008)

$9.491 billion (31 December 2007)

$14.72 billion (31 December 2008)

$13.56 billion (31 December 2007)

$26.5 billion (31 December 2008)

$25.23 billion (31 December 2007)

$5.355 billion (31 December 2007)

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

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

4.5% (2008 est.)

12.65 billion kWh (2006 est.)

10.75 billion kWh (2006 est.)

135 million kWh (2006 est.)

0 kWh (2007 est.)

86,210 bbl/day (2007 est.)

91,110 bbl/day (2006 est.)

73,790 bbl/day (2005)

89,130 bbl/day (2005)

400 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

2.55 billion cu m (2006 est.)

3.85 billion cu m (2006 est.)

0 cu m (2007 est.)

0 cu m (2005)

65.13 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

$-993 million (2008 est.)

$19.7 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)

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

France 31.3%, Italy 21%, Germany 8.5%, Spain 5.5%, Libya 5.5% (2007)

$23 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)

textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, foodstuffs

France 23.8%, Italy 21.9%, Germany 9.7%, Spain 5%, Libya 4.4% (2007)

$8.875 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$19.33 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$28.51 billion (2008 est.)

$130 million (2008 est.)

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

1.273 million (2007)

7.842 million (2007)

AM 7, FM 38, shortwave 2 (2007)

26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)

.tn

376 (2008)

1.722 million (2007)

30 (2008)

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

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

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

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

1.4% of GDP (2006)

none