Dialing code +216
ISO 2 code TN
ISO 3 code TUN
Capital Tunis
Main Language Arabic
Currency Dinar (TND)
GDP $81.9 billion 71st
Population 10,589,025 77th

Geography

Continent Africa
Location Northern Africa bordering the Mediterranean Sea between Algeria and Libya
Land 163,610 km2 92nd
Terrain Mountains in north; hot dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara
Climate Temperate in north with mild rainy winters and hot dry summers; desert in south
Natural Hazards Mountains in north; hot dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara
Note: Strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries particularly for oil exploration

Neighbouring Countries

Algeria Libya

History

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.
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Demographics

Life Expectancy 75.78 years 63rd
Median Age 29.2 years 87th
Birth Rate 15.42 births/1,000 population 128th
Death Rate 5.2 births/1,000 population 169th
Sex Ratio 0.87 male(s)/female 52nd
Literacy 74.3% 153rd
Population

10.6 million

Transportation

Roadways 19232 km 111th
Railways 2159 km 68th
Airports 30 115th
Waterways None km
Heliports None
Airports paved 2 74th

Economy

Currency Dinar (TND)
GDP $81.9 billion 71st
GDP per capita (PPP) $7900 109th