Tunisia |
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Tunisia lies in Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya.
Land Boundaries:
Algeria 965 km, and Libya 459 km.
Geography:
Size 163,610 sq km, slightly larger than Georgia, US. Tunisia has a temperate climate in the north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers espeically in the desert in the south. Tunisia's terrain consists of mountains in north; a hot, dry central plain; and a semiarid south which merges into the Sahara desert. Its lowest point is an area called the Shatt al Gharsah which lies 17 m below sea level and its highest peak is the Jebel ech Chambi at 1,544 m. Tunisia occupies a strategic location in central Mediterranean. Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration.
Population:
Just over 10 million people live in Tunisia. Life expectancy is around 75 years. Birth rate is on average 1.75 per woman. Literacy rate is just over 74%.
Languages:
Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), and French (commerce).
Ethnic Groups:
Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%.
Religion:
Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%.
Brief Political History:
Following independence from France in 1956, 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 recent years, Tunisia has taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in its foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse rising pressure for a more open political society.
Economic 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. Progressive social policies also have helped raise living conditions in Tunisia relative to the region. Real growth slowed to a 15-year low of 1.9% in 2002 because of agricultural drought and lackluster tourism. Better rains in 2003 through 2005, however, helped push GDP growth above 5% for these years. Tourism also recovered after the end of combat operations in Iraq. Tunisia is gradually removing barriers to trade with the European Union. Broader privatization, further liberalization of the investment code to increase foreign investment, improvements in government efficiency, and reduction of the trade deficit are among the challenges ahead.
Source: CIA World Factbook
Further Reading:
Tunisia Travel Links
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