TUNISIA
Conventional Name: Republic of Tunisia (Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah)
Etymology: from the ancient Tynes of the Punic era
Capital: Tunis.
Surface area: 163.610 km²
Comparison with a European country : about 5 times the size of Belgium
Administrative Divisions: 23 governorates.
Population (2005): 10 102 000
Population density (2005): 61.7 inhabitants/km²
Young people under 15 Years Old (2004): 26%
Annual population growth (2000-2005): 1,7%
Fecundity rate (2000-2005): 2,00
Life expectancy (2000-2005): 73,1
Infant mortality (2000-2005): 22,2‰
Urban population (2005): 64,1%
Illiteracy rate (2005): men 16,6% ; women 34,7 %
Language: Arabic and French.
Ethnic background: Arabs: 98%
Religions : Sunni Muslims 99%, Christian, Jewish and Other
HDI (Human Development Indicator, UNDP 2008): within the 177 countries selected in the report Tunisia is ranked 91 (rate 0,766 middle development level)
Currency: 1 Tunisian dinar (TD) = 1.000 Millimes (1 €uros = 1,73 dinar, July 2008 )
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (2005): 83 673 millions US $
DGP per capita (2005): 8 255 $
Annual growth: (1994-2004) :4,8 % – (2005) : 4,2%
Unemployment Rate (2003): 14.3%
Labour Force by Economic Sector of Activity: agriculture 13.9%, industry 32.2% and services 53.9%
Industries: Petroleum, mining (phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, food, beverages
Agricultural products: Olives, grain, dairy products, tomatoes, citrus fruit, beef, sugar beets, dates, almonds
Exports (2005): 10 494millions de $
Imports (2005): 13 177 millions de $
Total External Debt (2003): 14,390 Million US $
Major Trading Partners: France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Belgium
Member i.a. of: League of Arab States, Maghreb Arab Union, W.T.O. , Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
Parties to i.a. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Chemical Weapons Convention (CWP).
Year of independence year: 1956 (from France)
Admitted in the United Nations in: 1956
State nature: Unitary republic
Regime nature: Presidential
Head of State (President): Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since 17th November 1987)
Prime Minister: Mohamed GHANNOUCHI
Minister of Defence : M. Kamel Morjane
Minister for Foreign Affairs: M. Abdelwahab Abdallah
Minister of Interior: M.Rafik Belhaj Kacem
Sources (Figures): L’Etat du Monde 2003 (La Découverte), CIA World Factbook 2004, Arab Human Development Report 2002, l’Etat du Monde 2007 (La Découverte)