2  definitions  found 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  Tunisia 
  n  :  a  republic  in  northwestern  Africa  on  the  Mediterranean; 
  "southern  Tunisia  is  mostly  desert"  [syn:  {Tunisia}] 
 
  From  The  CIA  World  Factbook  (1995)  [world95]: 
 
  Tunisia 
 
  Tunisia:Geography 
 
  Location:  Northern  Africa,  bordering  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  between 
  Algeria  and  Libya 
 
  Map  references:  Africa 
 
  Area: 
  total  area:  163,610  sq  km 
  land  area:  155,360  sq  km 
  comparative  area:  slightly  larger  than  Georgia 
 
  Land  boundaries:  total  1,424  km  Algeria  965  km  Libya  459  km 
 
  Coastline:  1,148  km 
 
  Maritime  claims: 
  contiguous  zone:  24  nm 
  territorial  sea:  12  nm 
 
  International  disputes:  maritime  boundary  dispute  with  Libya;  land 
  boundary  dispute  with  Algeria  settled  in  1993;  Malta  and  Tunisia  are 
  discussing  the  commercial  exploitation  of  the  continental  shelf 
  between  their  countries,  particularly  for  oil  exploration 
 
  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 
 
  Land  use: 
  arable  land:  20% 
  permanent  crops:  10% 
  meadows  and  pastures:  19% 
  forest  and  woodland:  4% 
  other:  47% 
 
  Irrigated  land:  2,750  sq  km  (1989) 
 
  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 
  natural  hazards:  NA 
  international  agreements:  party  to  -  Biodiversity,  Climate  Change, 
  Endangered  Species,  Environmental  Modification,  Law  of  the  Sea,  Marine 
  Dumping,  Nuclear  Test  Ban,  Ozone  Layer  Protection,  Ship  Pollution, 
  Wetlands;  signed,  but  not  ratified  -  Desertification  Marine  Life 
  Conservation 
 
  Note:  strategic  location  in  central  Mediterranean 
 
  Tunisia:People 
 
  Population:  8,879,845  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Age  structure: 
  0-14  years:  35%  (female  1,507,866;  male  1,563,411) 
  15-64  years:  60%  (female  2,665,586;  male  2,672,712) 
  65  years  and  over:  5%  (female  226,201;  male  244,069)  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Population  growth  rate:  1.69%  (1995  est.) 
 
  Birth  rate:  22.52  births/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Death  rate:  4.86  deaths/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Net  migration  rate:  -0.74  migrant(s)/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Infant  mortality  rate:  32.3  deaths/1,000  live  births  (1995  est.) 
 
  Life  expectancy  at  birth: 
  total  population:  73.25  years 
  male:  71.16  years 
  female:  75.44  years  (1995  est.) 
 
  Total  fertility  rate:  2.73  children  born/woman  (1995  est.) 
 
  Nationality: 
  noun:  Tunisian(s) 
  adjective:  Tunisian 
 
  Ethnic  divisions:  Arab-Berber  98%,  European  1%,  Jewish  less  than  1% 
 
  Religions:  Muslim  98%,  Christian  1%,  Jewish  1% 
 
  Languages:  Arabic  (official  and  one  of  the  languages  of  commerce), 
  French  (commerce) 
 
  Literacy:  age  15  and  over  can  read  and  write  (1989) 
  total  population:  57% 
  male:  69% 
  female:  45% 
 
  Labor  force:  2.25  million 
  by  occupation:  agriculture  32% 
  note:  shortage  of  skilled  labor 
 
  Tunisia:Government 
 
  Names: 
  conventional  long  form:  Republic  of  Tunisia 
  conventional  short  form:  Tunisia 
  local  long  form:  Al  Jumhuriyah  at  Tunisiyah 
  local  short  form:  Tunis 
 
  Digraph:  TS 
 
  Type:  republic 
 
  Capital:  Tunis 
 
  Administrative  divisions:  23  governorates  Beja,  Ben  Arous,  Bizerte 
  Gabes,  Gafsa,  Jendouba  Kairouan  Kasserine,  Kebili  L'Ariana,  Le  Kef, 
  Mahdia,  Medenine  Monastir,  Nabeul  Sfax,  Sidi  Bou  Zid,  Siliana 
  Sousse,  Tataouine  Tozeur  Tunis,  Zaghouan 
 
  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 
 
  Executive  branch: 
  chief  of  state:  President  Zine  el  Abidine  BEN  ALI  (since  7  November 
  1987);  election  last  held  20  March  1994  (next  to  be  held  NA  1999); 
  results  -  President  Zine  el  Abidine  BEN  ALI  was  reelected  without 
  opposition 
  head  of  government:  Prime  Minister  Hamed  KAROUI  (since  26  September 
  1989) 
  cabinet:  Council  of  Ministers;  appointed  by  the  president 
 
  Legislative  branch:  unicameral 
  Chamber  of  Deputies  (Majlis  al-Nuwaab):  elections  last  held  20  March 
  1994  (next  to  be  held  NA  1999);  results  -  RCD  97.7%,  MDS  1.0%,  others 
  1.3%;  seats  -  (163  total)  RCD  144,  MDS  10,  others  9;  note  -  the 
  government  changed  the  electoral  code  to  guarantee  that  the  opposition 
  won  seats 
 
  Judicial  branch:  Court  of  Cassation  (Cour  de  Cassation) 
 
  Political  parties  and  leaders:  Constitutional  Democratic  Rally  Party 
  (RCD),  President  BEN  ALI  (official  ruling  party);  Movement  of 
  Democratic  Socialists  (MDS),  Mohammed  MOUAADA  five  other  political 
  parties  are  legal,  including  the  Communist  Party 
 
  Other  political  or  pressure  groups:  the  Islamic  fundamentalist  party, 
  An  Nahda  (Rebirth),  is  outlawed 
 
  Member  of:  ABEDA,  ACCT,  AfDB  AFESD  AL  AMF,  AMU,  CCC,  ECA,  FAO, 
  G-77,  GATT,  IAEA,  IBRD,  ICAO,  ICC,  ICFTU  ICRM,  IDA,  IDB,  IFAD,  IFC, 
  IFRCS  ILO,  IMF,  IMO,  INMARSAT  INTELSAT,  INTERPOL,  IOC,  ISO,  ITU, 
  MINURSO  NAM,  OAPEC  (withdrew  from  active  membership  in  1986),  OAS 
  (observer),  OAU,  OIC,  UN  UNAMIR  UNCTAD  UNESCO,  UNHCR  UNIDO 
  UNITAR,  UNMIH  UNPROFOR  UPU,  WHO  WIPO,  WMO,  WTO 
 
  Diplomatic  representation  in  US: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Mohamed  Azzouz  ENNAIFER 
  chancery:  1515  Massachusetts  Avenue  NW  Washington,  DC  20005 
  telephone:  [1]  (202)  862-1850 
 
  US  diplomatic  representation: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Mary  Ann  CASEY 
  embassy:  144  Avenue  de  la  Liberte,  1002  Tunis-Belvedere 
  mailing  address:  use  embassy  street  address 
  telephone:  [216]  (1)  782-566 
  FAX:  [216]  (1)  789-719 
 
  Flag:  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.  Detailed 
  governmental  control  of  economic  affairs  has  gradually  lessened  over 
  the  past  decade,  including  increasing  privatization  of  trade  and 
  commerce,  simplification  of  the  tax  structure,  and  a  cautious  approach 
  to  debt.  Real  growth  has  averaged  roughly  5%  in  1991-94,  and  inflation 
  has  been  moderate.  Growth  in  tourism  and  IMF  support  have  been  key 
  elements  in  this  solid  record.  Further  privatization  and  further 
  improvements  in  government  administrative  efficiency  are  among  the 
  challenges  for  the  future. 
 
  National  product:  GDP  -  purchasing  power  parity  -  $37.1  billion  (1994 
  est.) 
 
  National  product  real  growth  rate:  4.4%  (1994  est.) 
 
  National  product  per  capita:  $4,250  (1994  est.) 
 
  Inflation  rate  (consumer  prices):  4.5%  (1993  est.) 
 
  Unemployment  rate:  16.2%  (1993  est.) 
 
  Budget: 
  revenues:  $4.3  billion 
  expenditures:  $5.5  billion,  including  capital  expenditures  to  $NA 
  (1993  est.) 
 
  Exports:  $4.6  billion  (f.o.b.,  1993) 
  commodities:  hydrocarbons,  agricultural  products,  phosphates  and 
  chemicals 
  partners:  EC  countries  75%,  Middle  East  10%,  Algeria  2%,  India  2%,  US 
  1% 
 
  Imports:  $6.5  billion  (c.i.f.,  1993) 
  commodities:  industrial  goods  and  equipment  57%,  hydrocarbons  13%, 
  food  12%,  consumer  goods 
  partners:  EC  countries  70%,  US  5%,  Middle  East  2%,  Japan  2%, 
  Switzerland  1%,  Algeria  1% 
 
  External  debt:  $7.7  billion  (1993  est.) 
 
  Industrial  production:  growth  rate  5%  (1989);  accounts  for  22%  of  GDP, 
  including  petroleum 
 
  Electricity: 
  capacity:  1,410,000  kW 
  production:  5.4  billion  kWh 
  consumption  per  capita:  595  kWh  (1993) 
 
  Industries:  petroleum,  mining  (particularly  phosphate  and  iron  ore), 
  tourism,  textiles,  footwear,  food,  beverages 
 
  Agriculture:  accounts  for  16%  of  GDP  and  one-third  of  labor  force; 
  output  subject  to  severe  fluctuations  because  of  frequent  droughts; 
  export  crops  -  olives,  dates,  oranges,  almonds;  other  products  - 
  grain,  sugar  beets,  wine  grapes,  poultry,  beef,  dairy;  not 
  self-sufficient  in  food 
 
  Economic  aid: 
  recipient:  US  commitments,  including  Ex-Im  (FY70-89),  $730  million; 
  Western  (non-US)  countries,  ODA  and  OOF  bilateral  commitments 
  (1970-89)  $52  million;  OPEC  bilateral  aid  (1979-89),  $684  million; 
  Communist  countries  (1970-89),  $410  million 
 
  Currency:  1  Tunisian  dinar  TD  =  1,000  millimes 
 
  Exchange  rates:  Tunisian  dinars  TD  per  US$1  -  0.9849  (January  1995), 
  1.0116  (1994),  1.0037  (1993),  0.8844  (1992),  0.9246  (1991),  0.8783 
  (1990) 
 
  Fiscal  year:  calendar  year 
 
  Tunisia:Transportation 
 
  Railroads: 
  total:  2,260  km 
  standard  gauge:  492  km  1.435-m  gauge 
  narrow  gauge:  1,758  km  1.000-m  gauge 
  dual  gauge:  10  km  1.000-m  and  1.435-m  gauges 
 
  Highways: 
  total:  29,183  km 
  paved:  bituminous  17,510  km 
  unpaved:  improved,  unimproved  earth  11,673  km 
 
  Pipelines:  crude  oil  797  km  petroleum  products  86  km  natural  gas  742 
  km 
 
  Ports:  Bizerte  Gabes,  La  Goulette,  Sfax,  Sousse,  Tunis,  Zarzis 
 
  Merchant  marine: 
  total:  19  ships  (1,000  GRT  or  over)  totaling  129,035  GRT/168,032  DWT 
  ships  by  type:  bulk  6,  cargo  5,  chemical  tanker  4,  oil  tanker  1, 
  roll-on/roll-off  cargo  2,  short-sea  passenger  1 
 
  Airports: 
  total:  31 
  with  paved  runways  over  3,047  m:  3 
  with  paved  runways  2,438  to  3,047  m:  6 
  with  paved  runways  1,524  to  2,437  m:  2 
  with  paved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  3 
  with  paved  runways  under  914  m:  8 
  with  unpaved  runways  1,524  to  2,438  m:  2 
  with  unpaved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  7 
 
  Tunisia:Communications 
 
  Telephone  system:  233,000  telephones;  28  telephones/1,000  persons;  the 
  system  is  above  the  African  average;  key  centers  are  Sfax,  Sousse, 
  Bizerte  and  Tunis 
  local:  NA 
  intercity:  facilities  consist  of  open-wire  lines,  coaxial  cable,  and 
  microwave  radio  relay 
  international:  5  submarine  cables;  1  INTELSAT  (Atlantic  Ocean)  and  1 
  ARABSAT  earth  station  with  back-up  control  station;  coaxial  cable  and 
  microwave  radio  relay  to  Algeria  and  Libya 
 
  Radio: 
  broadcast  stations:  AM  7,  FM  8,  shortwave  0 
  radios:  NA 
 
  Television: 
  broadcast  stations:  19 
  televisions:  NA 
 
  Tunisia:Defense  Forces 
 
  Branches:  Army,  Navy,  Air  Force,  paramilitary  forces,  National  Guard 
 
  Manpower  availability:  males  age  15-49  2,294,912;  males  fit  for 
  military  service  1,317,642;  males  reach  military  age  (20)  annually 
  93,601  (1995  est.) 
 
  Defense  expenditures:  exchange  rate  conversion  -  $549  million,  3%  of 
  GDP  (1994) 
 
 
 

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