Tunisia

Tunisia Background

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.

Tunisia Information

• Population: 9,974,722 (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Tunisian(s) adjective: Tunisian
• Location:: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya
• Religions:: Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
• Ethnic Groups:: Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
• Land Boundaries:: total: 1,424 km border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
• Area: total: 163,610 sq km water: 8,250 sq km land: 155,360 sq km
• Coast Line: 1,148 km
• 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
• Maritime Claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm
• Land Use: arable land: 17.86% permanent crops: 13.74% other: 68.4% (2001)
• Environmental Issues: 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
• Natural Resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
• Highways: total: 18,997 km paved: 12,310 km (including 142 km of expressways) unpaved: 6,687 km (2000)
• Railways: total: 2,152 km standard gauge: 468 km 1.435-m gauge dual gauge: 10 km 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (three rails) (2003) narrow gauge: 1,674 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)
• Ports & Harbours: Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Sfax, Sousse, Tunis, Zarzis
• Airports: 30 (2003 est.)