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Africa :: Tunisia

- ## Introduction :: TUNISIA

- Background:
  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 convincing 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. Street protests that began in Tunis in December 2010 over high unemployment, corruption, widespread poverty, and high food prices escalated in January 2011, culminating in rioting that led to hundreds of deaths. On 14 January 2011, the same day BEN ALI dismissed the government, he fled the country, and by late January 2011, a "national unity government" was formed. Elections for the new Constituent Assembly were held in late October 2011, and in December, it elected human rights activist Moncef MARZOUKI as interim president. The Assembly began drafting a new constitution in February 2012 and, after several iterations and a months-long political crisis that stalled the transition, ratified the document in January 2014. Parliamentary and presidential elections for a permanent government were held at the end of 2014. Beji CAID ESSEBSI was elected as the first president under the country’s new constitution.

- ## Geography :: TUNISIA

- Location:
  Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya
  Geographic coordinates:
  34 00 N, 9 00 E
  Map references:
  Africa
  Area:
  total: 163,610 sq km
  land: 155,360 sq km
  water: 8,250 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Area - comparative:
  slightly larger than Georgia
  Area comparison map:
  Land boundaries:
  total: 1,495 km
  border countries (2): Algeria 1,034 km, Libya 461 km
  Coastline:
  1,148 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
  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
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
  highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
  Natural resources:
  petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 64.8%
  arable land 18.3%; permanent crops 15.4%; permanent pasture 31.1%
  forest: 6.6%
  other: 28.6% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  3,970 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  4.6 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 2.85 cu km/yr (14%/4%/82%)
  per capita: 295.8 cu m/yr (2001)
  Natural hazards:
  NA
  Environment - current issues:
  toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural freshwater resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
  Geography - 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

- ## People and Society :: TUNISIA

- Nationality:
  noun: Tunisian(s)
  adjective: Tunisian
  Ethnic groups:
  Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
  Languages:
  Arabic (official, one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce), Berber (Tamazight)
  note: despite having no official status, French plays a major role in the country and is spoken by about two-thirds of the population
  Religions:
  Muslim (official; Sunni) 99.1%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Shia Muslim, and Baha'i) 1%
  Population:
  11,037,225 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 23.03% (male 1,309,910/female 1,232,149)
  15-24 years: 15.53% (male 860,967/female 853,502)
  25-54 years: 44.58% (male 2,388,056/female 2,532,035)
  55-64 years: 8.82% (male 494,054/female 479,469)
  65 years and over: 8.04% (male 435,737/female 451,346) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 44.8%
  youth dependency ratio: 33.8%
  elderly dependency ratio: 11%
  potential support ratio: 9.1% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 31.9 years
  male: 31.5 years
  female: 32.3 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.89% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Birth rate:
  16.64 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Death rate:
  5.98 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 166
  Net migration rate:
  -1.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 161
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 66.8% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 1.38% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  TUNIS (capital) 1.993 million (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 22.35 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 25.71 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 18.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 75.89 years
  male: 73.79 years
  female: 78.14 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Total fertility rate:
  1.99 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  62.5% (2011/12)
  Health expenditures:
  7.1% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Physicians density:
  1.22 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
  Hospital bed density:
  2.1 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 100% of population
  rural: 93.2% of population
  total: 97.7% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 0% of population
  rural: 6.8% of population
  total: 2.3% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 97.4% of population
  rural: 79.8% of population
  total: 91.6% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 2.6% of population
  rural: 20.2% of population
  total: 8.4% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.04% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  2,700 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  100 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  27.1% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  2.3% (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Education expenditures:
  6.2% of GDP (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 38
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 81.8%
  male: 89.6%
  female: 74.2% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 15 years
  male: 14 years
  female: 15 years (2010)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 42.3% (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 10

- ## Government :: TUNISIA

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Tunisia
  conventional short form: Tunisia
  local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
  local short form: Tunis
  Government type:
  republic
  Capital:
  name: Tunis
  geographic coordinates: 36 48 N, 10 11 E
  time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  24 governorates (wilayat, singular - wilayah); Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin 'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba (Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili (Qibili), Kef (Al Kaf), L'Ariana (Aryanah), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah), Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax (Safaqis), Sidi Bouzid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse (Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan (Zaghwan)
  Independence:
  20 March 1956 (from France)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 20 March (1956); Revolution and Youth Day, 14 January (2011)
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest approved by Constituent Assembly 26 January 2014, signed by president on 27 January 2014 (2014)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of civil law, based on the French civil code, and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal except for active government security forces (including the police and the military), people with mental disabilities, people who have served more than three months in prison (criminal cases only), and people given a suspended sentence of more than six months
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Beji CAID ESSEBSI (since 31 December 2014)
  head of government: Prime Minister Habib ESSID (since 6 February 2015)
  cabinet: selected by the prime minister and approved by the Constituent Assembly
  elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 November and 21 December 2014 (next to be held in 2019); following legislative elections, the prime minister is selected by the majority party or major coalition and appointed by the president
  election results: Beji CAID ESSEBSI elected president; percent of vote in runoff - Beji CAID ESSEBSI (Tunisia's Call) 55.7%, Moncef MARZOUKI (CPR) 44.3%
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Chamber of the People's Deputies (217 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
  elections: initial election held on 26 October 2014 (next to be held in 2019)
  election results: percent of vote by party - Tunisia's Call 39.6%, al-Nahda 31.8%, UPL 7.4%, Popular Front 6.9%, Afek Tounes 3.7%, CPR 1.8%, other 8.8%; seats by party - Tunisia's Call 86, al-Nahda 69, UPL 16, Popular Front 15, Afek Tounes 8, CPR 4, other 17, independent 2
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation (organized into civil and criminal chambers and consists of NA judges)
  judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the Higher Magistracy Council (also called the Superior Council of the Judiciary), a 7-member body of judges and prosecutors; judges appointed by presidential decree; judge tenure NA
  subordinate courts: Administrative Court; Courts of Appeal; Housing Court; courts of first instance; lower district courts; military courts
  Political parties and leaders:
  Afek Tounes [Emna MINF]
  Alliance for Tunisia (a coalition of Tunisia's Call [Beji CAID ESSEBSI], Republican Party [Maya JRIBI and Najib CHBBI], Democratic Path [Ahmed BRAHIM])
  al-Nahda (The Renaissance) [Rachid GHANNOUCHI]
  Congress for the Republic or CPR [Moncef MARZOUKI]
  Democratic Forum for Labor and Liberties or FDTL (Ettakatol) [Mustapha Ben JAAFAR]
  Democratic Modernist Pole or PDM (a coalition)
  Democratic Socialist Movement or MDS
  Et-Tajdid Movement [Ahmed IBRAHIM]
  Free Patriotic Union or UPL (Union patriotique libre) [Slim RIAHI]
  Green Party for Progress or PVP [Mongi KHAMASSI]
  Liberal Social Party or PSL [Mondher THABET]
  Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS [Ismail BOULAHYA]
  Popular Front (a coalition of 9 parties including Democractic Patriots' Movement, Workers' Party, Green Tunisia, Tunisian Ba'ath Movement, and Party of the Democractic Arab Vanguard)
  Popular Petition (Aridha Chaabia) [Hachemi HAMDI]
  Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed BOUCHIHA]
  Progressive Democratic Party or PDP [Maya JERIBI]
  The Initiative [Kamel MORJANE] (formerly the Constitutional Democratic Rally or RCD)
  Tunisia's Call (Nidaa Tounes) [Beji CAID ESSEBSI]
  Tunisian Workers' Communist Party or PCOT [Hamma HAMMAMI]
  Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Ahmed INOUBLI]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  18 October Group [collective leadership]
  Tunisian League for Human Rights or LTDH [Mokhtar TRIFI]
  Tunisian General Labor Union or UGTT [Hassine ABASSI]
  International organization participation:
  ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Faycal GOUIA (since 18 May 2015)
  chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
  telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850
  FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Jacob WALLES (since 24 July 2012)
  embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis 1053
  mailing address: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis 1053
  telephone: [216] 71 107-000
  FAX: [216] 71 963-263
  Flag description:
  red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; resembles the Ottoman flag (red banner with white crescent and star) and recalls Tunisia's history as part of the Ottoman Empire; red represents the blood shed by martyrs in the struggle against oppression, white stands for peace; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam
  note: the flag is based on that of Turkey, itself a successor state to the Ottoman Empire
  National symbol(s):
  encircled red star and crescent; national colors: red, white
  National anthem:
  name: "Humat Al Hima" (Defenders of the Homeland)
  lyrics/music: Mustafa Sadik AL-RAFII and Aboul-Qacem ECHEBBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB
  note: adopted 1957, replaced 1958, restored 1987; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of the United Arab Emirates

- ## Economy :: TUNISIA

- Economy - overview:
  Tunisia's diverse, market-oriented economy has long been cited as a success story in Africa and the Middle East, but it faces an array of challenges following the 2011 revolution. Following an ill-fated experiment with socialist economic policies in the 1960s, Tunisia embarked on a successful strategy focused on bolstering exports, foreign investment, and tourism, all of which have become central to the country's economy. Key exports now include textiles and apparel, food products, petroleum products, chemicals, and phosphates, with about 80% of exports bound for Tunisia's main economic partner, the European Union. Tunisia's liberal strategy, coupled with investments in education and infrastructure, fueled decades of 4-5% annual GDP growth and improving living standards. Former President (1987-2011) Zine el Abidine BEN ALI continued these policies, but as his reign wore on cronyism and corruption stymied economic performance and unemployment rose among the country's growing ranks of university graduates. These grievances contributed to the January 2011 overthrow of BEN ALI, sending Tunisia's economy into a tailspin as tourism and investment declined sharply. During 2012 and 2013, security and political upheaval during transition led to a deterioration of the economy and resulted in several downgrades of Tunisia’s credit rating. Tunisia's government faces challenges reassuring businesses and investors, bringing budget and current account deficits under control, shoring up the country's financial system, bringing down high unemployment, and reducing economic disparities between the more developed coastal region and the impoverished interior.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $124.3 billion (2014 est.)
  $121.5 billion (2013 est.)
  $118.8 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 77
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $48.55 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  2.3% (2014 est.)
  2.3% (2013 est.)
  3.7% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $11,300 (2014 est.)
  $11,000 (2013 est.)
  $10,800 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Gross national saving:
  11.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
  13.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
  16.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 129
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 64.8%
  government consumption: 18.5%
  investment in fixed capital: 22.2%
  investment in inventories: 3.5%
  exports of goods and services: 45.6%
  imports of goods and services: -55.6%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 8.7%
  industry: 29%
  services: 62.3% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  olives, olive oil, grain, tomatoes, citrus fruit, sugar beets, dates, almonds; beef, dairy products
  Industries:
  petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate, iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
  Industrial production growth rate:
  1% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Labor force:
  3.95 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 14.8%
  industry: 33.2%
  services: 51.7% (2014 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  15.3% (2014 est.)
  15.8% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Population below poverty line:
  3.8% (2005 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 2.3%
  highest 10%: 31.5% (2000)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  40 (2005 est.)
  41.7 (1995 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Budget:
  revenues: $12.43 billion
  expenditures: $15.53 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  25.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -6.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Public debt:
  49.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
  46.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4.9% (2014 est.)
  6.1% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Central bank discount rate:
  5.75% (31 December 2010)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  7.31% (31 December 2014 est.)
  6.76% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Stock of narrow money:
  $13.22 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $13.21 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Stock of broad money:
  $31.32 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $30.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 76
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $38 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $36.94 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $8.887 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  $9.662 billion (31 December 2011)
  $10.68 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Current account balance:
  -$4.332 billion (2014 est.)
  -$3.861 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 166
  Exports:
  $16.61 billion (2014 est.)
  $17.03 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Exports - commodities:
  clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons, electrical equipment
  Exports - partners:
  France 29.7%, Italy 17.1%, Germany 11.5%, Libya 5.4% (2014)
  Imports:
  $23.4 billion (2014 est.)
  $22.87 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Imports - commodities:
  textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, foodstuffs
  Imports - partners:
  France 19.9%, Italy 19.5%, Germany 7.6%, China 5.5%, Spain 5.4%, Turkey 4.1% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $7.198 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $7.447 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Debt - external:
  $29.56 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $26.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $35.47 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $34.49 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 62
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $310 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $295 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Exchange rates:
  Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar -
  1.704 (2014 est.)
  1.6247 (2013 est.)
  1.56 (2012 est.)
  1.4078 (2011 est.)
  1.4314 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: TUNISIA

- Electricity - production:
  15.23 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Electricity - consumption:
  12.94 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Electricity - exports:
  172 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Electricity - imports:
  175 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  4.076 million kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  97.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 62
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 191
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  1.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 140
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  1.3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  Crude oil - production:
  64,150 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Crude oil - exports:
  77,980 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Crude oil - imports:
  3,680 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  425 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  11,170 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  90,080 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  3,391 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  80,980 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Natural gas - production:
  1.863 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 58
  Natural gas - consumption:
  3.683 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 193
  Natural gas - imports:
  1.819 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  65.13 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 58
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  20.27 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83

- ## Communications :: TUNISIA

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 950,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 14.3 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 131 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: above the African average and continuing to be upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; telephone network is completely digitized; Internet access available throughout the country
  domestic: in an effort to jumpstart expansion of the fixed-line network, the government has awarded a concession to build and operate a VSAT network with international connectivity; rural areas are served by wireless local loops; competition between the two mobile-cellular service providers has resulted in lower activation and usage charges and a strong surge in subscribership; a third mobile, fixed, and ISP operator was licensed in 2009 and began offering services in 2010; expansion of mobile-cellular services to include multimedia messaging and e-mail and Internet to mobile phone services has also lead to a surge in subscribership; overall fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity has reached about 125 telephones per 100 persons
  international: country code - 216; a landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel; 2 international gateway digital switches (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  broadcast media is mainly government-controlled; the state-run Tunisian Radio and Television Establishment (ERTT) operates 2 national TV networks, several national radio networks, and a number of regional radio stations; 1 TV and 3 radio stations are privately owned and report domestic news stories directly from the official Tunisian news agency; the state retains control of broadcast facilities and transmitters through L'Office National de la Telediffusion; Tunisians also have access to Egyptian, pan-Arab, and European satellite TV channels (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 7, FM 38, shortwave 2 (2007)
  Television broadcast stations:
  26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)
  Internet country code:
  .tn
  Internet users:
  total: 5 million
  percent of population: 45.5% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 65

- ## Transportation :: TUNISIA

- Airports:
  29 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 15
  over 3,047 m: 4
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 14
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 5
  under 914 m:
  8 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  condensate 68 km; gas 3,111 km; oil 1,381 km; refined products 453 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 2,173 km (1,991 in use)
  standard gauge: 471 km 1.435-m gauge
  dual gauge: 8 km 1.435-1.000-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 1,694 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Roadways:
  total: 19,418 km
  paved: 14,756 km (includes 357 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 4,662 km (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Merchant marine:
  total: 9
  by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 2, passenger/cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2 (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Bizerte, Gabes, Rades, Sfax, Skhira

- ## Military :: TUNISIA

- Military branches:
  Tunisian Armed Forces (Forces Armees Tunisiens, FAT): Tunisian Army (includes Tunisian Air Defense Force), Tunisian Navy, Republic of Tunisia Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah At'Tunisia) (2012)
  Military service age and obligation:
  20-23 years of age for compulsory service, 1-year service obligation; 18-23 years of age for voluntary service; Tunisian nationality required (2012)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 2,846,572
  females age 16-49: 2,952,180 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 2,397,716
  females age 16-49: 2,484,097 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 90,436
  female: 87,346 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  1.55% of GDP (2012)
  1.34% of GDP (2011)
  1.55% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 57

- ## Transnational Issues :: TUNISIA

- Disputes - international:
  none
  Trafficking in persons:
  current situation: Tunisia is a source, destination, and possible transit country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Tunisia’s increased number of street children, children working to support their families, and migrants who have fled unrest in neighboring countries are vulnerable to human trafficking; Tunisian women have been forced into prostitution domestically and elsewhere in the region under false promises of legitimate work; East and West African women may be subjected to forced labor as domestic servants
  tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Tunisia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; prior commitments to enact draft anti-trafficking legislation have not been fulfilled, but a slightly increased number of trafficking offenders were prosecuted and convicted in 2013 under existing trafficking-related laws; the government instituted victim identification procedures and developed a victim referral mechanism, although it was not utilized during the reporting period; anti-trafficking awareness campaigns continued to be implemented, and the government worked with an international organization to produce a baseline study on human trafficking in Tunisia (2014)

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