Country Reports

Country name

Tunisian Republic

Government type

Republic

Capital

Tunis

Administrative divisions

24 governorates: Ariana (Aryanah), 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), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah), Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax (Safaqis), Sidi Bou Zid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse (Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan (Zaghwan)

Independence Day

20 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday

20 March (1956) Independence Day, and 7 November (1987) The anniversary of Ben Ali's assumption of the presidency

Area

164,150 sq km (63,378 sq miles)

Location

Northern Africa. Bordering the Mediterranean Sea

Land Borders

Algeria, Libya

Coastline

1,148 km

Population

10.4 million (UN, 2008)

Nationality

Tunisian(s)

Major languages

Arabic (official); French

Ethnicity

Arab 98%, other

Major religion

Islam

Highest peak

Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m

Climate

In north temperate; mild, rainy winters. In south desert; hot, dry summers

Time zone

UTC+1

Currency

1 Tunisian dinar (TND) = 1,000 millimes

Telephone

+216

Internet domain

.tn

GNI per capita

US $3,200 (World Bank, 2007)

Natural resources

Petroleum, phosphates, salt, iron ore, lead, zinc

Agriculture products

Beef, diary products, dates, olives, olive oil, almonds, grain, tomatoes, citrus fruit, sugar

Industries

Oil, tourism, agricultural products, beverages, textiles, footwear, phosphate mining, iron ore mining