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Tunisia |
Capital: Tunis
Languages: English Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce)
Currency: Tunisian dinar (TND)
Background: Tunisia became independent from the French in 1956. The country's first president, Habib BOURGUIBA, established a strict one-party state. He ruled the country for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism and establishing rights for women unmatched by any other Arab nation. Tunisia has long taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in its foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse rising pressure for a more open political society.
PEOPLE
Population: 10,276,158 (July 2007 est.); 10,589,025 (July 2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
2007
Total Population: 75.34 years
Male: 73.6 years
Female: 77.21 years (2007 est.)
2010
Total population: 75.99 years
Male: 74.17 years
Female: 77.94 years (2010 est.)
Age structure:
2007
0-14 years: 24% (male 1,270,208/female 1,191,619)
15-64 years: 69.2% (male 3,571,228/female 3,538,458)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 333,801/female 370,844) (2007 est.)
2010
0-14 years: 22.7% (male 1,227,238/female 1,149,796)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 3,701,661/female 3,652,322)
65 years and over: 7.2% (male 352,003/female 403,319) (2010 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.989% (2007 est.); 0.969% (2010 est.)
Population below poverty line: 7.4% (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2005 est.); less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
People living with HIV/AIDS: 1,000 (2003 est.); 3,700 (2007 est.)
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total Population: 74.3%
Male: 83.4%
Female: 65.3% (2004 census)
Refugees and Internally Displaced People: N/A
ECONOMY
Unemployment rate: 13.9% (2006 est.); 14.7% (2009 est.)
Labour force by Occupation:
agriculture: 18.3%
industry: 31.9%
services: 49.8% (2009 est.)
Agricultural Products: olives, olive oil, grain, tomatoes, citrus fruit, sugar beets, dates, almonds; beef, dairy products
Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
Exports - Commodities: clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons
Exports - Partners:
France 28.9%, Italy 20.4%, Germany 8.6%, Spain 6.1%, Libya 4.9%, US 4% (2006)
France 29.6%, Italy 21%, Germany 8.8%, Libya 5.8%, Spain 5%, UK 4.8% (2009)
Imports - Commodities: textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - Partners:
France 25.1%, Italy 22%, Germany 9.5%, Spain 4.7% (2006)
France 20.1%, Italy 16.4%, Germany 8.8%, China 5%, Spain 4.5%, US 4% (2009)
ENVIRONMENT
Environment - Current 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 hazards: N/A
Source: CIA World Factbook
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