Profile
Background and figures as recorded in the CIA World Factbook.
Many empires have controlled Tunisia, including the Phoenicians (as early as the 12 century B.C.), Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, various Arab and Berber kingdoms, and Ottomans (16th to late-19th centuries). 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 after World War I finally convinced the French to recognize Tunisia as an independent state in 1956. The country's first president, Habib BOURGUIBA, established a strict one-party state.
- Capital
- Tunis
- Government
- parliamentary republic
- Population
- 11,962,995
- Area
- 163,610 sq km
- Location
- Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya
- Climate
- temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
- Natural resources
- petroleum; phosphates; iron ore; lead; zinc; salt
- Languages
- Arabic (official; one of the languages of commerce); French (commerce); Tamazight
- Religions
- Muslim (official; Sunni) 99%; other (includes Christian; Jewish…
- Independence
- 20 March 1956 (from France)
- Administrative divisions
- 24 governorates (wilayat, singular - wilayah); Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin 'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), Gabes (Qabis), Ga…
- Currency
- Tunisian dinars (TND)
- Export partners
- France 22%; Italy 17%; Germany 13%; USA 4%…
- Import partners
- Italy 13%; France 12%; China 10%; Russia 8%…
Source: CIA World Factbook — a work of the US government, in the public domain