country comparison to the world: 98
male: 24.81 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.78 years
country comparison to the world: 72
male: 73.98 years
female: 77.7 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.72 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,700 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Nationality:
noun: Tunisian(s)
adjective: Tunisian
Ethnic groups:
Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Religions:
Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Languages:
Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French
(commerce)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.3%
male: 83.4%
female: 65.3% (2004 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
7.3% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 19
Government ::Tunisia
Country name:
conventional long form: Tunisian Republic
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)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
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:
20 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 20 March (1956); also the anniversary of BEN ALI's
assumption of the presidency, 7 November (1987)
Constitution:
1 June 1959; amended 1988, 2002
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial
review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ 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 Zine el Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November
1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI (since 17
November 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held on 25 October 2009 (next to be
held in October 2014); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected for a
fifth term; percent of vote - Zine El Abidine BEN ALI 89.6%, Mohamed
BOUCHIHA 5%, Ahmed INOUBLI 3.8%, Ahmed BRAHIM 1.6%; voter turnout
89.4%
Legislative branch:
bicameral system consists of the Chamber of Advisors (126 seats; 85
members elected by municipal counselors, deputies, mayors, and
professional associations and trade unions; 41 members are
presidential appointees; members serve six-year terms); and the
Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (214 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Advisors - last held on 3 July 2005 (next to
be held in July 2011); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 25 October
2009 (next to be held in October 2014);
election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - RCD 161, MDS 16, PUP 12, UDU 9, PSL 8, PVP 6,
Et-Tajdid 2; voter turnout 89.4%
Judicial branch:
Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation
Political parties and leaders:
Al-Tajdid Movement [Ahmed IBRAHIM]; Constitutional Democratic Rally
Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD (official
ruling party) [President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI]; Democratic Forum
for Labor and Liberties or FDTL [Mustapha Ben JAFAAR]; Green Party
for Progress or PVP [Mongi KHAMASSI]; Liberal Social Party or PSL
[Mondher THABET]; Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS [Ismail
BOULAHYA]; Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed BOUCHIHA];
Progressive Democratic Party [Maya JERIBI]; Unionist Democratic
Union or UDU [Ahmed INOUBLI]; note - the Islamist party, Al Nahda
(Renaissance), is outlawed
Political pressure groups and leaders:
18 October Group [collective leadership]; Tunisian League for Human
Rights or LTDH [Mokhtar TRIFI]
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA,
MONUC, NAM, OAPEC (suspended), OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE
(partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Habib MANSOUR
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 Robert F. GODEC
embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis 1053
mailing address: use embassy street address
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; the crescent and star are
traditional symbols of Islam
Economy ::Tunisia
Economy - overview:
Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining,
tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control of economic
affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened over the past
decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the tax
structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Progressive social
policies also have helped raise living conditions in Tunisia
relative to the region. Real growth, which averaged almost 5% over
the past decade, declined to 4.7% in 2008 and probably will decline
further in 2009 because of economic contraction and slowing of
import demand in Europe - Tunisia's largest export market. However,
development of non-textile manufacturing, a recovery in agricultural
production, and strong growth in the services sector somewhat
mitigated the economic effect of slowing exports. Tunisia will need
to reach even higher growth levels to create sufficient employment
opportunities for an already large number of unemployed as well as
the growing population of university graduates. The challenges ahead
include: privatizing industry, liberalizing the investment code to
increase foreign investment, improving government efficiency,
reducing the trade deficit, and reducing socioeconomic disparities
in the impoverished south and west.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$81.98 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$78.53 billion (2007 est.)
$73.67 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$40.84 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
6.6% (2007 est.)
5.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,900 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
$7,600 (2007 est.)
$7,200 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.5%
industry: 37%
services: 52.5% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
3.66 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 55%
industry: 23%
services: 22% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14.1% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
14.1% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
7.4% (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.)
country comparison to the world: 62
41.7 (1995 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.8% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Budget:
revenues: $9.843 billion
expenditures: $11.3 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
48.4% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
59.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
3.1% (2007 est.)
Stock of money:
$9.892 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 44
$9.491 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$14.72 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 46
$13.56 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$26.5 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 55
$25.23 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$6.374 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 86
$5.355 billion (31 December 2007)
$4.446 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - 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
Industrial production growth rate:
2.7% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Electricity - production:
13.79 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Electricity - consumption:
11.9 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Electricity - exports:
130 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
145 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
86,930 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Oil - consumption:
90,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Oil - exports:
77,130 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Oil - imports:
87,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Oil - proved reserves:
425 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Natural gas - production:
2.97 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Natural gas - consumption:
4.22 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 101
Natural gas - imports:
1.25 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Natural gas - proved reserves:
65.13 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Current account balance:
-$1.667 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
-$904 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$19.22 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$15.15 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products,
mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons, electrical
equipment
Exports - partners:
France 28.3%, Italy 17.9%, Germany 9.6%, Libya 5.8%, Spain 5% (2008)
Imports:
$23.23 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$18.02 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals,
foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
France 21.5%, Italy 19.3%, Germany 9%, Libya 4.6%, Spain 4.5% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$8.853 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$7.854 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$20.81 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 71
$20.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$28.67 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
$26.22 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$162 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$118 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar - 1.211 (2008 est.), 1.2776
(2007), 1.331 (2006), 1.2974 (2005), 1.2455 (2004)
Communications ::Tunisia
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.239 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 70
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8.569 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 67
Telephone system:
general assessment: above the African average and continuing to be
upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; Internet
access available
domestic: in an effort jumpstart expansion of the fixed-line
network, the government has awarded a concession to build and
operate a VSAT network with international connectivity; competition
between the two mobile-cellular service providers has resulted in
lower activation and usage charges and a strong surge in
subscribership; expansion of mobile-cellular services to include
multimedia messaging and e-mail and Internet to mobile phone
services also leading to a surge in subscribership; overall
fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 95 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
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 38, shortwave 2 (2007)
Television broadcast stations:
26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)
Internet country code:
.tn
Internet hosts:
406 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 175
Internet users:
2.8 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 62
Transportation ::Tunisia
Airports:
32 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 114
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 7 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 2,102 km; oil 1,195 km; refined products 372 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 2,159 km
country comparison to the world: 69
standard gauge: 471 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,688 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 19,232 km
country comparison to the world: 112
paved: 12,655 km (includes 262 km of expressways)
unpaved: 6,577 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
total: 7
country comparison to the world: 126
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo
4
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Rades, Sfax, Skhira
Military ::Tunisia
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Republic of Tunisia Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya
al-Jamahiriyah At'tunisia) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
20 years of age for compulsory military service, 18 years of age for
voluntary military service; 1-year conscript service obligation
(2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,992,249
females age 16-49: 2,912,819 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,569,403
females age 16-49: 2,489,651 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 100,478
female: 94,055 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.4% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 114
Transnational Issues ::Tunisia
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Turkey (Middle East)
Introduction ::Turkey
Background:
Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants of the
defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who was
later honored with the title Ataturk or "Father of the Turks." Under
his authoritarian leadership, the country adopted wide-ranging
social, legal, and political reforms. After a period of one-party
rule, an experiment with multi-party politics led to the 1950
election victory of the opposition Democratic Party and the peaceful
transfer of power. Since then, Turkish political parties have
multiplied, but democracy has been fractured by periods of
instability and intermittent military coups (1960, 1971, 1980),
which in each case eventually resulted in a return of political
power to civilians. In 1997, the military again helped engineer the
ouster - popularly dubbed a "post-modern coup" - of the then
Islamic-oriented government. Turkey intervened militarily on Cyprus
in 1974 to prevent a Greek takeover of the island and has since
acted as patron state to the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,"
which only Turkey recognizes. A separatist insurgency begun in 1984
by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - now known as the People's
Congress of Kurdistan or Kongra-Gel (KGK) - has dominated the
Turkish military's attention and claimed more than 30,000 lives.
After the capture of the group's leader in 1999, the insurgents
largely withdrew from Turkey mainly to northern Iraq. In 2004, KGK
announced an end to its ceasefire and attacks attributed to the KGK
increased. Turkey joined the UN in 1945 and in 1952 it became a
member of NATO; it holds a non-permanent seat on the UN Security
Council from 2009-10. In 1964, Turkey became an associate member of
the European Community. Over the past decade, it has undertaken many
reforms to strengthen its democracy and economy; it began accession
membership talks with the European Union in 2005.
Geography ::Turkey
Location:
Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia (that portion of Turkey
west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering
the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the
Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria
Geographic coordinates:
39 00 N, 35 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 783,562 sq km
country comparison to the world: 37
land: 769,632 sq km
water: 13,930 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 2,648 km
border countries: Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km,
Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 352 km, Syria 822 km
Coastline:
7,200 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 6 nm in the Aegean Sea; 12 nm in Black Sea and in
Mediterranean Sea
exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only: to the maritime boundary
agreed upon with the former USSR
Climate:
temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in
interior
Terrain:
high central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; several
mountain ranges
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Ararat 5,166 m
Natural resources:
coal, iron ore, copper, chromium, antimony, mercury, gold, barite,
borate, celestite (strontium), emery, feldspar, limestone,
magnesite, marble, perlite, pumice, pyrites (sulfur), clay, arable
land, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 29.81%
permanent crops: 3.39%
other: 66.8% (2005)
Irrigated land:
52,150 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
234 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 39.78 cu km/yr (15%/11%/74%)
per capita: 544 cu m/yr (2001)
Natural hazards:
severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an arc
extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van
Environment - current issues:
water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air
pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for
oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Sea of
Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas; Mount Ararat,
the legendary landing place of Noah's ark, is in the far eastern
portion of the country
People ::Turkey
Population:
76,805,524 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.2% (male 10,701,631/female 10,223,260)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 25,896,326/female 25,327,403)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 2,130,360/female 2,526,544) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.7 years
male: 27.4 years
female: 28.1 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.312% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Birth rate:
18.66 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Death rate:
6.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Net migration rate:
0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Urbanization:
urban population: 69% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 25.78 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 85
male: 26.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.96 years
country comparison to the world: 122
male: 70.12 years
female: 73.89 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.21 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1%; note - no country specific models provided (2001
est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Turk(s)
adjective: Turkish
Ethnic groups:
Turkish 70-75%, Kurdish 18%, other minorities 7-12% (2008 est.)
Religions:
Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)
Languages:
Turkish (official), Kurdish, other minority languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.4%
male: 95.3%
female: 79.6% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
4% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 102
Government ::Turkey
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Turkey
conventional short form: Turkey
local long form: Turkiye Cumhuriyeti
local short form: Turkiye
Government type:
republican parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Ankara
geographic coordinates: 39 56 N, 32 52 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions: