TunisiaBy | Tuesday, December 1 2009 at 17:02
Full Name of state
Tunisian Republic
Origins of name – Named after Tunis the present-day capital, but in ancient times a powerful city-state and successor to ancient Carthage
Formerly - N/A
Overview
Tunisia became part of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th Century and was a French protectorate from 1881 to 1956.
Granted independence as a constitutional monarchy, it became a republic in 1957. Habib Bourguiba, who led the independence movement, became the first President.
Habib Bourguiba was replaced in November 1987 by the then Prime Minister, Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, who was ousted in January 2011. Acting president is Fouad Mebazaa before Moncef Marzoukiwas named president.
Facts
Form of Government
· Republic
- President elected by popular vote for a five-year term
- No term limits
- President is the ad of state
- Prime minister is the head of government
· Government structure
- President
- Prime minister
- Bicarmel Parliament
Military Statistics
· Manpower fit for military service: 5,059,054
· Expenditures: 1.4% of GDP (2006)
· Branches: Army, Navy, Republic of Tunisia Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah At'tunisia) (2008)
Current Ruler
· President Moncef Marzouki
Former Ruler
· July 1957-1987: the late President Habib Bourguiba
1987- to January 2011 President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI
Capital
· Tunis
Altitude – 11 metres
Population – 728,453
Population
· Size: 10,673,800 ( 2011)
· Life expectancy: 75.8 years
· Gender Make-Up: males 50.3 per cent, females 49.7
GDP per capita
· $9,415 (2011)
$9,443 (2010)
Geography
· Area: 163,610 sq km
· Land boundaries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
Major Languages
· Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce)
· French (commerce)
Religious portfolio
· Muslim 98%,
· Christian 1%,
· Jewish
· others 1%
National Make-up
· Arab 98%,
· European 1%,
· Jewish
· others 1%
Natural Resources
· Petroleum
· Phosphates
· iron ore
· lead
· zinc
· salt
Main exports
· clothing
· textiles
· agricultural products
· mechanical goods
· phosphates and chemicals
· hydrocarbons
· electrical equipment
Land Use
· Arable land: 17.05%
· Permanent crops: 13.08%
· Other: 69.87% (2005)
Monetary Unit/Currency
· Tunisian Dinar
Dialing Code
· +216
Internet Code
· .tn
Transport
· Main Port: Tunis
· Airport: Tunis Carthage International Airport located 7 kilometres from Tunis.
Modern issues
Environmental
