Tunisia

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<p>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. He dominated the country for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism and establishing rights for women. In 1987, Zine el Abidine BEN ALI replaced BOURGUIBA in a bloodless coup. <br><br>Street protests that began in Tunis in 2010 over high unemployment, corruption, widespread poverty, and high food prices escalated in 2011, culminating in rioting that led to hundreds of deaths and later became known as the start of the regional Arab Spring uprising. BEN ALI dismissed the government and fled the country, and a "national unity government" was formed. Elections for the new Constituent Assembly were held later that year, and human rights activist Moncef MARZOUKI was elected as interim president. The Assembly began drafting a new constitution in 2012 and, after several iterations and a months-long political crisis that stalled the transition, ratified the document in 2014. Parliamentary and presidential elections for a permanent government were held at the end of 2014. Beji CAID ESSEBSI was elected as the first president under the country's new constitution. After ESSEBSI’s death in office in 2019, Kais SAIED was elected. SAIED's term, as well as that of Tunisia's 217-member parliament, was set to expire in 2024. However, in 2021, SAIED used the exceptional powers allowed under Tunisia's constitution to dismiss the prime minister and suspend the legislature. Tunisians approved a new constitution through public referendum in 2022, expanding presidential powers and creating a new bicameral legislature. </p>

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Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya

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34 00 N, 9 00 E

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Africa

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slightly larger than Georgia

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1,148 km

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temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south

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mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara

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petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt

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3,920 sq km (2013)

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North Western Sahara Aquifer System

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the overwhelming majority of the population is located in the northern half of the country; the south remains largely underpopulated, as shown in this population distribution map

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flooding; earthquakes; droughts

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strategic location in central Mediterranean

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Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%

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<strong>note:</strong> despite having no official status, French plays a major role in the country and is spoken by about two thirds of the population

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Muslim (official; Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Shia Muslim, and Baha'i) &lt;1%

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0.38% (2025 est.)

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11.35 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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-1.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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the overwhelming majority of the population is located in the northern half of the country; the south remains largely underpopulated, as shown in this population distribution map

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2.475 million TUNIS (capital) (2023)

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36 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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1.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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0.77 (2025 est.)

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1.32 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

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2.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

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26.9% (2016)

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1.6% (2018 est.)

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52.5% (2023 est.)

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toxic and hazardous waste disposal; water pollution from raw sewage; limited freshwater resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

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temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south

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26.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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4.615 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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parliamentary republic

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24 governorates (<em>wilayat</em>, singular - <em>wilayah</em>); 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), L'Ariana (Aryanah), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah), Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax (Safaqis), Sidi Bouzid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse (Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan (Zaghwan)

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mixed system of civil law, based on the French civil code and Islamic (sharia) law; Supreme Court reviews some legislative acts in joint session

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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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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

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<strong>note: </strong>the president can dismiss any member of government on his own initiative or in consultation with the prime minister

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<strong>note:</strong> in 2022, President SAIED issued a new electoral law that requires all legislative candidates to run as independents

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<strong>note:</strong> the Tunisian constitution of January 2014 called for the establishment of a constitutional court by the end of 2015, but the court was never formed; the new constitution of July 2022 calls for the establishment of a constitutional court consisting of 9 members appointed by presidential decree; members to include former senior judges of other courts

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Afek Tounes<br>Al Badil Al-Tounisi (The Tunisian Alternative)<br>Al-Amal Party<br>Call for Tunisia Party (Nidaa Tounes)<br>Current of Love (formerly the Popular Petition party)<br>Democratic Current<br>Democratic Patriots' Unified Party<br>Dignity Coalition or Al Karama Coalition<br>Ennahda Movement (The Renaissance)<br>Ettakatol Party<br>Free Destourian Party or PDL<br>Green Tunisia Party<br>Harakat Hak<br>Heart of Tunisia (Qalb Tounes)<br>July 25 Movement<br>Labor and Achievement Party<br>Long Live Tunisia (Tahya Tounes)<br>Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS<br>National Coalition Party<br>National Salvation Front<br>New Carthage Party<br>Party of the Democratic Arab Vanguard<br>People's Movement<br>Republican Party (Al Joumhouri)<br>The Movement Party (Hizb Harak)<br>Third Republic Party<br>Tunisian Ba'ath Movement<br>Voice of the Republic<br>Workers' Party

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<strong>note:</strong> President SAIED in 2022 issued a decree that forbids political parties' participation in legislative elections; although parties remain a facet of Tunisian political life, they have lost significant influence

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ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AIIB, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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20 March 1956 (from France)

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Independence Day, 20 March (1956); Revolution and Youth Day, 14 January (2011)

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<strong>description:</strong> red with a white disk in the center that displays a red crescent around a five-pointed red star<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> red stands for martyrs' blood shed the fight against oppression, and white for peace; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam<br><br><strong>history:</strong> resembles the Ottoman flag (red banner with white crescent and star), a reference to Tunisia's history as part of the Ottoman Empire

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red crescent moon and five-pointed star in a white circle

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red, white

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lower middle-income North African economy; drafting reforms for foreign lenders; high unemployment, especially for youth and women; hit hard by COVID-19; high public sector wages; high public debt; protectionist austerity measures; key EU trade partner

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$53.41 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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milk, tomatoes, olives, onions, chillies/peppers, watermelons, potatoes, wheat, dates, oranges (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate, iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages

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-2.5% (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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4.247 million (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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16.6% (2021 est.)

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<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

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<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

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<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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France 22%, Italy 17%, Germany 13%, USA 4%, Libya 4% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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garments, insulated wire, olive oil, refined petroleum, crude petroleum (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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Italy 13%, France 12%, China 10%, Russia 8%, Germany 7% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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refined petroleum, natural gas, plastic products, cars, plastics (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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2 state-owned TV stations; 10 private local TV stations; satellite TV service available; state-owned radio network with 2 stations; several dozen private radio stations and community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available (2019)

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.tn

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TS

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14 (2025)

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11 (2025)

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Tunisian Armed Forces (Forces Armées Tunisiennes, FAT): Tunisian Army (includes Air Defense Force), Tunisian Navy, Tunisia Air Force<br><br>Ministry of Interior (MoI): Internal Security Forces (National Police, National Guard) (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> the National Police has primary responsibility for law enforcement in the major cities, while the National Guard (gendarmerie) oversees border security and patrols smaller towns and rural areas

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approximately 35,000 active-duty Armed Forces (2025)

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the Tunisian military's inventory consists mostly of older or secondhand equipment from a variety of suppliers, including Austria, France, Italy, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US (2025)

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18 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; men 20-35 years of age subject to 12 months of compulsory national service (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> compulsory national service may be in the Armed Forces or other government ministries as needed

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840 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)

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the Tunisian Armed Forces (FAT) are responsible for territorial defense and internal security; operational areas of focus include counterterrorism and assisting with securing the border regions, particularly along the frontiers with Algerian and Libya<br> <br>the FAT conducts bilateral and multinational training exercises with a variety of countries, including Algeria and other North African and Middle Eastern countries, France, and the US, as well as NATO; it also participates in UN peacekeeping operations; Tunisia has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2025)

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Ansar al-Sharia in Tunisia; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) network in Tunisia (known locally as Ajnad al-Khilafah or the Army of the Caliphate); al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb

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<strong>note:</strong> details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide