|
Background
|
|
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 following World War I was finally successful in getting 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 unmatched by any other Arab nation. In November 1987, BOURGUIBA was removed from office and replaced by Zine el Abidine BEN ALI in a bloodless coup. BEN ALI is currently serving his fifth consecutive five-year term as president. 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.
|
|
Population
|
|
10,589,025 (July 2010 est.)
|
|
Government type
|
|
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)
|
|
Administrative divisions
|
|
republic
|
|
Independence
|
|
Independence Day, 20 March (1956); also the anniversary of BEN ALI's assumption of the presidency, 7 November (1987)
|
|
International organization participation
|
|
red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; resembles the Ottoman flag (red banner with white crescent and star) and recalls Tunisia's history as part of the Ottoman Empire; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam
|
|
Economy - overview
|
|
|
|
Market value of publicly traded shares
|
|
petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
|
|
Agriculture - products
|
|
-1.7% (2009 est.)
|
|
Industries
|
|
11.08 billion kWh (2008 est.)
|
|
Industrial production growth rate
|
|
11.8 billion kWh (2008 est.)
|
|
Electricity - production
|
|
130 million kWh (2007 est.)
|
|
Oil - production
|
|
77,130 bbl/day (2007 est.)
|
|
Internet country code
|
|
2.8 million (2008)
|
|
