Tunisia

Avenue Majida Boulila, Sfax 3003 - TUNISIA
+216   31 16 11 16
AFRICA

thermo

Tunisia in a brief

With a prime location within easy reach of almost every country in the world thanks to its great transport links,
Tunisia is constantly ranked as one of the most competitive economies in Africa.


Gallery-presentation

Introduction

Tunisia is a country in Northern Africa bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Neighboring countries include Algeria and Libya. The geography of Tunisia is varied and consists of mountains in the north and a semi-arid south that merges into the Sahara. The government system is a republic; the chief of state is the president, and the head of government is the prime minister.

Tunisia has a mixed economic system in which there is a variety of private freedom, combined with centralized economic planning and government regulation. Tunisia is a member of the League of Arab States (Arab League).

Tunisia is a net exporter of textiles, agricultural products (olive oil, citrus, vegetables), phosphates and chemicals. The country also sends abroad mechanical and electrical goods and hydrocarbons. Tunisia's main exports markets are European Union countries with France, Italy, Germany and Spain being the most important





History

600s: Arab's conquer the land of what is present-day Tunisia.
1600s: Tunisia becomes a part of the Turkish Ottoman empire, but retains a high degree of autonomy.
1881: French troops occupy Tunis, controlling economic foreign affairs, and becomes a French protectorate in 1883.
1956: Tunisia becomes independent from France. The monarchy is abolished a year later and Tunisia becomes a republic.
2011: The country declares a state of emergency as protests break out over unemployment rates and political restrictions, lasting four years.


Trading Stats

Tunisia's exports totalled $13,575,130,953 in 2016. Below a list of exports countries in descending order :

Top 10+ Export Countries

Country Export USD$
1. France $4,341,915,855
2. Italy $2,363,967,768
3. Germany $1,430,883,494
4. Algeria $664,212,438
5. Spain $474,928,100
6. Libya $442,725,194
7. Belgium $246,779,002
8. United States $245,226,417
9. United Kingdom $237,043,549
10. Netherlands $211,460,882
12. Morocco $169,161,163
13 Turkey $165,999,610
20. United Arab Emirates $66,530,284
25. Senegal $47,756,474
27. Ivory Coast $35,916,349
34. Saudi Arabia $19,659,755
35. Cameroun $18,415,630
37. Gabon $17,286,321
41. Ghana $13,916,715
42. Nigeria $12,688,539
47. Burkina Faso $11,131,043
50. Lebanon $10,038,707
53. Republic of Congo $7,950,094
61. Mali $6,510,464
64. Angola $6,004,259

Reference: https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/tunisia/economy



Economy

GDP - PPP (current international) $132,261,126,002 (2016)
GDP Growth Rate (annual %) 1.17% (2016)
GDP Per Capita - PPP (current international) $11,599 (2016)

  • Income Level: Upper Middle Income.
  • Level of Development : Developing.

  • Economic Trivia : Tunisia is ranked as the most competitive economy in Africa.

  • Trade : Top 3 Trade Partners (2016): France, Italy, and Germany.
    Top 3 Exported Goods (2016): Electrical Machinery, Apparel: Non Knit, and Oil & Mineral Fuels

  • Top Industries : Petroleum; Mining (Phosphate and Iron Ore); Tourism; Textiles


    Economic Indicators
  • Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) : 3.711% (2016)
  • External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$) : $28,110,513,000 (2016)
  • Total tax rate (% of commercial profits) : 64.1% (2017)
  • Real Interest Rate (5 year average %) : -3.689% (1989)
  • Manufacturing, value added (% of GDP) : 16.855% (2015)
  • Current Account Balance (BoP, current US$) : ($3,849,716,434) (2015)

    Trade
  • Imports of goods and services (current US$) : $21,461,499,069 (2016)
  • Exports of goods and services (current US$) : $16,897,811,918 (2016)
  • Total Merchandise Trade (% of GDP) : 78.535% (2016)
  • FDI, net inflows (BoP, current US$) : $695,100,945 (2016)
  • Commercial Service Exports (current US$) : $3,124,195,501 (2015)


    Tunisia: Statistics

    Demonym

  • Noun : Tunisian(s)
  • Adjective : Tunisian
  • Capital City : Tunis (+1 GMT)
  • Currency : Tunisian Dinar (TND)   $ 1.00 = 2.38 TND (in 2017)
  • Languages : Arabic, French, English
  • Ethnic Groups : Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
  • Calling Code : 216
  • Voltage : 230
  • Ease of Doing Business Rank : 88 out of 190 (2017)

    People
  • Population : 11,403,248 (2016)
  • Population Growth Rate : 1.143 annual % (2016)
  • Age Dependency Ratio : 46.381 % of working-age population (2016)
  • Urban Population : 67.047 % of total (2016)
  • Infant Mortality Rate : 11.7 per 1,000 live births (2016)
  • Life Expectancy at Birth : 75.497 years (2015)
  • Religions : Muslim 99.1%, other (Christian, Jewish...) 1%
  • Age Distribution - % of Total Population (2016) :
    • - Ages 0-14 : 23.9%
    • - Ages 15-64 : 68.3%
    • - Ages 65+ : 7.8%


    Government
  • Chief of State : President
  • Head of Government : Prime Minister
  • Government Name: : Republic of Tunisia
  • Constitution : The Constituent Assembly finished draft in 2013.
    • - Issued constitutive law in the interim
    • - Provides 3 typical branches of government
    • - Guaranteed human rights.
  • Government Type: Constitutional Republic


    Government Branches
  • Executive : President elects prime minister and executes policies. (5 years)
  • Judicial : Influenced by French civil law and interprets Constitution.
  • Legislative : Votes on policies and treaties, drafted the constitution. (5 years)


    Technology
  • Airports : 29 (2013)
  • Cellular Telephones : 14,282,078 (2016 est.)
  • Highways 19,418 km : (2010)
  • Internet Users : 5,665,242 (2016 est.)
  • Railways : 2,173 km (2014)
  • Telephones : 974,975 (2016 est.)


    Geography & Environment
  • Location : Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, Algeria and Libya.
  • Total Area : 163,610 sq. km
  • Land Area : 155,360 sq. km
  • Water Area : 8,250 sq. km
  • Coastline : 1,148 km
  • Climate : mild in north, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
  • Terrain : mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semi-arid south
  • Lowest Point : Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
  • Highest Point : Mountain Chambi 1,544 m
  • Major Cities : Tunis, Sfax, Sousse, Monastir, Nabeul, Kairouan, Bizerte, Gabès, ...
  • Major Islands : Djerba, Kerkennah