Tunisia ( Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah) is a country in Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya. Tunisia geographic coordinates 34 00 N, 9 00 E; area 155,360 sq km; area comparative slightly larger than Georgia; land boundaries Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km; coastline 1,148 km; maritime claims 24 n; climate temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south; terrain mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara; elevation extremes Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m; natural resources petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt; land use 68.4% (2001); irrigated land 3,800 sq km (1998 est.); natural hazards NA; environment current issues toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; environment international agreements Marine Life Conservation; geography note strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration;

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Following independence from France in 1956, 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 recent years, Tunisia has taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in its foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse rising pressure for a more open political society. government type republic; capital Tunis; 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); constitution 1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988; legal system based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session; suffrage 20 years of age; universal;

people

Tunisia population 10,074,951 (July 2005 est.); age structure 6.6% (male 321,287/female 346,576) (2005 est.); median age 27.82 years (2005 est.); population growth rate 0.99% (2005 est.); birth rate 15.5 births/1,000 population (2005 est.); death rate 5.09 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.); net migration rate -0.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.); sex ratio 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.); infant mortality rate 27.68 deaths/1,000 live births; life expectancy at birth 76.71 years (2005 est.); total fertility rate 1.75 children born/woman (2005 est.); hiv adult rate less than 0.1% (2005 est.); hiv people with aids 1,000 (2003 est.); hiv deaths less than 200 (2003 est.); major infectious diseases may be a significant risk in some locations during the transmission season (typically April through Novemb; nationality 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 64.4% (2003 est.);

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