Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats - 12reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for noblesselected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popularvote; members serve three-year terms)elections: last held 21 March 2005 (next to be held in 2008)election results: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote - HRDMT70%; seats - HRDMT 7, independents 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court ofAppeal (consists of the Privy Council with the addition of the chiefjustice of the Supreme Court)
Political parties and leaders:there are no political parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. SimoteVEA, chairman]
International organization participation:ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Fekitamoeloa 'UTOIKAMANU chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022 telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025 FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024 consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji isaccredited to Tonga
Flag description:red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upperhoist-side corner
Economy Tonga
Economy - overview:Tonga, a small, open, South Pacific island economy, has a narrowexport base in agricultural goods. Squash, coconuts, bananas, andvanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural exports make uptwo-thirds of total exports. The country must import a highproportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. Tourism is thesecond largest source of hard currency earnings followingremittances. The country remains dependent on external aid andremittances from Tongan communities overseas to offset its tradedeficit. The government is emphasizing the development of theprivate sector, especially the encouragement of investment, and iscommitting increased funds for health and education. Tonga has areasonably sound basic infrastructure and well-developed socialservices. High unemployment among the young, a continuing upturn ininflation, and rising civil service expenditures are major issuesfacing the government.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$244 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 13% services: 64% (2002 est.)
Labor force:33,910 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 65% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:13.3% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):10.3% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $39.9 millionexpenditures: $52.4 million, including capital expenditures of $1.9million (FY99/00 est.)
Agriculture - products: squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish
Industries:tourism, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:8.6% (FY98/99)
Electricity - production:24.79 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:23.06 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:1,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$27 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
Exports - partners:Japan 37.1%, China 18.7%, US 17.7%, Taiwan 8.7%, New Zealand 7.4%(2004)
Imports:$86 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:New Zealand 37.1%, Fiji 24.3%, Australia 9.1%, China 8.9%, US 6.3%(2004)
Debt - external:$63.4 million (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:Australia $5.5 million, New Zealand $2.3 million (FY01/02)
Currency (code):pa'anga (TOP)
Currency code:TOP
Exchange rates:pa'anga per US dollar - 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003), 2.1952 (2002),2.1236 (2001), 1.7585 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Tonga
Telephones - main lines in use:11,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:9,000 (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: competition between Tonga TelecommunicationsCorporation (TCC) and Shoreline Communications Tonga (SCT) isaccelerating expansion of telecommunications; SCT recently grantedauthority to develop high-speed digital service for telephone,Internet, and televisiondomestic: fully automatic switched networkinternational: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2004)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2004)
Radios:61,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (2004)
Televisions:2,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.to
Internet hosts:18,906 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:2,900 (2002)
Transportation Tonga
Highways: total: 680 km paved: 184 km unpaved: 496 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:Nuku'alofa
Merchant marine:total: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 136,977 GRT/200,751 DWTby type: cargo 21, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 2,passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, rollon/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1foreign-owned: 7 (Cyprus 1, France 1, Greece 1, Norway 1, Romania 2,United Kingdom 1) (2005)
Airports:6 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 51,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Tonga
Military branches:Tonga Defense Services: Ground Forces (Royal Marines, Royal Guard),Maritime Force (includes Air Wing)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Tonga
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Trinidad and Tobago
Introduction Trinidad and Tobago
Background:The islands came under British control in the 19th century;independence was granted in 1962. The country is one of the mostprosperous in the Caribbean thanks largely to petroleum and naturalgas production and processing. Tourism, mostly in Tobago, istargeted for expansion and is growing.
Geography Trinidad and Tobago
Location:Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:11 00 N, 61 00 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 5,128 sq kmland: 5,128 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:362 km
Maritime claims:measured from claimed archipelagic baselinesterritorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continentalmargin
Climate:tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Terrain:mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Land use: arable land: 14.62% permanent crops: 9.16% other: 76.22% (2001)
Irrigated land:30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms
Environment - current issues: water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world'slargest natural reservoir of asphalt
People Trinidad and Tobago
Population:1,088,644 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20.7% (male 115,594/female 109,665)15-64 years: 71% (male 403,301/female 369,664)65 years and over: 8.3% (male 40,638/female 49,782) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 30.91 yearsmale: 30.46 yearsfemale: 31.44 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.74% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:12.81 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:9.37 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-10.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 24.31 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 26.23 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 22.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 66.73 yearsmale: 65.6 yearsfemale: 67.91 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.75 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:3.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:29,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:1,900 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian
Ethnic groups:Indian (South Asian) 40%, African 37.5%, mixed 20.5%, other 1.2%,unspecified 0.8% (2000 census)
Religions:Roman Catholic 26%, Hindu 22.5%, Anglican 7.8%, Baptist 7.2%,Pentecostal 6.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 4%, other Christian 5.8%,Muslim 5.8%, other 10.8%, unspecified 1.4%, none 1.9% (2000 census)
Languages:English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish, Chinese
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.6%male: 99.1%female: 98% (2003 est.)
Government Trinidad and Tobago
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobagoconventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Port-of-Spain
Administrative divisions: 9 regional corporations, 2 city corporations, 3 borough corporations, and 1 ward : regional corporations: Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Diego Martin, Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande, San Juan/Laventille, Siparia, Tunapuna/Piarco : city corporations: Port-of-Spain, San Fernando; : borough corporations: Arima, Point Fortin, Chaguanas : ward: Tobago
Independence:31 August 1962 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
Constitution:1 August 1976
Legal system:based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts inthe Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President George Maxwell RICHARDS (since 17 March2003)head of government: Prime Minister Patrick MANNING (since 24December 2001)cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliamentelections: president elected by an electoral college, which consistsof the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for afive-year term; election last held 14 February 2003 (next to be heldin 2008); the president usually appoints as prime minister theleader of the majority party in the House of Representativeselection results: George Maxwell RICHARDS elected president; percentof electoral college vote - 43%
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (31 seats; 16 membersappointed by the ruling party, 9 by the President, 6 by theopposition party for a maximum term of five years) and the House ofRepresentatives (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote toserve five-year terms)elections: House of Representatives - last held 7 October 2002 (nextto be held by October 2007)election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - PNM55.5%, UNC 44.5%; seats by party - PNM 20, UNC 16note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly with 12 membersserving four-year terms
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Judicature (comprised of the High Court of Justiceand the Court of Appeals; the chief justice is appointed by thepresident after consultation with the prime minister and the leaderof the opposition; other justices are appointed by the president onthe advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission); High Courtof Justice; Court of Appeals; the highest court of appeal is thePrivy Council in London
Political parties and leaders:National Alliance for Reconstruction or NAR [Lennox SANKERSINGH];People's National Movement or PNM [Patrick MANNING]; Team Unity orTU [Ramesh MAHARAJ]; United National Congress or UNC [BasdeoPANDAY]; Democratic Action Committee or DAC [Hochoy CHARLES], note -only active in Tobago
Political pressure groups and leaders:Jamaat-al Muslimeen [Yasin BAKR]
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Marina Annette VALEREchancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Roy L. AUSTINembassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spainmailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spaintelephone: [1] (868) 622-6372 through 6376, 622-6176FAX: [1] (868) 628-5462
Flag description:red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoistside to the lower fly side
Economy Trinidad and Tobago
Economy - overview:Trinidad and Tobago, the leading Caribbean producer of oil and gas,has earned a reputation as an excellent investment site forinternational businesses. Tourism is a growing sector, although notproportionately as important as in many other Caribbean islands. Theeconomy benefits from low inflation and a growing trade surplus.Prospects for growth in 2004 are good as prices for oil,petrochemicals, and liquified natural gas are expected to remainhigh, and foreign direct investment continues to grow to supportexpanded capacity in the energy sector. The government is copingwith a rise in violent crime.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$11.48 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.7% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $10,500 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.7% industry: 47% services: 50.3% (2004 est.)
Labor force: 590,000 (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 9.5%, manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 14%, construction and utilities 12.4%, services 64.1% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:10.4% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:21% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.3% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.4% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $3.25 billionexpenditures: $3.193 billion, including capital expenditures of$117.3 million (2004 est.)
Public debt:54.4% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:cocoa, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry
Industries:petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement, beverage,cotton textiles
Industrial production growth rate:7.2% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:5.743 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.8% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0.2% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:5.341 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:140,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:990 million bbl (1 January 2004)
Natural gas - production:25 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:13.76 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:11.79 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:589 billion cu m (1 January 2004)
Current account balance:$1.548 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$6.671 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, steel products,fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers
Exports - partners:US 67.1%, Jamaica 5.7%, France 3.5% (2004)
Imports:$4.65 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, liveanimals
Imports - partners:US 23.9%, Venezuela 11.5%, Germany 11.2%, Brazil 10.7%, Spain 6.4%,Italy 5.1% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$2.927 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$2.94 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$24 million (1999 est.)
Currency (code):Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)
Currency code:TTD
Exchange rates:Trinidad and Tobago dollars per US dollar - 6.299 (2004), 6.2951(2003), 6.2487 (2002), 6.2332 (2001), 6.2998 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 October - 30 September
Communications Trinidad and Tobago
Telephones - main lines in use:325,100 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:361,900 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent international service; good localservicedomestic: NAinternational: country code - 1-868; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados andGuyana
Radio broadcast stations:AM 4, FM 18, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:680,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:4 (2004)
Televisions:425,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.tt
Internet hosts:8,003 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):17 (2000)
Internet users:138,000 (2002)
Transportation Trinidad and Tobago
Highways: total: 8,320 km paved: 4,252 km unpaved: 4,068 km (1999 est.)
Pipelines:condensate 253 km; gas 1,117 km; oil 478 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Lisas, Port-of-Spain
Merchant marine:total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,178 GRT/3,633 DWTby type: passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1foreign-owned: 1 (United States 1)registered in other countries: 4 (2005)
Airports:6 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 3914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Trinidad and Tobago
Military branches:Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force: Ground Force, Coast Guard(includes Air Wing) (2004)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription(2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 293,094 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 203,531 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$66.7 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.6% (2003)
Transnational Issues Trinidad and Tobago
Disputes - international:Barbados will assert its claim before UNCLOS that the northernlimit of Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuelaextends into its waters; Guyana has also expressed its intention tochallenge this boundary as it may extend into its waters as well
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the USand Europe; producer of cannabis
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Tromelin Island
Introduction Tromelin Island
Background:First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under thejurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a seaturtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorologicalstation.
Geography Tromelin Island
Location:Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:15 52 S, 54 25 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1 sq kmland: 1 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:3.7 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:tropical
Terrain:low, flat, and sandy; likely volcanic
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 7 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (grasses; scattered bushes) (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones;wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)
People Tromelin Island
Population: uninhabited, except for visits by scientists (July 2005 est.)
Government Tromelin Island
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Tromelin Islandlocal long form: nonelocal short form: Ile Tromelin
Dependency status:possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieurof the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Legal system:the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy Tromelin Island
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Communications Tromelin Island
Communications - note: important meteorological station
Transportation Tromelin Island
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Tromelin Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Tromelin Island
Disputes - international: claimed by Mauritius
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Tunisia
Introduction Tunisia
Background:Following independence from France in 1956, President HabibBOURGUIBA established a strict one-party state. He dominated thecountry for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism andestablishing rights for women unmatched by any other Arab nation. Inrecent years, Tunisia has taken a moderate, non-aligned stance inits foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse risingpressure for a more open political society.
Geography Tunisia
Location:Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeriaand Libya
Geographic coordinates:34 00 N, 9 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 163,610 sq kmland: 155,360 sq kmwater: 8,250 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries: total: 1,424 km border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
Coastline: 1,148 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nm
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 mergesinto the Sahara
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 mhighest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
Natural resources:petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Land use:arable land: 17.86%permanent crops: 13.74%other: 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: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia arediscussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelfbetween their countries, particularly for oil exploration
People Tunisia
Population:10,074,951 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 25.3% (male 1,316,308/female 1,234,309)15-64 years: 68.1% (male 3,437,880/female 3,418,591)65 years and over: 6.6% (male 321,287/female 346,576) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 27.29 yearsmale: 26.78 yearsfemale: 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:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 24.77 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 27.68 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 21.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.89 yearsmale: 73.2 yearsfemale: 76.71 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.75 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: may be a significant risk in some locations during the transmission season (typically April through November) (2004)
Nationality: noun: Tunisian(s) adjective: 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:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 74.3%male: 83.4%female: 65.3% (2004 est.)
Government Tunisia
Country name:conventional long form: Tunisian Republicconventional short form: Tunisialocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyahlocal short form: Tunis
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 1988, 2002
Legal system:based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicialreview of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session
Suffrage:20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November1987)head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI (since 17November 1999)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 24 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009);prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected for afourth term; percent of vote - Zine El Abidine BEN ALI 94.5%,Mohamed BOUCHIHA 3.8%, Mohamed Ali HALOUANI 1%
Legislative branch:unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (189 seats;members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 24 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -RCD 152, MDS 14, PUP 11, UDU 7, Al-Tajdid 3, PSL 2
Judicial branch:Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation
Political parties and leaders:Al-Tajdid Movement [Ali HALOUANI]; Constitutional Democratic RallyParty (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD [PresidentZine El Abidine BEN ALI (official ruling party)]; Liberal SocialParty or PSL [Mounir BEJI]; Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS[Ismail BOULAHYA]; Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed BOUCHIHA];Progressive Democratic Party [Nejib CHEBBI]; Unionist DemocraticUnion or UDU [Abderrahmane TLILI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:the Islamic fundamentalist party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), isoutlawed
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), FAO, G-77,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MONUC, NAM,OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNOCI, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Nejib HACHANAchancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador William J. HUDSONembassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis, 2045 LaGoulette, Tunisiamailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [216] 71 107-000FAX: [216] 71 962-115
Flag description:red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearlyencircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star aretraditional symbols of Islam
Economy Tunisia
Economy - overview:Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining,energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control ofeconomic affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened over thepast decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the taxstructure, and a prudent approach to debt. Progressive socialpolicies also have helped raise living conditions in Tunisiarelative to the region. Real growth slowed to a 15-year low of 1.9%in 2002 because of agricultural drought and lackluster tourism.Better rains in 2003 and 2004, however, helped push GDP growth above5% for these years. Tourism also recovered after the end of combatoperations in Iraq. Tunisia is gradually removing barriers to tradewith the European Union. Broader privatization, furtherliberalization of the investment code to increase foreigninvestment, improvements in government efficiency, and reduction ofthe trade deficit are among the challenges ahead.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$70.88 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $7,100 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13.8% industry: 31.8% services: 54.4% (2004 est.)
Labor force: 3.55 million note: shortage of skilled labor (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:services 55%, industry 23%, agriculture 22% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate:13.8% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:7.6% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 31.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:41.7 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.1% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):24.5% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $6.799 billionexpenditures: $7.573 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.6billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:59.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:olives, olive oil, grain, dairy products, tomatoes, citrus fruit,beef, sugar beets, dates, almonds
Industries:petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism,textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:4.4% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:10.72 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.5% hydro: 0.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:10.05 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:10 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:90 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:72,580 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:87,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:1.7 billion bbl (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:2.25 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:3.83 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:1.58 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:77.16 billion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:$71.85 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$9.926 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:textiles, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, agriculturalproducts, hydrocarbons
Exports - partners:France 33.1%, Italy 25.3%, Germany 9.2%, Spain 6.1% (2004)
Imports:$11.52 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, food
Imports - partners:France 25.1%, Italy 19%, Germany 8.5%, Spain 5.3% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$3.509 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$14.71 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$114.6 million (2002)
Currency (code):Tunisian dinar (TND)
Currency code:TND
Exchange rates:Tunisian dinars per US dollar - 1.2455 (2004), 1.2885 (2003),1.4217 (2002), 1.4387 (2001), 1.3707 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Tunisia
Telephones - main lines in use:1,163,800 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,899,900 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: above the African average and continuing to beupgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; Internetaccess availabledomestic: trunk facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxialcable, and microwave radio relayinternational: country code - 216; 5 submarine cables; satelliteearth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxialcable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant inMedarabtel; two international gateway digital switches
Radio broadcast stations:AM 7, FM 20, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:2.06 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:920,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.tn
Internet hosts:281 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:630,000 (2003)
Transportation Tunisia
Railways:total: 2,152 kmstandard gauge: 468 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 1,674 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)dual gauge: 10 km 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (three rails) (2004)
Highways:total: 18,997 kmpaved: 12,424 km (including 142 km of expressways)unpaved: 6,573 km (2001)
Pipelines:gas 3,059 km; oil 1,203 km; refined products 345 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Skhira
Merchant marine:total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 124,733 GRT/122,664 DWTby type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 1, chemical tanker 5, passenger/cargo4, petroleum tanker 1registered in other countries: 3 (2005)
Airports:30 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)
Military Tunisia
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force (2003)
Military service age and obligation: 20 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 20-49: 2,441,741 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 20-49: 2,035,431 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 108,817 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$356 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.5% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Tunisia
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Turkey
Introduction Turkey
Background:Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants ofthe defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who waslater honored with the title Ataturk, or "Father of the Turks."Under his authoritarian leadership, the country adopted wide-rangingsocial, legal, and political reforms. After a period of one-partyrule, an experiment with multi-party politics led to the 1950election victory of the opposition Democratic Party and the peacefultransfer of power. Since then, Turkish political parties havemultiplied, but democracy has been fractured by periods ofinstability and intermittent military coups (1960, 1971, 1980),which in each case eventually resulted in a return of politicalpower to civilians. In 1997, the military again helped engineer theouster - popularly dubbed a "post-modern coup" - of the thenIslamic-oriented government. Turkey intervened militarily on Cyprusin 1974 to prevent a Greek takeover of the island and has sinceacted as patron state to the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,"which only Turkey recognizes. A separatist insurgency begun in 1984by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - now known as the People'sCongress of Kurdistan or Kongra-Gel (KGK) - has dominated theTurkish military's attention and claimed more than 30,000 lives, butafter the capture of the group's leader in 1999, the insurgentslargely withdrew from Turkey, mainly to northern Iraq. In 2004, KGKannounced an end to its ceasefire and attacks attributed to the KGKincreased. Turkey joined the UN in 1945 and in 1952 it became amember of NATO. In 1964, Turkey became an associate member of theEuropean Community; over the past decade, it has undertaken manyreforms to strengthen its democracy and economy, enabling it tobegin accession membership talks with the European Union.
Geography Turkey
Location:southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia (that portion of Turkeywest of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), borderingthe Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering theAegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria
Geographic coordinates:39 00 N, 35 00 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 780,580 sq kmland: 770,760 sq kmwater: 9,820 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries:total: 2,648 kmborder countries: Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km,Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 352 km, Syria 822 km
Coastline:7,200 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 6 nm in the Aegean Sea; 12 nm in Black Sea and inMediterranean Seaexclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only: to the maritime boundaryagreed upon with the former USSR
Climate:temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher ininterior
Terrain:high central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; severalmountain ranges
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 mhighest point: Mount Ararat 5,166 m
Natural resources:coal, iron ore, copper, chromium, antimony, mercury, gold, barite,borate, celestite (strontium), emery, feldspar, limestone,magnesite, marble, perlite, pumice, pyrites (sulfur), clay, arableland, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 30.93% permanent crops: 3.31% other: 65.76% (2001)
Irrigated land:42,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:very severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along anarc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van
Environment - current issues: water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, OzoneLayer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Seaof Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas; MountArarat, the legendary landing place of Noah's Ark, is in the fareastern portion of the country
People Turkey
Population:69,660,559 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 26% (male 9,232,439/female 8,897,135)15-64 years: 67.3% (male 23,806,367/female 23,053,536)65 years and over: 6.7% (male 2,140,242/female 2,530,840) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 27.7 yearsmale: 27.52 yearsfemale: 27.89 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.09% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:16.83 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:5.96 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 41.04 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 44.68 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 37.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.36 yearsmale: 69.94 yearsfemale: 74.91 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.94 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% - note - no country specific models provided (2001est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Turk(s)adjective: Turkish
Ethnic groups:Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20% (estimated)
Religions:Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)
Languages:Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic, Armenian, Greek
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 86.5%male: 94.3%female: 78.7% (2003 est.)
Government Turkey
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Turkeyconventional short form: Turkeylocal long form: Turkiye Cumhuriyetilocal short form: Turkiye
Government type:republican parliamentary democracy
Capital:Ankara
Administrative divisions:81 provinces (iller, singular - il); Adana, Adiyaman,Afyonkarahisar, Agri, Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya, Ardahan,Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir, Bartin, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik, Bingol,Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur, Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum, Denizli,Diyarbakir, Duzce, Edirne, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir,Gaziantep, Giresun, Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Igdir, Isparta,Istanbul, Izmir, Kahramanmaras, Karabuk, Karaman, Kars, Kastamonu,Kayseri, Kilis, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kocaeli, Konya,Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mersin, Mugla, Mus, Nevsehir,Nigde, Ordu, Osmaniye, Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanliurfa, Siirt,Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon, Tunceli, Usak, Van,Yalova, Yozgat, Zonguldak
Independence:29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:Republic Day, 29 October (1923)
Constitution:7 November 1982
Legal system:civil law system derived from various European continental legalsystems; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations;note - member of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), althoughTurkey claims limited derogations on the ratified EuropeanConvention on Human Rights