School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
4.2% of GDP (2002) country comparison to the world: 100
People - note:
in 2007, the government of Trinidad and Tobago estimated the population to be 1.3 million
Government ::Trinidad and Tobago
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Port-of-Spain
geographic coordinates: 10 39 N, 61 31 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 regional corporations, 2 city corporations, 3 borough corporations, 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, Chaguanas, Point Fortin
ward: Tobago
Independence:
31 August 1962 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
Constitution:
1 August 1976
Legal system:
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the 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 March 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Patrick MANNING (since 24 December 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament
elections: president elected by an electoral college, which consists of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 February 2008 (next to be held by February 2013); the president usually appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives
election results: George Maxwell RICHARDS reelected president; percent of electoral college vote - NA
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (31 seats; 16 members appointed by the ruling party, 9 by the President, 6 by the opposition party to serve a maximum term of five years) and the House of Representatives (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held on 5 November 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - PNM 46%, UNC 29.7%; seats by party - PNM 26, UNC 15
note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly with 12 members serving four-year terms; last election held in January 2005; seats by party - PNM 11, DAC 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Judicature (comprised of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeals; the chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission); the highest court of appeal is the Privy Council in London; member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)
Political parties and leaders:
Congress of the People [Winston DOOKERAN]; Democratic ActionCongress or DAC [Hochoy CHARLES] (only active in Tobago); DemocraticNational Alliance or DNA [Gerald YETMING] (coalition of NAR, DDPT,MND); Movement for National Development or MND [Garvin NICHOLAS];National Alliance for Reconstruction or NAR [Dr. Carson CHARLES];People's National Movement or PNM [Patrick MANNING]; United NationalCongress or UNC [Basdeo PANDAY]
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, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO,ITU, ITUC, 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 Glenda MOREAN-PHILLIP
chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roy L. AUSTIN
embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain
mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain
telephone: [1] (868) 622-6371 through 6376
Flag description:
red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side to the lower fly side
Economy ::Trinidad and Tobago
Economy - overview:
Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as an excellent investment site for international businesses and has one of the highest growth rates and per capita incomes in Latin America. Economic growth for the past seven years has averaged slightly over 8%, significantly above the regional average of about 3.7% for that same period; however, it has slowed down this year to about 5% and is expected to slow further with the global downturn. Growth has been fueled by investments in liquefied natural gas (LNG), petrochemicals, and steel. Additional petrochemical, aluminum, and plastics projects are in various stages of planning. Trinidad and Tobago is the leading Caribbean producer of oil and gas, and its economy is heavily dependent upon these resources but it also supplies manufactured goods, notably food and beverages, as well as cement to the Caribbean region. Oil and gas account for about 40% of GDP and 80% of exports, but only 5% of employment. The country is also a regional financial center, and tourism is a growing sector, although it is not proportionately as important as in many other Caribbean islands. The economy benefits from a growing trade surplus. The MANNING administration has benefited from fiscal surpluses fueled by the dynamic export sector; however, declines in oil and gas prices have reduced government revenues which will challenge his government's commitment to maintaining high levels of public investment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$29.09 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 107 $28.11 billion (2007 est.)
$26.65 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$25.93 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 5.5% (2007 est.)
12.1% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$23,600 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 $22,800 (2007 est.)
$21,600 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.5%
industry: 62.3%
services: 37.2% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
620,800 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 3.8%, manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 12.8%, construction and utilities 20.4%, services 62.9% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 4.5% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
17% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
16.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 133
Budget:
revenues: $7.421 billion
expenditures: $7.141 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
26.6% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 54.4% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 169 7.9% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
10.75% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 40 10% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.44% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 70 11.75% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$2.39 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 67 $2.646 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$3.506 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 78 $5.707 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.423 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 87 $3.73 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$12.16 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 70 $15.61 billion (31 December 2007)
$15.57 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
cocoa, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry
Industries:
petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement, beverage, cotton textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
4.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 65
Electricity - production:
7.202 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 101
Electricity - consumption:
7.034 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 97
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
163,300 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 43
Oil - consumption:
41,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 101
Oil - exports:
248,300 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
Oil - imports:
92,480 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Oil - proved reserves:
728.3 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 41
Natural gas - production:
39.3 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
Natural gas - consumption:
21.94 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 33
Natural gas - exports:
17.36 billion cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 13
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 129
Natural gas - proved reserves:
531.5 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 31
Current account balance:
$5.401 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 $5.364 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$15.85 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 $13.39 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, cereal and cereal products, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus fruit, vegetables, flowers
Exports - partners:
US 44.5%, Spain 7.8%, Jamaica 6.9%, Netherlands 6.9%, Mexico 4.9% (2008)
Imports:
$9.788 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 $7.67 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral fuels, lubricants, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals, live animals
Imports - partners:
US 26.8%, Brazil 9.8%, Venezuela 7.9%, Colombia 6.2%, China 4.1%,Gabon 4% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$9.496 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 $6.745 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.289 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 117 $2.869 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$102 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 35 $12.44 billion (2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$3.829 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 60
Exchange rates:
Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar - 6.2896 (2008 est.), 6.3275 (2007), 6.3107 (2006), 6.2842 (2005), 6.299 (2004)
Communications ::Trinidad and Tobago
Telephones - main lines in use:
307,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 115
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.505 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 132
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent international service; good local service
domestic: mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 175 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-868; submarine cable systems provide connectivity to US and parts of the Caribbean and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 18, shortwave 0 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
6 (2005)
Internet country code:
.tt
Internet hosts:
162,849 (2009) country comparison to the world: 67
Internet users:
227,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 132
Transportation ::Trinidad and Tobago
Airports:
6 (2009) country comparison to the world: 175
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 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 659 km; oil 336 km (2008)
Roadways:
total: 8,320 km country comparison to the world: 139 paved: 4,252 km
unpaved: 4,068 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 9 country comparison to the world: 118 by type: passenger 2, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 1 (US 1)
registered in other countries: 2 (Bahamas 1, unknown 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port-of-Spain
Military ::Trinidad and Tobago
Military branches:
Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF): Trinidad and Tobago Army,Coast Guard, Air Guard, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (16 years of age with parental consent); no conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 301,561
females age 16-49: 264,225 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 276,224
females age 16-49: 271,677 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 9,183
female: 8,662 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 169
Transnational Issues ::Trinidad and Tobago
Disputes - international:
in April 2006, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a decision that delimited a maritime boundary with Trinidad and Tobago and compelled Barbados to enter a fishing agreement that limited Barbadian fishermen's catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's exclusive economic zone; in 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to compulsory international arbitration under UNCLOS challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's and Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters; Guyana has also expressed its intention to include itself in the arbitration as the Trinidad and Tobago-Venezuela maritime boundary may extend into its waters as well
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; producer of cannabis
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Tunisia (Africa)
Introduction ::Tunisia
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 fourth consecutive five-year term as president; the next elections are scheduled for October 2009. 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.
Geography ::Tunisia
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 163,610 sq km country comparison to the world: 92 land: 155,360 sq km
water: 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 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 12 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 merges into the Sahara
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Land use:
arable land: 17.05%
permanent crops: 13.08%
other: 69.87% (2005)
Irrigated land:
3,940 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
4.6 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.64 cu km/yr (14%/4%/82%)
per capita: 261 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
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-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, 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 are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
People ::Tunisia
Population:
10,486,339 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 76
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.7% (male 1,227,238/female 1,149,796)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 3,701,661/female 3,652,322)
65 years and over: 7.2% (male 352,003/female 403,319) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.2 years
male: 28.7 years
female: 29.8 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.98% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 127
Birth rate:
15.42 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Death rate:
5.2 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 183
Net migration rate:
-0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 107
Urbanization:
urban population: 67% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 22.57 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 98 male: 24.81 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.78 years country comparison to the world: 72 male: 73.98 years
female: 77.7 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.72 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 168
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 135
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,700 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 116
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 write
total population: 74.3%
male: 83.4%
female: 65.3% (2004 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
7.3% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 19
Government ::Tunisia
Country name:
conventional long form: Tunisian Republic
conventional short form: Tunisia
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
local short form: Tunis
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Tunis
geographic coordinates: 36 48 N, 10 11 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
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); also the anniversary of BEN ALI's assumption of the presidency, 7 November (1987)
Constitution:
1 June 1959; amended 1988, 2002
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
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
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November 1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI (since 17 November 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 25 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected for a fifth term; percent of vote - Zine El Abidine BEN ALI 89.6%, Mohamed BOUCHIHA 5%, Ahmed INOUBLI 3.8%, Ahmed BRAHIM 1.6%; voter turnout 89.4%
Legislative branch:
bicameral system consists of the Chamber of Advisors (126 seats; 85 members elected by municipal counselors, deputies, mayors, and professional associations and trade unions; 41 members are presidential appointees; members serve six-year terms); and the Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (214 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Advisors - last held on 3 July 2005 (next to be held in July 2011); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 25 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014);
election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RCD 161, MDS 16, PUP 12, UDU 9, PSL 8, PVP 6, Et-Tajdid 2; voter turnout 89.4%
Judicial branch:
Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation
Political parties and leaders:
Al-Tajdid Movement [Ahmed IBRAHIM]; Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD (official ruling party) [President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI]; Democratic Forum for Labor and Liberties or FDTL [Mustapha Ben JAFAAR]; Green Party for Progress or PVP [Mongi KHAMASSI]; Liberal Social Party or PSL [Mondher THABET]; Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS [Ismail BOULAHYA]; Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed BOUCHIHA]; Progressive Democratic Party [Maya JERIBI]; Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Ahmed INOUBLI]; note - the Islamist party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is outlawed
Political pressure groups and leaders:
18 October Group [collective leadership]; Tunisian League for Human Rights or LTDH [Mokhtar TRIFI]
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA,MONUC, NAM, OAPEC (suspended), OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE(partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Habib MANSOUR
chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert F. GODEC
embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis 1053
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [216] 71 107-000
Flag description:
red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam
Economy ::Tunisia
Economy - overview:
Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control of economic affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened over the past decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the tax structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Progressive social policies also have helped raise living conditions in Tunisia relative to the region. Real growth, which averaged almost 5% over the past decade, declined to 4.7% in 2008 and probably will decline further in 2009 because of economic contraction and slowing of import demand in Europe - Tunisia's largest export market. However, development of non-textile manufacturing, a recovery in agricultural production, and strong growth in the services sector somewhat mitigated the economic effect of slowing exports. Tunisia will need to reach even higher growth levels to create sufficient employment opportunities for an already large number of unemployed as well as the growing population of university graduates. The challenges ahead include: privatizing industry, liberalizing the investment code to increase foreign investment, improving government efficiency, reducing the trade deficit, and reducing socioeconomic disparities in the impoverished south and west.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$81.98 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 $78.53 billion (2007 est.)
$73.67 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$40.84 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 6.6% (2007 est.)
5.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,900 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $7,600 (2007 est.)
$7,200 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.5%
industry: 37%
services: 52.5% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
3.66 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 92
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 55%
industry: 23%
services: 22% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 150 14.1% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
7.4% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 31.5% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 41.7 (1995 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.8% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 86
Budget:
revenues: $9.843 billion
expenditures: $11.3 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
48.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 41 59.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 3.1% (2007 est.)
Stock of money:
$9.892 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 44 $9.491 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$14.72 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 46 $13.56 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$26.5 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 55 $25.23 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$6.374 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 86 $5.355 billion (31 December 2007)
$4.446 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
olives, olive oil, grain, tomatoes, citrus fruit, sugar beets, dates, almonds; beef, dairy products
Industries:
petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
2.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
Electricity - production:
13.79 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 82
Electricity - consumption:
11.9 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
Electricity - exports:
130 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
145 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
86,930 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53
Oil - consumption:
90,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 79
Oil - exports:
77,130 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 70
Oil - imports:
87,300 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 70
Oil - proved reserves:
425 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 49
Natural gas - production:
2.97 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 54
Natural gas - consumption:
4.22 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 63
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 101
Natural gas - imports:
1.25 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53
Natural gas - proved reserves:
65.13 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 59
Current account balance:
-$1.667 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 -$904 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$19.22 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 73 $15.15 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons, electrical equipment
Exports - partners:
France 28.3%, Italy 17.9%, Germany 9.6%, Libya 5.8%, Spain 5% (2008)
Imports:
$23.23 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 $18.02 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
France 21.5%, Italy 19.3%, Germany 9%, Libya 4.6%, Spain 4.5% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$8.853 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 $7.854 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$20.81 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 71 $20.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$28.67 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 $26.22 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$162 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 $118 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar - 1.211 (2008 est.), 1.2776 (2007), 1.331 (2006), 1.2974 (2005), 1.2455 (2004)
Communications ::Tunisia
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.239 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 70
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8.569 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 67
Telephone system:
general assessment: above the African average and continuing to be upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; Internet access available
domestic: in an effort jumpstart expansion of the fixed-line network, the government has awarded a concession to build and operate a VSAT network with international connectivity; competition between the two mobile-cellular service providers has resulted in lower activation and usage charges and a strong surge in subscribership; expansion of mobile-cellular services to include multimedia messaging and e-mail and Internet to mobile phone services also leading to a surge in subscribership; overall fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 95 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 216; a landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel; 2 international gateway digital switches
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 38, shortwave 2 (2007)
Television broadcast stations:
26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)
Internet country code:
.tn
Internet hosts:
406 (2009) country comparison to the world: 175
Internet users:
2.8 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 62
Transportation ::Tunisia
Airports:
32 (2009) country comparison to the world: 114
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 7 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 2,102 km; oil 1,195 km; refined products 372 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 2,159 km country comparison to the world: 69 standard gauge: 471 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,688 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 19,232 km country comparison to the world: 112 paved: 12,655 km (includes 262 km of expressways)
unpaved: 6,577 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
total: 7 country comparison to the world: 126 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 4
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Rades, Sfax, Skhira
Military ::Tunisia
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Republic of Tunisia Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah At'tunisia) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
20 years of age for compulsory military service, 18 years of age for voluntary military service; 1-year conscript service obligation (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,992,249
females age 16-49: 2,912,819 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,569,403
females age 16-49: 2,489,651 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 100,478
female: 94,055 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.4% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 114
Transnational Issues ::Tunisia
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on November 11, 2009
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@Turkey (Middle East)
Introduction ::Turkey
Background:
Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who was later honored with the title Ataturk or "Father of the Turks." Under his authoritarian leadership, the country adopted wide-ranging social, legal, and political reforms. After a period of one-party rule, an experiment with multi-party politics led to the 1950 election victory of the opposition Democratic Party and the peaceful transfer of power. Since then, Turkish political parties have multiplied, but democracy has been fractured by periods of instability and intermittent military coups (1960, 1971, 1980), which in each case eventually resulted in a return of political power to civilians. In 1997, the military again helped engineer the ouster - popularly dubbed a "post-modern coup" - of the then Islamic-oriented government. Turkey intervened militarily on Cyprus in 1974 to prevent a Greek takeover of the island and has since acted as patron state to the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which only Turkey recognizes. A separatist insurgency begun in 1984 by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - now known as the People's Congress of Kurdistan or Kongra-Gel (KGK) - has dominated the Turkish military's attention and claimed more than 30,000 lives. After the capture of the group's leader in 1999, the insurgents largely withdrew from Turkey mainly to northern Iraq. In 2004, KGK announced an end to its ceasefire and attacks attributed to the KGK increased. Turkey joined the UN in 1945 and in 1952 it became a member of NATO; it holds a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council from 2009-10. In 1964, Turkey became an associate member of the European Community. Over the past decade, it has undertaken many reforms to strengthen its democracy and economy; it began accession membership talks with the European Union in 2005.