Tunisia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tunisia is the northernmost country in Africa and, at almost 165,000 square kilometres (64,000 sq mi) in area, the smallest country in the Maghreb region of North Africa.
It is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east.
As of 2013, its population is estimated at just under 10.8 million.
Its name is derived from its capital city, Tunis, located on the country's northeast coast.
Geographically, Tunisia contains the eastern end of the Atlas Mountains and the northern reaches of the Sahara desert. Much of the rest of the country's land is fertile soil.
Its 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) of coastline includes the African conjunction of the western and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Basin and, by means of the Sicilian Strait and Sardinian Channel, features the African mainland's second and third nearest points to Europe after Gibraltar.
Tunisia has an association agreement with the European Union and is a member of La Francophonie, the Arab Maghreb Union, the Arab League and the African Union.
Close relations with Europe - in particular, with France - have been forged through economic cooperation, privatisation and industrial modernization.
In 2011, a revolution resulted in the overthrow of the autocratic President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali followed by the country's first free elections.
Since then, Tunisia has been consolidating its young democracy.
Tunisian Republic - al-Jumhūriyyah at-Tūnisiyyah
Motto: "Ḥurriyyah, Niẓām, ‘Adālah" - "Liberty, Order, Justice"
Anthem: Humat al-Hima - Defenders
Capital and largest city: Tunis (36°50′N 10°9′E)
Official languages: Arabic
Spoken languages:
• Tunisian
• Arabic
• French
• Berber
Ethnic groups (2003):
• 97% Arab-Berber
• 3% others
Demonym: Tunisian
Government: Unitary semi-presidential republic
• President
• Prime Minister
Legislature: Constituent Assembly
Formation: Husainid Dynasty inaugurated: 15 July 1705
Independence from France: 20 March 1956
Republic declared: 25 July 1957
Revolution Day: 14 January 2011
Area:
• Total: 163,610 km2 (93rd) - 63,170 sq mi
• Water (%): 5.0
Population: 2012 estimate 10,777,500[3] (77th)
Density: 63/km2 (133rd) - 163/sq mi
GDP (PPP): 2012 estimate
• Total: $105.347 billion
• Per capita: $9,774
Currency: Tunisian dinar (TND)
Time zone: CET (UTC+1)
Drives on the right
Calling code: +216
ISO 3166 code: TN
Internet TLD: .tn