TUNISIA
(Republic of Tunisia)

Place: North Africa bordering on the Mediterranean Sea between Algeria and Libya.
Area: 163 610 sq.km. (63 378 quarter. Miles), it is a little less, than in Missouri.
Cities: Capital Tunisia; Big Tunisia, Sfax, Nabel, Sousse.

Landscape: The arable land in the North and along the central coast; South generally semi-droughty or desert.
Climate: hot, dry summer and soft, rainy winters.
Land use: arable lands, 17,05%; constant cultures, 13,08%; others - 69,87%.

Nationality: a noun and an adjective - Tunisian (and).
Population: (2006) of 10 216 000 people.

Annual growth rates: (2005) 1.12%. Birth rate - 17,1 been born / 1000 people. Mortality - 5,17 death / 1 000 people.
Ethnic groups: the Arab - Berber 98%, the European 1%, other 1%.

Religions: Muslims of 98%, Christian 1%, Jews - less than 1%.
Languages: Arab (official), French.

Education: Years obligatory - 9. Literacy (definition of 15 years is also more senior can read and write)-74% (assessment of 2006).
Health: (2006) Coefficient of infantile mortality - 20,3 death / 1000 live births. The expected life expectancy - 73,5, men - 71,6 years, women of 75,5 years.

Labor: (2006) 3,503 million People.
Unemployment rate: (2006) of 13,9%.

Type: Republic.
Constitution: June 1, 1959; with amendments of July 12, 1988, on June 29, 1999 and on June 1, 2002.
Independence: March 20, 1956.

Public authorities: the executive director of the state president Zine El Abidin BEN ALI (since November 7, 1987), the head of the government, the prime minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI (since November 17, 1999), the cabinet appointed by the president; the president is elected by national vote for 5-year term; elections took place on October 24, 2004 (following in October, 2009); the prime minister appointed the president. Results of elections: the president Zine El Abidin Ben Ali is re-elected for the fourth term; opposition candidates: Mohamed Bushikha (PUP), Mohamed Ali Et-Tajdid and Moneer Bedzhi (PSL); percent of votes - Zine El Abidin Ben Ali of 94,49% (officially). Legislative and two-chamber.

The Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuvaab (189 places, 5-year terms, 152 places are chosen national vote for party lists on the basis of the winner). 37 more places (20% of total number) are distributed to opposition parties in proportion as it is provided in the constitutional amendments of 1999. Elections took place on October 24, 2004 (following in October, 2009). Results of elections: percent of votes from party - OUZO of 92%; places in party-RCD 152, MDS 14, PUP 11, UDU 7, Et-Tajdid 3, PSL 2. Note: the opposition increased the number of places with 34 to 37. On a referendum in 2002 the second chamber was created, Chamber of advisers, Elections to Chamber of advisers were held in July, 2005. Judicial and independent district courts, Courts of Appeal, the Supreme court (Kur de Cassation). Judges of the Supreme court are appointed the President.