Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya. Geography:  strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration. Area: total: 163,610 sq km, land: 155,360 sq km, water: 8,250 sq km. Capital: Tunis. Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages. Languages: Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce). National Holiday: Independence Day, 20 March (1956); also the anniversary of BEN ALI's assumption of the presidency, 7 November (1987) , Currency (Code):  Tunisian dinar (TND).

Population:  10,589,025 (July 2010 est.) Labor force:  3.83 million (2009 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity):
•   $100.3 billion (2010 est.)
•   $97.03 billion (2009 est.)
•   $94.22 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
•   3.4% (2010 est.)
•   3% (2009 est.)
•   4.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
•   $9,500 (2010 est.)
•   $9,300 (2009 est.)
•   $9,100 (2008 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):  26.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
Budget:
•   revenues: $9.806 billion
•   expenditures: $11.76 billion (2009 est.)
Public debt:
•   49.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
•   47.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
Exports:
•   $16.11 billion (2010 est.)
•   $14.42 billion (2009 est.)
Imports:
•   $20.02 billion (2010 est.)
•   $18.12 billion (2009 est.)
Debt - external:
•   $18.76 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
•   $19.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Military expenditures: 1.4% of GDP (2006)
Aircraft Departures: 19,400

Airports: 32
Airports - with paved runways:  16
•   over 3,047 m: 4
•   2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
•   1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
•   914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2010)
    Airports - with unpaved runways:  16
•   1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
•   914 to 1,523 m: 7
•   under 914 m: 7 (2010)

Note: figures are in US dollars
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