Republic of Tunisia National name: Al-Joumhouria Attunisia Government: Republic. Geography: Tunisia, at the northernmost bulge of Africa, thrusts out toward Sicily to mark the division between the eastern and western Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered on the west by Algeria and by Libya on the south. Coastal plains on the east rise to a north-south escarpment that slopes gently to the west. The Sahara Desert lies in the southernmost part. Tunisia is more mountainous in the north, where the Atlas range continues from Algeria. Area: 63,170 sq mi (163,610 sq km) Population (2003 est.): 9,924,742 (growth rate: 1.2%); birth rate: 16.5/1000; infant mortality rate: 26.9/1000; density per sq mi: 157 Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Tunis, 1,660,300 (metro. area), 699,700 (city proper) Monetary unit: Tunisian dinar Languages: Arabic (official), French Ethnicity/race: Arab-Berber 98%, European 1%, Jewish less than 1% Religions: Islam (Sunni) 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish, less than 1% Agriculture: 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. Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt.

LINKS >> TUNISIA TV TUNISIA RADIO Tunisian Scientific Consortium Tunisian national Tourism Office Permanent Mission of Tunisia to the United Nations in New York