Find freelancers in tunisia

City List

Search for your next freelancer or independent contractor by city from Tunisia country. Upfreelance.com searches the Internet for software developers, Internet developers, website designers, marketing consultants and sales and marketing that are available to work on your project.

Cities

Introduction
Geography
People & Society
Goverment
Economy
Energy
Communications
Transportation
Military
Transnational issues

Tunisia

(CONTAIN DESCRIPTION)

CLICK MAP TO ENLARGE

Introduction ::Tunisia

Background:

Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.

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. Street protests that began in Tunis in December 2010 over high unemployment, corruption, widespread poverty, and high food prices escalated in January 2011, culminating in rioting that led to hundreds of deaths. On 14 January 2011, the same day BEN ALI dismissed the government, he fled the country, and by late January 2011, a "national unity government" was formed. Elections for the new Constituent Assembly were held in late October 2011, and in December, it elected human rights activist Moncef MARZOUKI as interim president. The Assembly began drafting a new constitution in February 2012, and released a second working draft in December 2012. The interim government has proposed presidential and parliamentary elections be held in 2013.

Geography ::Tunisia

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya

Geographic coordinates:

34 00 N, 9 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 163,610 sq km

country comparison to the world: 93

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: 17.35%

permanent crops: 14.63%

other: 68.02% (2011)

Irrigated land:

3,970 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

4.595 cu km (2011)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.85 cu km/yr (14%/4%/82%)

per capita: 295.8 cu m/yr (2001)

Natural hazards:

Environment - current issues:

toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural freshwater resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, 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 and Society ::Tunisia

Nationality:

noun: Tunisian(s)

adjective: Tunisian

Ethnic groups:

Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%

Languages:

Arabic (official, one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce), Berber (Tamazight)

Religions:

Muslim (Islam - official) 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%

Population:

10,835,873 (July 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 79

Age structure:

0-14 years: 23% (male 1,286,781/female 1,206,678)

15-24 years: 16.5% (male 899,534/female 890,909)

25-54 years: 44.7% (male 2,356,154/female 2,484,023)

55-64 years: 8.1% (male 442,983/female 429,767)

65 years and over: 7.7% (male 411,590/female 427,454) (2013 est.)

population pyramid:

Median age:

total: 30.5 years

male: 30.1 years

female: 30.9 years (2012 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.964% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 118

Birth rate:

17.28 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 116

Death rate:

5.87 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 169

Net migration rate:

-1.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 159

Urbanization:

urban population: 67% of total population (2010)

rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities - population:

TUNIS (capital) 759,000 (2009)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate:

56 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

country comparison to the world: 103

Infant mortality rate:

total: 24.98 deaths/1,000 live births

country comparison to the world: 79

male: 28.58 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 21.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.24 years

country comparison to the world: 91

male: 73.2 years

female: 77.42 years (2012 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.01 children born/woman (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 127

Health expenditures:

6.2% of GDP (2010)

country comparison to the world: 102

Physicians density:

1.19 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Hospital bed density:

2.1 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Drinking water source:

improved:

urban: 99% of population

rural: 84% of population

total: 94% of population

unimproved:

urban: 1% of population

rural: 16% of population

total: 6% of population (2008 est.)

Sanitation facility access:

improved:

urban: 96% of population

rural: 64% of population

total: 85% of population

unimproved:

urban: 4% of population

rural: 36% of population

total: 15% of population (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 158

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,400 (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 133

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 135

Children under the age of 5 years underweight:

3.3% (2006)

country comparison to the world: 109

Education expenditures:

6.2% of GDP (2010)

country comparison to the world: 35

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: 15 years

male: 14 years

female: 15 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:

total: 30.7%

country comparison to the world: 18

male: 31.4%

female: 29.3% (2005)

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)

Administrative divisions:

24 governorates (wilayat, singular - wilayah); 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); Revolution and Youth Day, 14 January (2011)

Constitution:

1 June 1959; amended 1988, 2002; note - the Constituent Assembly formed in October 2011 following the country's political revolution was charged with writing a new constitution

Legal system:

mixed legal system of civil law, based on the French civil code, and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session

International law organization participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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:

note: Tunisia's interim government was appointed in December 2011 and will remain in power pending drafting of a new constitution and holding of general elections in 2013

chief of state: Interim President Moncef MARZOUKI (since 12 December 2011)

head of government: Prime Minister Ali LARAYEDH (since 27 February 2013)

cabinet: Prime Minister-Designate Ali LARAYEDH was asked to form a new government in early March 2013

(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window

)

elections: president elected by Constituent Assembly; election last held on 12 December 2011(next to be held in 2013); prime minister appointed by the president

election results: President MARZOUKI elected by Constituent Assembly with 153 of 156 votes

Legislative branch:

unicameral Constituent Assembly (217 seats); note - it is unclear as to the legislative role of the Constituent Assembly

elections: initial election of 217 Constituent Assembly members held on 23 October 2011 (next to be held in 2013)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - al-Nahda 89, CPR 29, Popular Petition 26, FDTL 20, PDP 16, PDM 5, The Initiative 5, Afek Tounes 4, PCOT 3, other minor parties each with fewer than three seats 20

Judicial branch:

Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation

Political parties and leaders:

Afek Tounes [Emna MINF]; Alliance for Tunisia (a coalition of Tunisia's Call [Beji Caid ESSEBSI], Republicsn Party {Maya JRIBI and Najib CHBBI],Democratic Path [Ahmed BRAHIM]); al-Nahda (The Renaissance) [Rachid GHANNOUCHI]; Congress Party for the Republic or CPR [Moncef MARZOUKI]; Democratic Forum for Labor and Liberties or FDTL (Ettakatol) [Mustapha Ben JAAFAR]; Democratic Modernist Pole or PDM (a coalition); Democratic Socialist Movement or MDS; Et-Tajdid Movement [Ahmed IBRAHIM]; Green Party for Progress or PVP [Mongi KHAMASSI]; Liberal Social Party or PSL [Mondher THABET]; Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS [Ismail BOULAHYA]; Popular Petition (Aridha Chaabia) [Hachemi HAMDI]; Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed BOUCHIHA]; Progressive Democratic Party or PDP [Maya JERIBI]; The Initiative [Kamel MORJANE] (formerly the Constitutional Democratic Rally or RCD); Tunisian Workers' Communist Party or PCOT [Hamma HAMMAMI]; Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Ahmed INOUBLI]

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), CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador-Designate Mokhtar CHAOUACHI

chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005

telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850

FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jacob WALLES

embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis 1053

mailing address: use embassy street address

telephone: [216] 71 107-000

FAX: [216] 71 963-263

Flag description:

red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; resembles the Ottoman flag (red banner with white crescent and star) and recalls Tunisia's history as part of the Ottoman Empire; red represents the blood shed by martyrs in the struggle against oppression, white stands for peace; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam

note: the flag is based on that of Turkey, itself a successor state to the Ottoman Empire

National symbol(s):

encircled red star and crescent

National anthem:

name: "Humat Al Hima" (Defenders of the Homeland)

lyrics/music: Mustafa Sadik AL-RAFII and Aboul-Qacem ECHEBBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB

note: adopted 1957, replaced 1958, restored 1987; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of the United Arab Emirates

Economy ::Tunisia

Economy - overview:

Tunisia's diverse, market-oriented economy has long been cited as a success story in Africa and the Middle East, but it faces an array of challenges during the country's ongoing political transition. Following an ill-fated experiment with socialist economic policies in the 1960s, Tunisia embarked on a successful strategy focused on bolstering exports, foreign investment, and tourism, all of which have become central to the country's economy. Key exports now include textiles and apparel, food products, petroleum products, chemicals, and phosphates, with about 80% of exports bound for Tunisia's main economic partner, the European Union. Tunisia's liberal strategy, coupled with investments in education and infrastructure, fueled decades of 4-5% annual GDP growth and improving living standards. Former President (1987-2011) Zine el Abidine BEN ALI continued these policies, but as his reign wore on cronyism and corruption stymied economic performance and unemployment rose among the country's growing ranks of university graduates. These grievances contributed to the January 2011 overthrow of BEN ALI, sending Tunisia's economy into a tailspin as tourism and investment declined sharply. As the economy recovers, Tunisia's government faces challenges reassuring businesses and investors, bringing budget and current account deficits under control, shoring up the country's financial system, bringing down high unemployment, and reducing economic disparities between the more developed coastal region and the impoverished interior.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$104.4 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 71

$101.7 billion (2011 est.)

$103.5 billion (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$44.7 billion (2012 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.7% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 118

-1.8% (2011 est.)

3.1% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$9,700 (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 118

$9,500 (2011 est.)

$9,800 (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8.9%

industry: 29.6%

services: 61.5% (2012 est.)

Labor force:

4.014 million (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 91

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 18.3%

industry: 31.9%

services: 49.8% (2009 est.)

Unemployment rate:

18.8% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 157

19% (2011 est.)

Population below poverty line:

3.8% (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: 61

41.7 (1995 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 64

Budget:

revenues: $10.63 billion

expenditures: $14.43 billion (2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues:

23.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 132

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

-8.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 201

Public debt:

52.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 58

45.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.9% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 156

3.5% (2011 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

5.75% (31 December 2010 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7.31% (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 133

6.76% (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$13.83 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 71

$13.16 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money:

$31.06 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 75

$29.5 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$37.01 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 69

$34.2 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$9.662 billion (31 December 2011)

country comparison to the world: 72

$10.68 billion (31 December 2010)

$9.12 billion (31 December 2009)

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:

-6.4% (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 165

Current account balance:

-$3.57 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 152

-$3.331 billion (2011 est.)

Exports:

$17.87 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 77

$17.61 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities:

clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons, electrical equipment

Exports - partners:

France 29.5%, Italy 19.3%, Germany 10.3%, Libya 6.6% (2011)

Imports:

$23.49 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 71

$22.95 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities:

textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

France 21.1%, Italy 17.6%, Germany 8.9%, Spain 5%, China 4.7%, Russia 4.5% (2011)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$7.424 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 79

$7.357 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Debt - external:

$24.49 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 75

$23.18 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$33.66 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 59

$32.55 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$345 million (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 80

$310 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Exchange rates:

Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar -

1.563 (2012 est.)

1.4078 (2011 est.)

1.4314 (2010 est.)

1.3503 (2009)

1.211 (2008)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Energy ::Tunisia

Electricity - production:

14.76 billion kWh (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 85

Electricity - consumption:

12.75 billion kWh (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 82

Electricity - exports:

81 million kWh (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 75

Electricity - imports:

122 million kWh (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 91

Electricity - installed generating capacity:

3.648 million kW (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 82

Electricity - from fossil fuels:

96.9% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 64

Electricity - from nuclear fuels:

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 189

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:

1.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 140

Electricity - from other renewable sources:

1.4% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 68

Crude oil - production:

70,480 bbl/day (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 55

Crude oil - exports:

65,960 bbl/day (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 43

Crude oil - imports:

24,580 bbl/day (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 68

Crude oil - proved reserves:

425 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 54

Refined petroleum products - production:

36,670 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 90

Refined petroleum products - consumption:

88,380 bbl/day (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 83

Refined petroleum products - exports:

15,270 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 80

Refined petroleum products - imports:

74,600 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 55

Natural gas - production:

2.03 billion cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 57

Natural gas - consumption:

3.28 billion cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 72

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 193

Natural gas - imports:

1.25 billion cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 55

Natural gas - proved reserves:

65.13 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 63

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:

18.72 million Mt (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 86

Communications ::Tunisia

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.218 million (2011)

country comparison to the world: 69

Telephones - mobile cellular:

12.388 million (2011)

country comparison to the world: 63

Telephone system:

general assessment: above the African average and continuing to be upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; telephone network is completely digitized; Internet access available throughout the country

domestic: in an effort to jumpstart expansion of the fixed-line network, the government has awarded a concession to build and operate a VSAT network with international connectivity; rural areas are served by wireless local loops; competition between the two mobile-cellular service providers has resulted in lower activation and usage charges and a strong surge in subscribership; a third mobile, fixed, and ISP operator was licensed in 2009 and began offering services in 2010; 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 has reached about 125 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 (2011)

Broadcast media:

broadcast media is mainly government-controlled; the state-run Tunisian Radio and Television Establishment (ERTT) operates 2 national TV networks, several national radio networks, and a number of regional radio stations; 1 TV and 3 radio stations are privately owned and report domestic news stories directly from the official Tunisian news agency; the state retains control of broadcast facilities and transmitters through L'Office National de la Telediffusion; Tunisians also have access to Egyptian, pan-Arab, and European satellite TV channels (2007)

Internet country code:

.tn

Internet hosts:

576 (2012)

country comparison to the world: 180

Internet users:

3.5 million (2009)

country comparison to the world: 60

Transportation ::Tunisia

Airports:

29 (2012)

country comparison to the world: 118

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 15

over 3,047 m: 4

2,438 to 3,047 m: 6

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 14

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 8 (2012)

Pipelines:

gas 2,386 km; oil 1,323 km; refined products 453 km (2010)

Railways:

total: 2,165 km

country comparison to the world: 68

standard gauge: 471 km 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 1,694 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways:

total: 19,232 km

country comparison to the world: 110

paved: 12,655 km (includes 262 km of expressways)

unpaved: 6,577 km (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 9

country comparison to the world: 116

by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 2, passenger/cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2 (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Bizerte, Gabes, Rades, Sfax, Skhira

Military ::Tunisia

Military branches:

Tunisian Armed Forces (Forces Armees Tunisiens, FAT): Tunisian Army (includes Tunisian Air Defense Force), Tunisian Navy, Republic of Tunisia Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah At'Tunisia) (2012)

Military service age and obligation:

20-23 years of age for compulsory service, one year service obligation; 18-23 years of age for voluntary service; Tunisian nationality required (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,846,572

females age 16-49: 2,952,180 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,397,716

females age 16-49: 2,484,097 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 90,436

female: 87,346 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.5% of GDP (2012)

country comparison to the world: 98