Tunisia

Tunisia

Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control of economic affairs, while still heavy, has gradually lessened over the past decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the tax structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Real growth averaged 5.0% in the 1990s, and inflation is slowing. Increased trade and tourism have been key elements in this steady economic growth.

 

Tunisia's association agreement with the European Union (EU) entered into force on March 1, 1998, the first such accord between the EU and Mediterranean countries to be activated. Under the agreement Tunisia will gradually remove barriers to trade with the EU over the next decade. Broader privatizations, further liberalization of the investment code to increase foreign investment, and improvements in government efficiency are among the challenges for the future.

 

Total GDP: $81.71 billion (2008 est.)

 

GDP Growth Rate: 4.4% (2008 est.)

 

GDP Per Capita: $7,900 (2008 est.)

 

Population: 10,486,339 (July 2009 est.)

 

Population Growth Rate: 0.98% (2009 est.)

 

Fertility Rate: 1.72 children born/woman (2009 est.)

 

Age Structure:

0-14 years: 22.7% (male 1,227,238/female 1,149,796)

15-64 years: 70.1% (male 3,701,661/female 3,652,322)

65 years and over: 7.2% (male 352,003/female 403,319)

(2009 est.)

 

Source: CIA World Factbook