World Country Guide

Area
163,610 sq km (63,170 sq miles).

Population
9,889,900 (official estimate 2002).

Population Density
60.4 per sq km.

Capital
Tunis. Population: 1,927,000 (official estimate 2001 (including suburbs)).

Geography
The Republic of Tunisia lies on the Mediterranean coast of Africa, 130km (80 miles) southwest of Sicily and 160km (100 miles) due south of Sardinia. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and Libya to the southeast. The landscape varies from the cliffs of the north coast to the woodlands of the interior, from deep valleys of rich arable land to desert, and from towering mountains to salt pans lower than sea level. South of Gafsa and Gabs is the Sahara desert. The 1100km (700 miles) of coastline is dotted with small islands, notably Jerba in the south and Kerkennah in the east, and from the northwest to the southeast the coastline is backed successively by pine-clad hills, lush pasture, orchards, vineyards and olive groves.

Government
Republic since 1959. Gained independence from France in 1956. Head of State: President Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali since 1987. Head of Government: Prime Minister Muhammad Ghannouchi since 1999.

Language
The official language is Arabic. French is the second language, Italian is spoken in major cities, and English and German mainly in tourist resorts.

Religion
The principal religion is Islam; there are small Roman Catholic, Protestant and Jewish minorities.

Time
GMT + 1.

Electricity
220/110 volts AC, 50Hz. A two-pin continental plug/adaptor is needed.

Communications

Telephone
Full IDD is available. Country code: 216. Outgoing international code: 00. Automatic dialling extends to almost every part of the country and covers direct international calls.

Mobile telephone
GSM 900 network. Operators include Tunisiana (website: www.tunisiana.com) and Tunisie Telecom.

Fax
Facilities are available in main towns, hotels and post offices.

Internet
ISPs include 3S Global Net (website: www.gnet.tn), ATI (website: www.ati.tn) and Planet Tunisie (website: www.planet.tn). E-mail can be accessed from Internet cafes in Tunis, Nabeul, Sousse and Tahar ben Amar.

Telegram
The Telecommunications Centre in Tunis is located at 29 Jamal Abdelnasser. Telegraph facilities are available at the Central Post Office at rue Charles de Gaulle, Tunis; telegrams can also be sent from most hotels.

Post
Airmail to Europe takes three to five days; an express service guarantees delivery in four days or under. Poste Restante facilities are available in main cities. Post office hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1300 (summer, approximately 15 Jun-15 Sep); Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1400-1800, Sat 0800-1200 (winter, approximately 16 Sep-14 Jun); Mon-Sat 0800-1500 (during Ramadan).

Press
Daily newspapers are printed in Arabic or French, the most popular being As-Sabah and La Presse de Tunisie. The weekly Tunisia News is published in English.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.