Tunisia - Country facts
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Internet Code
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya
Background
Following independence from France in 1956, 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 recent years, Tunisia has taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in its foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse rising pressure for a more open political society.
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
Population
10,074,951 (July 2005 est.)
Ethnic Groups
Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Religions
Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Languages
Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce)
Map of Tunisia
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