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Geography of 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
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
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: 17.05%
permanent crops: 13.08%
other: 69.87% (2005)
Irrigated land:3,940 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water 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

Tunisia Quickstats

  • Population: 10,276,158 (July 2007 est.)
  • Area: 163,610 sq km
  • Density: 62 /km² (133rd (2005))
  • GDP (total): $ 86.67 billion (63rd)
  • GDP (per capita): $8,255 (71st)
  • Literacy: 74.3%

Languages of Tunisia

Useful to know

  • Currency: Tunisian dinar (TND)
  • Dial code: +216

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