Total Area:163,610 sq km Land Borders: Algeria, Libya
Population: 10,175,014
Life Expectancy: 76 years HIV % Total Poulation: 0.1 %
Ethnic Groups:Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Languages:Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce)
President:Zine el Abidine BEN ALI GDP - Per Capita: $2,300
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. Tunisia has long taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in its foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse rising pressure for a more open political society.
