General Information

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

Population: 9,456,700 (1999).

Population Density: 57.8 per sq km.

Capital: Tunis

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 Gabès is the Sahara desert. The 1100km (700 miles) of coastline is dotted with small islands, notably Jerba in the south and Kerkenah 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 1957.

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 Tunisie Telecom and Tunisiana (website: www.orascomtunisie.com).

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

Internet: ISPs include ATI (website: www.ati.tn), Planet Tunisie (website: www.planet.tn) and 3S Global Net (website: www.gnet.tn). E-mail can be accessed from Internet shops.

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 two to four days; an express service guarantees delivery in two 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.