nue NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850
FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert F. GODEC
embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis 1053
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [216] 71 107-000
FAX: [216] 71 963-263

Flag description:

red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly
encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star are
traditional symbols of Islam

Economy
Tunisia

Economy - overview:

Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining,
tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control of economic
affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened over the past
decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the tax
structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Progressive social
policies also have helped raise living conditions in Tunisia
relative to the region. Real growth, which averaged almost 5% over
the past decade, reached 6.3% in 2007 because of development in
non-textile manufacturing, a recovery in agricultural production,
and strong growth in the services sector. However, Tunisia will need
to reach even higher growth levels to create sufficient employment
opportunities for an already large number of unemployed as well as
the growing population of university graduates. Broader
privatization, further liberalization of the investment code to
increase foreign investment, improvements in government efficiency,
and reduction of the trade deficit are among the challenges ahead.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$76.07 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$35.01 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 11.6%
industry: 25.7%
services: 62.8% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

3.593 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 55%
industry: 23%
services: 22% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate:

14.1% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

7.4% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 31.5% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

40 (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $8.466 billion
expenditures: $9.475