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Location: 34 00 N, 9 00 E -- Northern Africa, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya

Flag
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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

Geography
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Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea,
between Algeria and Libya

Geographic coordinates: 34 00 N, 9 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 163,610 sq km
land area: 155,360 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Georgia

Land boundaries:
total: 1,424 km
border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km

Coastline: 1,148 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Libya; land
boundary dispute with Algeria settled in 1993; Malta and Tunisia are
discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf
between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

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
lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
highest point: Jabal ash Shanabi 1,544 m

Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc,
salt

Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 10%
meadows and pastures: 19%
forest and woodland: 4%
other: 47%

Irrigated land: 2,750 sq km (1989)

Environment:
current issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective
and presents human health risks; water pollution from raw sewage;
limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing;
soil erosion; desertification
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic note: strategic location in central Mediterranean

People
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Population: 9,019,687 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 34% (male 1,583,636; female 1,489,784)
15-64 years: 61% (male 2,738,013; female 2,719,998)
65 years and over: 5% (male 254,403; female