233,853) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.81% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 24.03 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.18 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.09 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 35.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.6 years
male: 71.27 years
female: 74.03 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.92 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Tunisian(s)
adjective: Tunisian

Ethnic divisions: Arab-Berber 98%, European 1%, Jewish less than 1%

Religions: Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish 1%

Languages: Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce),
French (commerce)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 66.7%
male: 78.6%
female: 54.6%

Government
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Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Tunisia
conventional short form: Tunisia
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
local short form: Tunis

Data code: TS

Type of government: republic

Capital: Tunis

Administrative divisions: 23 governorates; Beja, Ben Arous,
Bizerte, Gabes, Gafsa, Jendouba, Kairouan, Kasserine, Kebili,
L'Ariana, Le Kef, Mahdia, Medenine, Monastir, Nabeul, Sfax, Sidi Bou
Zid, Siliana, Sousse, Tataouine, Tozeur, Tunis, Zaghouan

Independence: 20 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday: National Day, 20 March (1956)

Constitution: 1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988

Legal system: based on French civil law system and Islamic law;
some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in
joint session

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November
1987) was reelected for a five-year term by universal suffrage;
election last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results
- President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI was reelected without opposition
head of government: Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since 26 September
1989) was appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
Chamber of