Tunisia
| Tunisian Republic | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Anthem: Humat Al Hima | ||||||
.svg) |
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| Capital and largest city | Tunis 36°50′N 10°9′E / 36.833°N 10.15°E | |||||
| Official languages | Arabic[1] | |||||
| 1st Foreign language | French | |||||
| Demonym | Tunisian | |||||
| Government | Presidential republic[1] | |||||
| - | Acting President | |||||
| - | Prime Minister | |||||
| Independence | ||||||
| - | from France | March 20, 1956 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 163,610 km2 (92nd) 63,170 sq mi |
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| - | Water (%) | 5.0 | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2020 estimate | 11,708,370[2] (81st) | ||||
| - | Density | 71.65/km2 (144th) 186/sq mi |
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| GDP (PPP) | 2011 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $96.001 billion[3] | ||||
| - | Per capita | $9,025.067[3] | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2011 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $43.684 billion[3] | ||||
| - | Per capita | $4,106.747[3] | ||||
| Currency | Tunisian dinar (TND) |
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| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |||||
| - | Summer (DST) | not observed (UTC+1) | ||||
| Drives on the | right | |||||
| Calling code | 216 | |||||
| Internet TLD | .tn[4] | |||||
Tunisia, officially the Tunisian Republic, is a country situated on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and Libya to the southeast. It is the northernmost country on the continent and the smallest of the countries situated along the Atlas mountain range. Around forty percent of the country is composed of the Sahara desert, with much of the remainder consisting of particularly fertile soil, and a 1400km coastline.
History
Today's Tunisia played a prominent role in ancient times, first with the famous city of Carthage, said to have been founded by refugees from Troy, later as a province which became known as the bread basket of the Roman Empire. It subsequently changed hands several times, including Norman invasions from Sicily, but ultimately fell under the control of Mohammedans. Under the Ottoman Empire it enjoyed autonomy under its monarch, the Bey of Tunis.
In 1869, having spent vast sums attempting to develop and modernise the country, the Bey of Tunis declared the country bankrupt, and an international financial commission took control over its economy. In 1881, following a Tunisian incursion into Algeria, France invaded with an army of about 36,000 and forced the Bey to agree to the terms of the 1881 Treaty of Bardo (Al Qasr as Sa'id). With this treaty, Tunisia was officially made a French Protectorate, over the objections of Italy. Under French colonization, European settlements in the country were actively encouraged; the number of French colonists grew from 34,000 in 1906 to 144,000 in 1945.
Independence
Tunisia was given independence from France in 1957.
Establishment
- Ancient Carthage 814 BC
- Africa Proconsularis 146 BC
- Vandal Kingdom 435
- Exarchate of Africa 591
- Aghlabids 800
- Fatimids 909
- Zirids 972
- Hafsids 1207
- Husainids 15 July 1705
- Kingdom 20 March 1956
- Republic 25 July 1957
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Tunisia Constitution". Retrieved on 2011-04-02. Translation by the University of Bern: Tunisia is a free State, independent and sovereign; its religion is the Islam, its language is Arabic, and its form is the Republic.
- ↑ National Institute of Statistics-Tunisia. National Institute of Statistics-Tunisia.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Tunisia. International Monetary Fund. Retrieved on 2011-05-10.
- ↑ Report on the Delegation of تونس.. Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (2010). Retrieved on 8 November 2010.
