Tunisia

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, declined to 4.6% in 2008 and to 3-4% in 2009-10 because of economic contraction and slowing of import demand in Europe - Tunisia’s largest export market. However, development of non-textile manufacturing, a recovery in agricultural production, and strong growth in the services sector somewhat mitigated the economic effect of slowing exports. 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. The challenges ahead include: privatizing industry, liberalizing the investment code to increase foreign investment, improving government efficiency, reducing the trade deficit, and reducing socioeconomic disparities in the impoverished south and west.

$100.3 billion (2010 est.)

$97.03 billion (2009 est.)

$94.22 billion (2008 est.)

$43.86 billion (2010 est.)

3.4% (2010 est.)

3% (2009 est.)

4.6% (2008 est.)

$9,500 (2010 est.)

$9,300 (2009 est.)

$9,100 (2008 est.)

3.83 million (2010 est.)

14% (2010 est.)

13.3% (2009 est.)

3.8% (2005 est.)

40 (2005 est.)

41.7 (1995 est.)

26.1% of GDP (2010 est.)

49.5% of GDP (2010 est.)

47.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

4.5% (2010 est.)

3.5% (2009 est.)

NA% (31 December 2009)

NA% (31 December 2008)

NA%

$11.49 billion (31 December 2010 est)

$11.02 billion (31 December 2009 est)

$29.39 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$26.88 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$31.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$28.45 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$9.12 billion (31 December 2009)

$6.374 billion (31 December 2008)

$5.355 billion (31 December 2007)

olives, olive oil, grain, tomatoes, citrus fruit, sugar beets, dates, almonds; beef, dairy products

petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages

1.6% (2010 est.)

11.08 billion kWh (2008 est.)

11.8 billion kWh (2008 est.)

130 million kWh (2007 est.)

145 million kWh (2007 est.)

91,380 bbl/day (2009 est.)

89,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

77,130 bbl/day (2007 est.)

87,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)

425 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

2.97 billion cu m (2008 est.)

4.22 billion cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

1.25 billion cu m (2008 est.)

65.13 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

-$1.389 billion (2010 est.)

-$1.234 billion (2009 est.)

$16.11 billion (2010 est.)

$14.42 billion (2009 est.)

clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons, electrical equipment

France 29.6%, Italy 21%, Germany 8.8%, Libya 5.8%, Spain 5%, UK 4.8% (2009)

$20.02 billion (2010 est.)

$18.12 billion (2009 est.)

textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, foodstuffs

France 20.1%, Italy 16.4%, Germany 8.8%, China 5%, Spain 4.5%, US 4% (2009)

$11.23 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$11.06 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$18.76 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$19.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$33.56 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$31.86 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$251 million (31 December 2010 est.)

$233 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar - 1.4367 (2010), 1.3503 (2009), 1.211 (2008), 1.2776 (2007), 1.331 (2006)