Africa:   
埃塞俄比亚 Ethiopia   埃及 Egypt   突尼斯 Tunisia   阿尔及利亚 Algeria   尼日利亚 Nigeria   塞内加尔 Senegal   南非 South Africa   安哥拉 Angola   贝宁 Benin   布基纳法索 Burkina Faso   布隆迪 Republic of Burundi   博茨瓦纳 Republic of Botswana   赤道几内亚 Equatorial Guinea   多哥 Togo   厄立特里亚 Eritrea   佛得角 Republic of Cape Verde   冈比亚 Gambia   刚果 Republic of the Congo   刚果民主共和国 Democratic Republic of Congo   吉布提 Djibouti   几内亚 Guinea   几内亚比绍 Guinea-Bissau   加纳 Republic of Ghana   加蓬 Gabon   津巴布韦 Zimbabwe   喀麦隆 Republic of Cameroon   科摩罗 Comoros   科特迪瓦 Ivory Coast   肯尼亚 Republic of Kenya   莱索托 Kingdom of Lesotho   利比亚 Libya   利比里亚 Republic of Liberia   卢旺达 Republic of Rwanda   马达加斯加 Madagascar   马拉维 Malawi   马里 Republic of Mali   毛里塔尼亚 Mauritania   毛里求斯 Republic of Mauritius   摩洛哥 Kingdom of Morocco   莫桑比克 the Republic of Mozambique   纳米比亚 The Republic of Namibia   尼日尔 Niger   塞拉利昂 the Republic of Sierra Leone   塞舌尔 Seychelles   斯威士兰 Swaziland   苏丹 Sudan   索马里 Somalia   圣多美和普林西比 Sao Tome and Principe   坦桑尼亚 Tanzania   乌干达 The Republic of Uganda   赞比亚 The Republic of Zambia   乍得 the Republic of Chad   中非共和国 The Central African Republic   
Tunisia   Capital:Tunis  Country Code: tn   
  Dynasty
突尼斯
  突尼斯共和国(The Republic of Tunisia,La Republique Tunisienne)
  【面积】 164150平方公里,世界第八十九。
  【人口 】 9 67万(2005年), 90%以上为阿拉伯人,其余为柏柏尔人。阿拉伯语为国语,通用法语。伊斯兰教为国教,主要是逊尼派,少数人信奉天主教、犹太教。
  【首都】 突尼斯(Tunis),人口225万(2004年)。
  【货币】 突尼斯第纳尔
  Tunisian Dinar
  TD.
  TND
  1TND=1,000 milliemes(米利姆)
  【时差】比格林尼治时间早1 小时;比北京时间晚7 小时。
  【国花】油橄榄。
  【国徽格言】秩序、自由、正义。
  
  【誉称】世界油橄榄国(全国有4 0 0 0 多万株油橄榄。据说斯法克斯城周围有2 7 0 0 0 株世界上最大的油橄榄树,每株高1 3 米以上)、欧洲的钥匙(突尼斯东北端与意大利仅隔1 4 0 海里,突尼斯海峡紧锁着地中海的窄腰,故突尼斯有此称)。
  【 国家元首】 总统宰因·阿比丁·本·阿里(Zine El Abidine Ben Ali),1987年11月7日就任,1989年4月当选,1994年3月、1999年10月和2004年10月三度蝉联。
  【重要节日】 独立日(国庆节):3月20日。撒哈拉联欢节1 2 月
  【简况 】 位于非洲北端。西与阿尔及利亚为邻,东南与利比亚接壤,北、东临地中海,隔突尼斯海峡与意大利相望,海岸线全长1300公里。北部属地中海型气候,夏季炎热干燥,冬季温暖湿润。南部属热带沙漠气候。8月为最热月,日均温21℃-33℃;1月为最冷月,日均温6℃-14℃。
  公元前9世纪初,腓尼基人在今突尼斯湾沿岸地区建立迦太基城,后发展为奴隶制强国。公元前146年成为罗马帝国的阿非利加省的一部分。公元5~6世纪先后被汪达尔人和拜占庭人占领。703年被阿拉伯穆斯林征服。13世纪哈夫斯王朝建立了强大的突尼斯国家。1574年沦为土耳其奥斯曼帝国的一个省。1881年成为法国保护领地。1956年3月20日法国承认突尼斯独立。1957年7月25日突制宪会议通过决议,废黜国王,宣布成立突尼斯共和国,布尔吉巴任第一任总统,1975年经议会批准,布成为终身总统。1987年11月7日,总理本·阿里接替布任共和国总统。
  【 政治 】 1989年4月,突尼斯举行总统和立法选举,本·阿里当选总统,执政党宪政民主联盟获全部议席。1994年,本·阿里蝉联总统,突产生独立以来首届宪盟占压倒多数的多党议会。1999年10月,突举行独立后首次多党参加的总统选举,本·阿里以高票再度蝉联总统,立法选举与此同时进行,增加了反对党的议席,宪盟仍获得绝大多数席位。本·阿里总统执政十多年来,对内推行“以稳定求发展,以发展促稳定”的基本国策,不断巩固宪盟地位,逐步推进政治多元化,使突政局长期保持稳定,经济持续发展。对外奉行中立、睦邻、不结盟外交政策。2005年7月,突举行首次参议员选举,成立参议院。8月,本·阿里总统改组内阁和宪盟领导层。目前,突政局稳定,本·阿里执政地位稳固。2006年,本·阿里推出大赦、提高工资、减免税收等一系列措施,争取民心,巩固执政基础。同时,在保持宪政民主联盟执政地位的基础上推进有控制的多党民主进程,引导反对党参政、议政,逐步扩大新闻自由,减轻西方国家在民主、人权方面的压力。目前,突政局稳定,本·阿里执政地位进一步巩固。宪政民主联盟及突社会各界已开始为本·阿里2009年竞选连任造势。
  【宪法】1959年6月1日,制宪议会通过共和国第一部宪法,规定突是自由、独立的主权国家,实行共和制政体。1975年3月,通过宪法修改草案,宣布布尔吉巴为共和国终身总统。1988年7月,通过宪法修正案,删改“终身总统”等8项条款,增加了“竞选议员年龄”,“总统职位空缺时由议长担任临时总统职务”等内容。1998年10月通过修改宪法和选举法,降低总统候选人的参选年龄,扩大参选范围。总统任期五年,可连任两届。2002年5月,举行独立后首次全民公决,通过宪法修正案。取消对总统连任次数的限制,并将总统候选人的年龄上限增至75岁,为本·阿里竞选连任2004年及之后的总统职位扫除了法律障碍。此外,新宪法还增加了民主和法制的内容。
  【议会】原为一院制,称国民议会。2002年宪法修正案改为两院制,由众议院和参议院组成。众议院是突最高立法机构,任期五年,下设8个委员会。议会监督政府工作并有权对政府提出不信任案。2004年10月,突立法选举产生了第11届议会,宪政民主联盟获189议席中的152席,反对党获37席。上届议长福阿德·迈巴扎蝉联议长。2005年10月,迈巴扎在年度例会中再度当选议长。2005年7月,突举行首次参议员选举,成立参议院,参议员任期6年。8月,阿卜杜拉·卡拉勒(Abdallah Kallel)当选为参议院议长。
  【政府】2007年1月,本·阿里总统对内阁进行部分改组,政府主要成员名单如下:总理穆罕默德·格努希(MOHAMED GHANNOUCHI)、国务部长、总统特别顾问、总统府发言人阿卜杜勒·阿齐兹·本·迪亚(ABDELAZIZ BEN DHIA)、外交部长阿卜杜勒-瓦哈卜·阿卜杜拉(ABDELWAHEB ABDALLAH)、内政和地方发展部长拉菲克·贝勒哈吉·卡西姆(RAFIK BELHAJ KACEM)、国防部长卡迈勒·马尔坚(KAMEL MORJANE)、运输部长阿卜杜-拉希姆·祖瓦利(ABDERRAHIM ZOUARI)、贸易和手工业部长蒙泽尔·兹纳伊迪(MONDHER ZENAIDI)、司法和人权部长贝希尔·特卡里(BECHIR TEKKARI)、宗教事务部长布巴克尔·阿赫祖里(BOUBAKER EL AKHZOURI)、社会事务、互助和侨民部长阿里·沙乌什(ALI CHAOUCH)、教育和培训部长萨迪克·卡尔比(SADOK KORBI)、高等教育和科研部长拉兹哈尔·布乌尼(LAZHAR BOUOUNI)、青年和体育部长阿卜杜拉·卡阿比(ABDALLAH KAABI)、财政部长穆罕默德·拉希德·凯希什(MOHAMED RACHID KCHICH)、农业和水利资源部长哈比卜·哈达德(HABIB HADDAD)、通讯技术部长蒙塔萨尔·瓦伊利(MONTASSAR OUAILI)、文化和遗产保护部长穆罕默德·阿齐兹·本·阿舒尔(MOHAMED AZIZ BEN ACHOUR)、旅游部长蒂加尼·哈达德 (TIJANI HADDAD)、公共卫生部长利达·凯希利德(RIDHA KECHRID)、装备、住房与国土整治部长萨米拉·哈娅什·贝勒哈吉(SAMIRA KHAYACH BELHAJ)、妇女、家庭和儿童事务部长塞勒娃·阿亚西·拉本(SALOUA AYACHI LABBEN)、发展与国际合作部长穆罕默德·努里·儒伊尼(MOHAMED NOURI JOUINI)、国有资产和土地事务部长利达·格里拉(RIDHA GRIRA)、工业、能源和中小企业部长阿菲夫·谢勒比(AFIF CHELBI)。
  政府网址:http://www.tunisie.com
  【行政区划】全国划分为24个省,下设254个县,240个市镇。
  【司法机构】最高司法委员会是突尼斯司法系统最高机构,总统和司法部长分别担任委员会主席和副主席。委员会行使对法官任命、晋升、调动和纪律处分的职能。总统根据委员会的建议任命法官。全国有1个最高法院,10个上诉法院,24个一审法院,83个地方法庭。每省设有1个一审法院。每个法院下辖若干民事、刑事法庭。此外,在政府成员犯有叛国罪时将专门成立高等法院。最高法院院长为马卜鲁克·本·穆萨(Mabrouk Ben Moussa)。突无独立的检察院,在司法和人权部内设检察机构,现任总检察长为穆罕默德·莱吉米(Mohamed El-Ladjmi),但在每个法院均设有检察机构。
  【政党】突于1981年4月开始实行多党制,现有9个合法政党,主要有:宪政民主联盟、社会民主运动、人民团结党、民主统一联盟、革新运动、自由社会党、民主进步党、争取工作与自由民主论坛和绿党。
  (1)宪政民主联盟(Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique/ RCD):执政党。1934年3月由首任总统布尔吉巴创立。原名新宪政党,1964年改为社会主义宪政党,1988年2月改为现名。现有党员200多万,基层支部约8390个。以民主、开放为政治路线,主张实行国家、集体、私人三种所有制并存的经济体制,强调法制治国。对外坚持不结盟政策,主张在互相尊重和互利的基础上与各国发展关系。2007年6月宪盟召开七中会,再次呼吁本·阿里作为宪盟候选人参加2009年总统大选,努力实施“十一五”计划,强化宪盟组织建设。主席为本·阿里总统(1988年7月当选)。2005年8月哈迪·穆赫尼(Hedi M'henni)被任命为宪盟总书记。在2004年10月立法选举中获得152个议席。
  (2)社会民主运动(Mouvement des Democrates Socialistes/ MDS):1978年6月创立,1983年11月获合法地位。主张开放民主,实行多党制、轮流执政,反对使用暴力。约有党员3万人。全国委员会是最高权力机关。现任全国委员会主席蒙塞夫·西亚拉(Moncef Siala),总书记伊斯梅尔·布拉西亚(Ismail Boulahya)。在2004年10月立法选举中获得14席。
  (3)人民团结党 (Parti de L'Unite Populaire/ PUP):1973年成立,由人民团结运动本·萨拉赫派分裂而来。主张政治多元化,加强国家对经济的干预,维护突尼斯的稳定。1983年取得合法地位。总书记穆罕默德·布希哈(Mohamed Bouchiha)。在2004年10月立法选举中获得11席。
  (4)民主统一联盟(Union Democratique Unioniste/UDU):1988年11月创建并获合法地位。主张在民主范围内,为阿拉伯团结而努力。总书记艾哈迈德·易努布利(Ahmed Inoubli)。在2004年10月立法选举中获得7个议席。
  (5)革新运动(Mouvement de la Renovation):前身是突尼斯共产党,1922年成立,1963年被取缔,1981年恢复合法地位,1993年4月改为现名。更名后宣布放弃共产主义,但坚持社会主义信念,反对自由化经济和私有化。向各种进步力量和左派开放。党员1000多名。总书记穆罕默德·哈尔迈勒(Mohamed Harmel)。在2004年的立法选举中获3个席位。
  (6)自由社会党(Parti Social Liberal/ PSL):1988年6月成立,1988年9月获得合法地位。原名为进步社会党,1993年10月党的“一大”改为现名。主张多元化、自由化和私有化,党的主席是穆尼尔·贝吉(Mounir El Beji)。在2004年的立法选举中获2个席位。
  (7)民主进步党(Parti Democratique Progressiste):1983年12月成立。1988年9月获得合法地位。原名为社会进步联盟,2001年6月党的“三大”改为现名。主张进行全面政治改革,建立多元化政治体制和进步理想同阿拉伯-伊斯兰属性相结合的社会主义。总书记艾哈迈德·纳吉布·沙比(Ahmed Nejib Chebbi)。
  (8)争取工作与自由民主论坛(Forum democratique pour le travail et la liberte/ FDTL) 1994年创建,2002年获得合法地位,为左翼政党。主张建立现代民主制度,保证司法独立、轮流执政和尊重人民的自由选择。总书记穆斯塔法·本·加法尔(Mustapha Ben Jaafar)。
  (9)争取进步绿党(Parti Vert pour le Progres) 2006年成立并获得合法地位。以非左非右的姿态登上突政坛。主张保护环境、自由主义、泛阿拉伯主义、社会主义等。总书记吉蒙·卡马西。
  【重要人物】宰因·阿比丁·本·阿里:总统,1936年9月生于苏斯。曾受电子学高等教育,获电子工程师文凭,先后在法国圣·西尔军事学院、法国夏龙-马恩河炮兵学院、美国情报与安全高等学院、美国野炮高等学院深造。1958年起历任突参谋部参谋、军事安全处处长、驻摩洛哥空军海军武官、国防部长办公室专员、国家安全总局局长、驻波兰大使、内政部负责国家安全的国务秘书、总理府负责国家安全的部长级代表、内政部长等职。1979年4月由上校晋升为准将。1987年5月任内政国务部长,10月任总理,11月任总统。1988年7月,当选为宪政民主联盟主席。1989年4月当选总统。此后,在1994年、1999年和2004年,三次连选连任。1991年4月,对我国进行了正式友好访问。已婚,有5个女儿,1个儿子。穆罕默德·格努希:总理,1941年8月18日出生于苏斯,毕业于突尼斯法律、政治、经济学院。1966年获经济学学士学位。1975年任财政部总计划司长。1982年任计划与财政部负责计划的国务秘书。1987年10月任总理府负责计划的部长级代表。1988年7月任计划部长。1989年4月任计划与财政部长。1990年3月任经济与财政部长。1991年2月任财政部长。1992年6月任国际合作与外国投资部长。1999年11月任总理。2004年11月连任。宪盟政治局委员,第二副主席。未曾访华。已婚,有2个孩子。福阿德·迈巴扎:议长,1933年6月15日出生于突尼斯市。在法国获经济学和法学学士学位。1961年起先后任卫生与社会事务国务秘书办公室专员,农业国务秘书办公室主任,青年体育局长,国家安全局长,突尼斯省长兼突尼斯市长,青年体育部长,卫生部长,新闻和文化部长,突驻联合国大使,突驻摩洛哥大使,青年体育部长,迦太基市长。先后四次当选议员。1997年10月起一直担任议长。宪盟政治局委员。1977年10月曾率突青年、体育代表团访华,2002年6月率议会代表团访华。阿卜杜拉·卡拉勒:参议长,1943年12月7日生于斯法克斯。曾就读于突尼斯法律、政治和经济学院,获经济学毕业文凭和突国立行政学院高级班毕业文凭,并获顾问级行政主管职称。1989年4月起历任国防部长、内政部长、国务部长、总统特别顾问、司法部长等职。1988年7月任宪盟政治局委员、司库。1989年、1999年当选为议员。2004年1月当选为经社理事会主席。2005年8月当选为参议院首任参议长。曾获共和国特级勋章、“11.7”特级勋章。已婚,有3子。未曾访华。
  经济 以农业为主,但粮食不能自给。工业以石油和磷酸盐开采、制造业和加工工业为主。旅游业较发达,在国民经济中占重要地位。1986年,突经济实行“结构调整计划”,由计划经济向市场经济过渡。1995年突与欧盟签署联系国协议后,突深化经济结构调整,加快企业升级改造和私有化步伐,同时加强基础设施建设,推进金融领域改革,积极发展外向型经济。多年来,突经济持续稳定发展,GDP年均增长约5%。近年来,突移动通讯、因特网、电子商务和高科技产业等领域发展迅速。2006年,在达沃斯世界经济论坛全球综合竞争力排行榜上,名列世界第30位,居非洲、阿拉伯国家之首。突在全世界155国劳动环境领域排行榜上名列58位,领先意大利、中国和埃及等。贫困率下降至4%以下。至2006年底,外国在突共有2803家外资企业。2007年,在达沃斯世界经济论坛全球综合竞争力排行榜上,名列世界第29位,仍居非洲、阿拉伯国家之首。2007年1月,突完成审议关于2007-2011年“十一五”发展计划总体发展模式和政策。目前突经济面临主要问题是国内市场狭小,资源匮乏,过分依赖欧盟。
  2006年主要经济数字:
  国内生产总值:306.97亿美元
  人均国内生产总值:2996美元
  国内生产总值增长率:5.3%
  货币名称:第纳尔(dinar),1第纳尔=1000米利姆
  汇率:1美元=1.32第纳尔
  通货膨胀率:2.4%(2007年上半年)
  失业率:14.2%
  【资源】主要有磷酸盐、石油、天然气、铁、铝、锌等。已探明储量:磷酸盐20亿吨,石油7000万吨,天然气615亿立方米,铁矿石2500万吨。
  【工矿业】主要有以磷酸盐为原料的化工业和石油开采业。2005年原油产量为340.4万吨,天然气产量为23.44亿立方米,磷酸盐376万吨(2004年),铁矿石16.4万吨(2003年),锌6.6万吨(2003年)。纺织业在轻工业中居首位,产值为10.76亿第纳尔。自1986年起,纺织、皮革产品出口额已超过化肥、原油。2005年工业总产值为59.74亿第纳尔,工业增长率为2.5%。(资料来源:2006年经济季评国别报告)
  【农业】全国可耕地面积900万公顷,已耕地500万公顷,其中7%为水浇地,约34.5万公顷。由于盐碱化、沙漠化等因素,每年约有2万公顷耕地流失。农业在国民生产总值中占13-16%,2005年农业和渔业总产值为25.31亿第纳尔,增长率为5%。全国劳动力的35%从事农业。正常年景粮食自给率60%。2005年粮食产量为210万吨。(资料来源:2006年经济季评国别报告)
  突尼斯是橄榄油主要生产国之一,产量占世界橄榄油总产量的4-9%,橄榄油成为突主要的出口创汇农产品。全国种植橄榄6200万株,占地162.5万公顷。2005年产橄榄油22万吨,产柑橘26.2万吨,椰枣11.3万吨。全国有天然和人工牧场29万公顷。2003年牛、羊、山羊存栏数分别为41.5万头、392.4万只和80.1万只。2005年肉类总产量为11.78万吨,鲜奶产量92万吨,鱼产量10.8万吨。(资料来源:2006年经济季评国别报告)
  【旅游业】旅游业在国民经济中居重要地位,是突第一大外汇来源。2006年旅游收入为27.51亿第纳尔,同比增长6.3%;接待游客654.91万人次,同比增长2.7%。2005年,全国约800家旅馆拥有23万张床位,居非洲和阿拉伯国家前列。直接或间接从事旅游业人员达35万人,约占全国人口的3.6%,解决了12%的劳动力就业问题。旅游设施主要分布在东部沿海地带,有五大旅游中心,苏斯“康达维”中心是全国最大的旅游基地。突尼斯市、苏斯、莫纳斯提尔、崩角和杰尔巴岛是著名的旅游区。(资料来源:2006年经济季评国别报告)
  【交通运输】交通运输比较发达。
  铁路:总长2190多公里,其中轨距1米的窄轨铁路占1713公里,余为轨距1.44米的铁路。国营铁路公司拥有机车136辆,货车皮5267节。2003年客运总量为3570万人次,货运量为21.74亿吨/公里。
  公路:总长2万公里。2003年公路客运量6.92亿人次,货运量11.84万吨。陆路运输目前占突尼斯货运总量的50%,客运总量的90%。1997年突开始修建2500公里公路和2000公里农用道路。至2005年底,突拥有各类机动车辆110万辆。
  
  海运:有30个港口,其中8个为大型商业港口,一个为石油转运港。有两支船队,总吨位22.4万吨。主要港口是突尼斯-古莱特、比塞大、布尔基巴、斯法克斯、加贝斯、苏斯、扎尔西斯、拉迪斯及斯基拉港等,2003年客运总量52.9万人次。
  空运:有两个国营航空公司,主要是突尼斯航空公司。全国共有91架各型号客机。突与国内外44个城市通航。年客运总量为1200万人次。2003年突尼斯航空公司客运量790万人次,较上年下降2.1%。全国有7个国际机场:突尼斯-迦太基、莫纳斯蒂尔-卡奈斯、杰尔巴-扎尔齐斯、斯法克斯-蒂纳、杜泽尔-内夫塔、塔巴卡-11.7和加夫萨-盖斯尔。
  【财政金融】2007年财政预算收支基本平衡,均为144.6亿第纳尔,比2006年增长1.8%。至2006年底,外汇储备66.48亿美元,外债率为49.1%。2005年外债总额为161亿美元。
  【对外贸易】1986年以来,突推行贸易自由化政策,迄今自由进口的商品额占进口总额的85%,自由出口的商品额占出口总额的95%。近年来突尼斯对外贸易情况如下(单位:百万美元):
  2003 2004 2005   2006年
  出口 8619 9492 10080   11782
  进口 11700 12492 12668   15206
  差额 -3081 -3000 -2588  -34.25
  欧盟是突的主要贸易伙伴,其中法国、意大利、德国是与突贸易名列前三名的国家,2005年在突进出口中所占比例如下:
  出口(%) 进口(%)
  法国 29.3 28.2
  意大利 19.7 25.2
  德国 9.1  10.5
  (资料来源:2006年经济季评国别报告)
  突主要出口产品是纺织品、电机设备、石油制品、机械、橄榄油、鞋、毛皮制品、化肥、化学制品等。2004年纺织品仍居突出口首位,出口额为33.33亿美元,占出口总额达37.2%。进口产品主要是纺织品、机械、电气设备、石油制品、车辆及钢铁、谷物等。(资料来源:2005年经济季评国别报告)
  【外国资本】2006年,突共获外国直接投资达11.57亿第纳尔,比上年增长33.1%。主要来自欧盟、美国和阿拉伯国家。至2006年底,突共吸纳外国直接投资(能源除外)累计达112.13亿第纳尔,提供27.4万个就业岗位。
  【外国援助】“九五”期间(1997-2001年),突共获外国提供的各类援款132.17亿第纳尔,其中,外国投资36.37亿第纳尔,赠款3.77亿第纳尔,各类贷款92.04亿第纳尔。2004年获得外国官方发展援助5.39亿美元。2005年侨汇收入10.09亿美元。(资料来源:2006年经济季评国别报告)
  【人民生活】突自20世纪七十年代以来,实行对基本食品实施物价补贴的社会福利政策。90年代后,政府开始缩小补贴范围,减少补贴费用,分期提高基本食品价格,同时采取措施,保护困难户和低工资收入者的购买力。2004年突最低工资收入为218.19第纳尔(每周48小时)和 189.8第纳尔(每周40小时)。2001年全国78%的人拥有自己的住房,74%的居民享受医疗保险,8%的居民持有免费医疗证。2006年,社会保障覆盖率达90.4%。
  全国卫生系统共有各类医务人员和职工4万人,2004年全国平均每1200人有一名医生,平均每6500人有一名牙医,平均每330人有一名护士。医疗设施分公立医院、私人医院和个人诊所,以公立医院为主,共176所,有17269张床位,私人医院有床位1800张,另有卫生站1050个。全国有21%的家庭拥有汽车,90%的家庭拥有电视机,82%的家庭拥有冰箱,34%的家庭拥有洗衣机,6%的家庭拥有空调,36%的家庭拥有固定电话,55%的人拥有手机,90%的家庭享有饮用水和供电。2004年人口增长率为1.21%,人均寿命73岁,婴儿死亡率2.1%。2005年,突贫困率为3.9%,贫困家庭8万户。(资料来源:2005年经济季评国别报告)
  【军事】 1956年建立国民军,1959年建立海军和空军。总统为武装部队总司令。1975年起实行义务兵役制,服役期一年。总兵力约4万人。陆军3.1万人,包括3个机械化步兵旅、1个撒哈拉旅、1个特种部队群和8个团,拥有各类坦克和装甲车405辆、炮482门、导弹156枚(具)。海军5000人,拥有各类舰艇40艘。空军4500人,有各型军用飞机70余架,直升飞机80架。有国民警卫队约4万人。军事装备主要来自法国、美国、意大利。
  2005年国防预算为5.63亿第纳尔,占国家预算总额的4.3%,同比增长2.7%。2001年美国军事援助为450万美元。
  
  【教育】实行基础义务免费教育制(至16岁),从1989/1990学年起,将过去的小学6年、初中3年合并为9年一贯制基础教育。全国近1/4的人口在各级学校学习。小学入学率99%,大学入学率为31.7%。2004年文盲率为22.9%,小学、中、高等教育的人口覆盖率分别为35%、32%、8%。2005年有中小学5821所,中小学生226.7万。各类大专院校178所,学生36.6万,其中大学共16所:宰敦大学(伊斯兰高等学府)、突尼斯大学、突尼斯玛纳尔大学、迦太基11.7大学、玛努巴大学、中部大学、斯法克斯南方大学等。16所大学现有在校生共30万。
  【新闻出版】主要报刊有:《复兴报》、《自由报》和《新闻报》。主要周刊有《现实》等。
  突尼斯非洲通讯社 ( Tunis Afrique Presse):简称突通社,创建于1961年1 月,为国家通讯社。现有记者、编辑200余人。在巴黎、波恩、纽约、布鲁塞尔、阿尔及尔、拉巴特、开罗、科威特、达喀尔等地派有常驻记者,抄收40多家通讯社新闻,在国内有130多家新闻订户。
  突尼斯广播电视总署:1990年成立,国营,统管全国广播和电视工作,下设主席办、办公厅、电视总局和广播总局。突尼斯国家广播电台于1936年首播,现有三个全国性频道对外广播,一个为国内频道,每天24小时以阿文广播;一个为国际频道,每天18小时,以法、德、意、英和西语对外播音;还有一个青年频道,1995年11月开播。此外还有5个地方台。突尼斯国家电视台于1966年6月1日起开播,现分一台(阿文)和二台(法文),还有突尼斯7台和青年台。突直接转播意大利国家电视台和法国商业电视台节目。1991年始设有线电视台转播法国有线电视台节目。
  对外关系 突奉行睦邻友好、中立不结盟的政策,注重温和、务实、平衡。强调其阿拉伯、伊斯兰及非洲属性,重点发展同欧盟和美国的关系,积极推进突欧(盟)自贸区建设。倡导马格里布国家联合,积极参与地区和国际事务,谋求发挥自身独特影响。主张和平解决地区争端,呼吁加强南南合作和南北对话,减免发展中国家的债务,建立公正、合理的国际政治经济新秩序。迄今为止,突与世界138个国家建立了外交关系。
  【对重大国际问题的态度】 关于国际形势:当前国际形势极为错综复杂,应采取全面的处理方法,从根本上解决绝望、贫穷与被边缘化等问题。要始终促进不同文化、文明和宗教间的对话。
  关于联合国改革:突认为联合国是国与国对话的理想机制,主张加强联合国的作用。赞同对包括安理会在内的联合国进行改革,认为改革应是全面、长期的,应关注发展问题和增加发展中国家代表性,并提高联合国的工作效率。突支持扩大安理会的组成,使其更具代表性,更加民主和透明,但不应仅凭一次表决改变安理会的现状。安理会应顺应全球化发展,充分反映各国对国际安全、发展、贫穷和疾病问题的关注。
  关于不同文明对话:突支持不同文明和宗教之间的对话,促进世界安全与和平。突将继续在伊斯兰会议组织框架内,宣扬温和与中庸的原则,摈除暴力和极端主义。
  关于恐怖主义:突谴责恐怖主义,认为反恐必须标本兼治,消除其产生的深层原因。西方国家须帮助发展中国家加快发展,缩小与发展中国家的贫富差距。倡议召开在联合国主导下的国际会议,建立"国际反恐行为准则",澄清恐怖主义概念,避免把恐怖主义同伊斯兰教和反抗侵略、争取民族权利的斗争相混淆。
  关于民主与人权问题:突认为,实现民主与人权价值应以尊重国际关系中的平等原则为前提,特别是应尊重国家主权,互不干涉内政。各国人民有权根据其社会、经济、历史背景和民族特性选择适合自身条件的发展道路,而不是照搬外部模式。生存权和发展权是每个国家不可被剥夺的权利。对发展中国家而言,发展经济是人权的基本保障。
  关于中东问题:突坚定支持巴勒斯坦民族解放事业,支持巴人民建立独立巴勒斯坦国的合法权利,积极评价巴有关各方达成《麦加协议》,希望能有助于结束巴内部冲突。谴责以色列政府在阿克萨清真寺周围的挖掘活动,呼吁国际社会促以当局立即停止此类活动。同时,呼吁国际社会和有影响力的各方、特别是四方委员会,在国际法和有关决议基础上,为实现中东地区持久、公正和全面的和平继续努力。
  关于伊拉克问题:突希望伊拉克各派政治力量通过实现和解,结束流血冲突和恢复稳定,为国家重建和复兴创造良好环境。突对在宰牲节处决伊前总统萨达姆深表遗憾,认为这是对穆斯林感情的严重伤害。
  关于黎巴嫩问题:突呼吁为黎重建加强协调和努力,敦促黎各派通过对话和谅解,实现黎政局稳定和国家统一。
  【同法国的关系】突法关系较深,经济合作密切。法国在突外贸和外资中居首位,也是突旅游业的主要客源。突对法贸易占其贸易总额的27%左右,至2006年底,法在突企业总数已逾1150家,占突外企总数的40%。突是人均接受法国对外援助最多的国家,法每年向突提供约1亿欧元的援贷款。突海外侨民近一半旅居法国,2005年底在法侨民为50万人。法在突有侨民2.1万人。法是突军事装备的主要来源国之一,每年为突培训近百名中级军官,两国经常举行联合军事演习。2006年5月,格努希总理访法,双方在多领域签订多项协议,涉及贷款总额达9000万欧元。2007年2月,格努希总理赴法参加第24届法非首脑会议;5月,法国参议长蓬斯莱访突7月,法国总统萨科齐访突。
  【同美国的关系】 突美于1799年建交,关系密切。1981年突美成立军事委员会。1987年本·阿里任总统后,两度访美,美迅速予其政治和经济上的支持。美几任总统或国务卿也曾访突。美较重视突对马格里布地区稳定的作用。2006年2月,美国防部长拉姆斯菲尔德访突;3月,美负责中东事务的助理国务卿韦尔访突;4月,国防部长马尔坚访美,出席突-美第21次军事混委会;5月,美副国务卿佐立克访突。2007年,突外长阿卜杜拉访美。
  【同欧盟国家的关系】欧盟是突最大贸易伙伴和投资方。突同欧盟贸易占其对外贸易总额的80%。1995年7月,突同欧盟正式签署了“欧洲-地中海国家联系国协议”,拟在2008年建立突欧自由贸易区。1995年至今,突在突-欧合作框架内获得31亿突尼斯第纳尔的赠、贷款。2006年2月,突众议长迈巴扎访匈牙利,捷克总理帕劳贝克访突;7月,马耳他总统阿达米访突;10月,意大利总理普罗迪访突;12月,众议长迈巴扎访问欧洲议会。2007年2月,波兰众议长尤莱克访突;3月,格努希总理赴葡萄牙共同主持两国总理级高层会议。
  【同马格里布国家的关系】突积极推动马格里布联盟建设,重视睦邻友好,以维护周边安全。突与地区各国高层互访频繁,并建有高级别混委会。2006年2月,阿总理乌叶海亚访突,与突总理共同主持突-阿第15次高级混委会,同月,格努希总理访摩、毛;5月,毛国家元首瓦尔、摩参议长奥卡沙分别访突;7月,利总人委秘书马哈姆迪赴突主持突-利第19次高级后续委员会会议;9月,格努希总理赴摩主持突摩第13次高级混委会;12月,格努希总理访利。2007年2月,格努希总理访利,主持突-利第20次高级混委会会议;4月,突参议长卡拉勒访阿。
  【同其它阿拉伯国家的关系】突坚持相互尊重国家主权、不干涉内政、睦邻友好、通过谈判解决阿拉伯国家间分歧的原则,同所有阿拉伯国家发展友好关系。突支持巴勒斯坦人民收复被占领土,建立以耶路撒冷为首都的国家的正义事业,巴解政治部现仍设在突。突同情伊拉克人民因制裁所遭受的苦难,向伊提供了部分人道主义援助。2006年3月,格努希总理赴苏丹出席阿盟第18次首脑会议;4月,叙利亚总理奥特里访突,与突总理共同主持突-叙第7次高级混委会;5月和8月,巴勒斯坦民族权力机构主席阿巴斯访突;11月,卡塔尔埃米尔哈马德访突。2007年3月,格努希总理赴沙特参加第19届阿盟首脑会议;4月,格努希总理赴叙利亚共同主持突-叙高级混委会;6月,格努希总理访问约旦和埃及。
  
  【国家代码】216


  Tunisia (Arabic: تونس‎ Tūnis, Amazigh: Tuns), officially the Tunisian Republic (الجمهورية التونسية‎), 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 African country and the smallest of the nations 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 1300 km coastline. Both played a prominent role in ancient times, first with the famous Phoenician city of Carthage, and later, as the Africa Province, which became known as the bread basket of the Roman Empire.
  
  At the beginning of recorded history, Tunisia was inhabited by Berber tribes. Its coast was settled by Phoenicians starting as early as the 10th century BC. The city of Carthage was founded in the 9th century B.C. by settlers from Tyre, now in modern day Lebanon. Legend says that Queen Elissa founded the city in 814 B.C., as retold in by the Greek writer Timaeus of Tauromenium. The settlers of Carthage brought their culture and religion from the Phoenicians and other Canaanites.
  
  After a series of wars with Greek city-states of Sicily in the 5th century BC, Carthage rose to power and eventually became the dominant civilization in the Western Mediterranean. The people of Carthage worshipped a pantheon of Middle Eastern gods including Baal and Tanit. Tanit's symbol, a simple female figure with extended arms and long dress, is a popular icon found in ancient sites. The founders of Carthage also established a Tophet which was altered in Roman times.
  
  Though the Romans referred to the new empire growing in the city of Carthage as Punic or Phoenician, the empire built around Carthage was an independent political entity from the other Phoenician settlements in the Western Mediterranean.
  
  Tunis Zitouna Great MosqueA Carthaginian invasion of Italy led by Hannibal during the Second Punic War, one of a series of wars with Rome, nearly crippled the rise of the Roman Empire. Carthage was eventually conquered by Rome in the 2nd century BC, a turning point which led to ancient Mediterranean civilization having been influenced mainly by European instead of African cultures. After the Roman conquest, the region became one of the granaries of Rome and was fully Latinized and Christianized. It was conquered by the Vandals in the 5th century AD and reconquered by the commander Belisarius in the 6th century during the rule of Byzantine emperor Justinian.
  
  In the 7th century the region was conquered by Arab Muslims, who founded the city of Kairouan. Successive Muslim dynasties ruled, interrupted by Berber rebellions. The reigns of the Aghlabids (9th century) and of the Zirids (from 972), Berber followers of the Fatimids, were especially prosperous. When the Zirids angered the Fatimids in Cairo (1050), the latter sent in the Banu Hilal tribe to ravage Tunisia.
  
  The coasts were held briefly by the Normans of Sicily in the 12th century and the following Arab reconquest made the last Christians in Tunisia disappear. In 1159, Tunisia was conquered by the Almohad caliphs. They were succeeded by the Berber Hafsids (c.1230 – 1574), under whom Tunisia prospered. In the late 16th century the coast became a pirate stronghold (see: Barbary States). In the last years of the Hafsids, Spain seized many of the coastal cities, but these were recovered by the Ottoman Empire. Under its Turkish governors, the Beys, Tunisia attained virtual independence. The Hussein dynasty of Beys, established in 1705, lasted until 1957.
  
  French imperialism
  
  Cathedral of St Vincent de Paul, TunisIn the mid-1800s, Tunisia's government under the rule of the Bey severely compromised its legitimacy by making several controversial financial decisions that led to its downfall. France began plans to take control of Tunisia when the Bey first borrowed large sums of money in an attempt to Westernize. This failing state facilitated the Algerian raids that occurred thereafter. The weakened Bey was powerless against these raids and unable to resist European colonization.
  
  In 1878, a secret deal was made between the United Kingdom and France that decided the fate of the North African country. Provided that the French accepted British control of Cyprus, recently given to the United Kingdom, the British would in turn accept French control of Tunisia. This satisfied the French and led to their assumption of control in 1880, anticipating the Italians. Tunisia was formally made a French protectorate on May 12, 1881.
  
  World War II
  
  In 1942 – 1943 Tunisia was the scene of the first major operations by the Allied Forces (the British Commonwealth and the United States) against the Axis Powers (Italy and Germany) during World War II. The main body of the British army, advancing from their victory in Battle of el-Alamein under the command of British Field Marshal Montgomery, pushed into Tunisia from the south. The US and other allies, following their invasions of Algeria and Morocco in Operation Torch, invaded from the west.
  
  General Rommel, commander of the Axis forces in North Africa, had hoped to inflict a similar defeat on the allies in Tunisia as German forces did in the Battle of France in 1940. Before the battle for Tunisia, the inexperienced allied forces had generally been unable to withstand German blitzkriegs and properly coordinate their operations. As such the battle for Tunisia was a major test for the allies. They figured out that in order to defeat Axis forces they would have to coordinate their actions and quickly recover from the inevitable setbacks the experienced German-Italian forces would inflict.
  
  On February 19, 1943, General Rommel launched an attack on the American forces in the Kasserine Pass region of Western Tunisia, hoping to inflict the kind of demoralizing and alliance-shattering defeat the Germans had dealt to Poland and France. The initial results were a disaster for the United States; the area around the Kasserine Pass is the site of many US war graves from that time.
  
  However, the American forces were ultimately able to reverse their retreat. Having learned a critical lesson in tank warfare, the Allies broke through the Mareth line on March 20, 1943. The allies subsequently linked up on April 8 and on May 2, 1943 the German-Italian Army in Tunisia surrendered. Thus, the United States, United Kingdom, Free French, and Polish (as well as other forces) were able to win a major battle as an allied army.
  
  The battle, though often overshadowed by Stalingrad, represented a major allied victory of World War II largely because it forged the Alliance which would one day liberate Western Europe.
  
  Independence
  Before Western colonialism, Tunisia was ruled by a line of (Turkish colonial) Beys until 1881. Up until this point the Beys of Tunisia borrowed money from Europe to finance modernization within Tunisia. When the local population resented tax rises to fund the repayment the country found itself bankrupt. It is at this point that France, Britain and Italy placed the finances of Tunisia in administration via an international agreement.
  
  Habib BourguibaInitially, Italy was the country that demonstrated the most desire to have Tunisia as a colony having investment, citizens and geographic proximity as motivation. However this was rebuffed when Britain and France co-operated to prevent this during the years 1871 – 1878 ending in Britain supporting French influence in Tunisia in exchange for dominion over Cyprus. France still had the issue of Italian influence and thus decided to find an excuse for a pre-emptive strike. Using the pretext of a Tunisian incursion into Algeria, France marched an army of about 36,000 personnel which quickly advanced to Tunis and forced the Bey to make terms in the form of the 1881 Treaty of Bardo (Al Qasr as Sa'id), which gave France control of Tunisian governance and making it a de-facto French protectorate.
  
  Tunisia enjoyed certain benefits from French rule; however, the desire for self-governance remained and in 1910 Ali Bach Hamba and Bechir Sfar created the group of young Tunisians which led to the 1920 group called the “Destour” (constitution) party. Keeping the new movement under control led the French to use a combination of carrot-and-stick tactics that worked well but did not halt the momentum for independence. In 1934, a younger, more fervent element of the Destour party called the Neo-Destour emerged, with Habib Bourguiba, Dr Mahmoud Materi, Tahar Sfar and Bahri Guiga as their leaders. This new party was immediately declared illegal by the French administration, but received strong support from the fascist organizations of the Tunisian Italians.
  
  Habib Bourguiba spent a great deal of time in French prisons. However, this did little to stem his influence or halt the momentum for change. The Second World War played into Bourguiba’s hands as he was moved from Vichy French prisons to Rome, and then to Tunisia as the Axis powers courted his influence in Tunisia. Bourguiba never endorsed these requests. He did manage relocation to Tunisia and two months after this, the Allies claimed Tunisia.
  
  In the following ten years, the struggle for independence continued and gained momentum. Bourguiba was again incarcerated from 1952 – 1954, which in turn caused an outbreak of guerrilla attacks by supporters. In 1954, things changed abruptly when Pierre Mendes-France became the leader of the French government and pursued a policy of pulling out from burdensome French colonies, with Tunisia in this category. This resulted in the April 1955 agreement which handed internal autonomy to Tunisian hands while international relations were managed by France, a similar situation to the Turkish Bey method of governance in pre-1881.
  
  The Neo-Destour were now in control, but Bourguiba refused to take the helm until the French relinquished all control over Tunisia. He did not have to wait long, as the terrible Algerian War of Independence changed the French desire for colonialism, leading to the abolition of the Treaty of Bardo and Tunisia gaining full independence in March 20, 1956.
  
  Bourguiba became Prime Minister and, after 1957, the first president of the Republic of Tunisia as the constitutional role of the Bey was abolished.
  
  Present-day politics
  
  Tunisia is a republic with a strong presidential system dominated by a single political party. President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has been in office since 1987, the year he deposed Habib Bourguiba in a bloodless coup. The constitution has been changed twice to allow Ben Ali to remain in power: initially from two to three terms, then from three to five. The ruling party, the Democratic Constitutional Rally (RCD), was the sole legal party for 25 years, known previously as the Socialist Destourian Party (PSD). The RCD still dominates political life.
  
  Facing little opposition, the President is elected to 5-year terms. He appoints a Prime Minister and cabinet, who play a strong role in the execution of policy. Regional governors and local administrators also are appointed by the central government. Largely consultative mayors and municipal councils are elected. There is a unicameral legislative body, the Chamber of Deputies, which has 182 seats, 20% of which are reserved for the opposition parties. It plays a growing role as an arena for debate on national policy but never originates legislation. The Chamber virtually always passes bills presented by the executive with only one minor change. The judiciary is nominally independent but responds to executive direction, especially in political cases. The military is professional and does not play a role in politics.
  
  Tunisia is noteworthy for its lack of public political discourse. Tunisia's precise political situation is hard to determine due to a strong level of silence and lack of transparency maintained by the government. There is compelling evidence that dissidents are routinely arrested, for crimes as minor as viewing banned web sites. There are currently six legal opposition parties all with their own newspapers. However, the Committee to Protect Journalists, in its 2005 country report on Tunisia, details a persistent record of harassment, persecution, imprisonment, and physical harm perpetrated on journalists critical of the government. Even Western journalists, when writing on Tunisian soil, are not spared this fate.
  
  Despite official proclamations, the Tunisian government imposes significant restrictions on freedom of speech and human rights. As such Tunisians are noticeably insecure when discussing political matters. The internet, however, is the most immediately apparent sign of the pervasiveness of state control. In fact the growth of the internet has been a major issue for Tunisia. As tourism (mainly from Europe) has expanded in Tunisia, so has the number of Internet Cafes. Tunisian internet access is invariably censored. This censorship is targeted at material deemed pornographic as well as press or chat room commentary that is critical of the government. For example, the website of the Al Arabiya satellite channel is officially censored and thereby inaccessible from any computer in Tunisia.
  
  Tunisia is also one of three Muslim countries (Azerbaijan and Turkey are the others), that prohibits the hijab in government buildings. By government edict, women that insist on wearing the hijab must quit their job. Dissenters are forced to sign a document admitting to having committed a crime punishable by law and, in cases of recidivism, are jailed. Women who insist on keeping their veils despite all threats become the subject of negative propaganda disseminated by the Tunisian authorities on all state and private media.
  
  Underground opposition from Islamic Fundamentalists has an obvious but shadowy existence in Tunisia. Under former president Bourguiba, Islamic Fundamentalists were allowed to serve as a counterweight to more left-leaning movements. Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, however, has followed an aggressive policy regarding the Fundamentalists, though the extent of government success is difficult to judge in a nation where so much is secret. While Tunisia has a repressive political system, standards of living are among the best in the developing world. This can be evidenced by two compelling economic observations: the level to which Tunisia has become self-sufficient in material goods, and the extent of real estate development in the cities and major towns of the country. Put simply, the mid-level retail outlet will typically offer goods more than 90% of which are home produced. As to the rise of the building and construction industry, a fleeting visit to any of Tunisia's smaller towns (let alone the cities) will confirm that development is rampant: many projects, especially hotels, are newly opened, and many more stand as skeleton buildings, ready to be developed as soon as demand - and capital funds - are available to bring them to completion. Tunisia remains an autocratic regime, but one where starvation, homelessness, and disease, problems seen in much of Africa and Asia, are rare.
  
  The following is an excerpt from the The World Factbook about Tunisia;
  
  Following independence from France in 1956, President Habib BOURGUIBA established a strict one-party state. He dominated the country for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism and establishing rights for women unmatched by any other Arab nation. In recent years, Tunisia has taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in its foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse rising pressure for a more open political society.
  
  Governorates
  
  Tunisia is subdivided into 24 governorates, they are:
  
  Ariana
  Béja
  Ben Arous
  Bizerte
  Gabès
  Gafsa
  Jendouba
  Kairouan
  Kasserine
  Kebili
  Kef
  Mahdia
   Manouba
  Medenine
  Monastir
  Nabeul
  Sfax
  Sidi Bou Zid
  Siliana
  Sousse
  Tataouine
  Tozeur
  Tunis
  Zaghouan
  
  The governorates are divided into 262 "delegations" or "districts" (mutamadiyat), and further subdivided into municipalities (shaykhats).
  
  Geography
  
  Tunisia is a country situated on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, midway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Nile Valley. It is bordered by Algeria in the west and Libya in the south-east. An abrupt southern turn of its shoreline gives Tunisia two faces on the Mediterranean.
  
  Despite its relatively small size, Tunisia has great geographical and climactic diversity. The Dorsal, an extension of the Atlas Mountains, traverses Tunisia in a northeasterly direction from the Algerian border in the west to the Cape Bon peninsula. North of the Dorsal is the Tell, a region characterized by low, rolling hills and plains, although in the northwestern corner of Tunisia, the land reaches elevations of 1,050 meters. The Sahil is a plain along Tunisia's eastern Mediterranean coast famous for its olive monoculture. Inland from the Sahil, between the Dorsal and a range of hills south of Gafsa, are the Steppes. Much of the southern region is semi-arid and desert.
  
  Economy
  
  Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, energy, tourism, petroleum, 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. Real growth averaged 5.0% in the 1990s, and inflation is slowing. Increased trade and tourism have been key elements in this steady economic growth. Tunisia's association agreement with the European Union (EU), the first such accord between the EU and a Mediterranean country, entered into force on March 1, 1998. Under the agreement Tunisia will gradually remove barriers to trade with the EU over the next decade. Broader privatization, further liberalization of the investment code to increase foreign investment, and improvements in government efficiency are among the challenges for the future of Tunisia. According to the British Philip's university atlas of 2000, Tunisia also possesses major phosphate reserves in the middle section of the country.
  
  Tunisia is ranked most competitive economy of Africa in the 2007 edition of the Global Competitiveness Report that is released by the World Economic Forum. It also ranks first in the Arab World and 29th globally.
  
  Demographics
  
  Traditional Tunisian bread being madeThe majority (98%) of modern Tunisians are Arab, and are speakers of Tunisian Arabic. However, there is also a small (1% at most) population of Berbers located in the Jabal Dahar mountains in the South East and on the island of Jerba. The Berbers primarily speak Berber languages, often called Shelha. The other long-established community in the country is Jewish (today mainly in the capital Tunis and on Jerba), much reduced in number since independence from France.
  
  One study indicates that the majority of the genetic material in Tunisia did not arrive with the Arabs (no more than 20% was found to come from the Middle East, and most of this presumably was added by Phoenicians/Carthaginians or as even early as the neolithic several millennia B.C. rather than during the Arab conquest). Another study, which does not compare Tunisian genetics with those of the Middle East, states that what it calls the Arab subhaplotype Va was found at a relatively high frequency in Tunisia at 50.6%., but also states that this group in fact "probably correspond to a heterogeneous group representing various ethnicities", rather than just Arabs. Yet another finds that "the Tunisian genetic distances to European samples are smaller than those to North African groups" (these groups being from the Moroccan Atlas and the Siwa oasis in Egypt). This suggests a fairly significant European input to Tunisian genetics.
  
  The first people known to history in what is now Tunisia were the Berbers. Numerous civilizations and peoples have invaded, migrated to, and been assimilated into the population over the millennia, with varying influxes of population via conquest and settlement from Phoenicians/Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Arabs, Ottoman Turks, and French. Additionally, after the Reconquista and expulsion of non-Christians and Moriscos from Spain, many Spanish Moors and Jews also arrived at the end of the 15th century.
  
  Religion in Tunisia is dominated by Islam, to which nearly all Tunisians (98%) adhere. In addition to the aforementioned Jewish population there is also a small indigenous Christian population. Small nomadic indigenous minorities have been mostly assimilated into the larger population.
  
  Language
  
  Advert primarily in Tunisian ArabicModern Standard Arabic (MSA) is Tunisia's official language. However, as is the case in the rest of the Arab world, a vernacular form of Arabic is used by the public. In Tunisia, the dialect is Tunisian Arabic, which is closely related to the Maltese language. There is also a small minority of speakers of Shelha, a Berber language.
  
  French also has a major role in the country, despite having no official status. It is used widely in education (for example being the medium of instruction in the sciences in secondary school), the press, and in business, and most educated Tunisians are able to speak it. Many Tunisians, particularly those residing in large urban areas, readily mix Tunisian Arabic with French.
  
  Education
  Prior to 1958 education in Tunisia was only available to a privileged minority (14%). It is now given a high priority and accounts for 6% of GNP. A basic education for children between the ages of 6 and 16 has been compulsory since 1991.
  
  While children generally acquire Tunisian Arabic at home, when they enter school at age 6, they are taught to read and write in Standard Arabic. From the age of 8, they are taught French while English is introduced at the age of 10.
  
  Colleges and universities in Tunisia include:
  
  Ecole Polytechnique de Tunisie
  International University of Tunis
  Université Libre de Tunis
  University of Aviation and Technology, Tunisia
 

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