Economy
Economic overview: Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important
agricultural, mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Detailed
governmental control of economic affairs has gradually lessened over the
past decade, including increasing privatization of trade and commerce, simplification
of the tax structure, and a cautious approach to debt. Real growth has averaged
4.2% in 1991-95, and inflation has been moderate. Growth in tourism and
IMF support have been key elements in this solid record. Drought, especially
in the south, held back GDP growth in 1995. Further privatization and further
improvements in government administrative efficiency are among the challenges
for the future.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $37.1 billion (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4.4% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $4,250 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 15%
industry: 30%
services: 55% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.5% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 2.917 million (1993 est.)
by occupation: services 55%, industry 23%, agriculture 22% (1995
est.)
note: shortage of skilled labor
Unemployment rate: 16.2% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $4.3 billion
expenditures: $5.5 billion, including capital expenditures to $NA
(1993 est.)
Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore),
tourism, textiles, footwear, food, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1989)
Electricity:
capacity: 1,410,000 kW
production: 5.4 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 595 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: olives, dates, oranges, almonds, grain, sugar beets,
grapes; poultry, beef, dairy products
Exports: $4.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: hydrocarbons, agricultural products, phosphates and
chemicals
partners: EU countries 75%, Middle East 10%, Algeria 2%, India 2%,
US 1%
Imports: $6.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: industrial goods and equipment 57%, hydrocarbons 13%,
food 12%, consumer goods
partners: EU countries 70%, US 5%, Middle East 2%, Japan 2%, Switzerland
1%, Algeria 1%
External debt: $7.7 billion (1993 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $221 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Tunisian dinar (TD) = 1,000 millimes
Exchange rates: Tunisian dinars (TD) per US$1 - 0.9635 (January 1996),
0.9458 (1995), 1.0116 (1994), 1.0037 (1993), 0.8844 (1992), 0.9246 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
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Basic Country Facts
