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Compare Western Sahara (2008) - Tunisia (2001)

Compare Western Sahara (2008) z Tunisia (2001)

 Western Sahara (2008)Tunisia (2001)
 Western SaharaTunisia
Administrative divisions none (under de facto control of Morocco) 23 governorates; Ariana (Aryanah), Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin 'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), El Kef (Al Kaf), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba (Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili (Qibili), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax (Safaqis), Sidi Bou Zid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse (Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan (Zaghwan)
Age structure 0-14 years: 45.4% (male 88,176/female 85,421)


15-64 years: 52.3% (male 98,345/female 101,895)


65 years and over: 2.3% (male 3,705/female 5,075) (2007 est.)
0-14 years:
28.74% (male 1,440,636; female 1,348,133)

15-64 years:
65.12% (male 3,157,988; female 3,161,596)

65 years and over:
6.14% (male 296,930; female 299,819) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads); fish olives, olive oil, grain, dairy products, tomatoes, citrus fruit, beef, sugar beets, dates, almonds
Airports 9 (2007) 32 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2007)
total:
15

over 3,047 m:
3

2,438 to 3,047 m:
6

1,524 to 2,437 m:
3

914 to 1,523 m:
3 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 6


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 2 (2007)
total:
17

1,524 to 2,437 m:
2

914 to 1,523 m:
8

under 914 m:
7 (2000 est.)
Area total: 266,000 sq km


land: 266,000 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total:
163,610 sq km

land:
155,360 sq km

water:
8,250 sq km
Area - comparative about the size of Colorado slightly larger than Georgia
Background Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed. In April 2007, Morocco presented an autonomy plan for the territory to the UN, which the U.S. considers serious and credible. The Polisario also presented a plan to the UN in 2007. Since August 2007, representatives from the Government of Morocco and the Polisario Front have met three times to negotiate the status of Western Sahara, with a fourth round of negotiations planned for March 2008. Following independence from France in 1956, President Habib BOURGIUBA 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 diffuse rising pressure for a more open political society.
Birth rate NA 39.95 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 17.11 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA
revenues:
$7.5 billion

expenditures:
$8.1 billion, including capital expenditures to $1.6 billion (2000 est.)
Capital none


time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Tunis
Climate hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
Coastline 1,110 km 1,148 km
Constitution - 1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Western Sahara


former: Spanish Sahara
conventional long form:
Republic of Tunisia

conventional short form:
Tunisia

local long form:
Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah

local short form:
Tunis
Currency - Tunisian dinar (TND)
Death rate NA 4.99 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $NA $13 billion (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US none chief of mission:
Ambassador Rust DEMMING

embassy:
144 Avenue de la Liberte, 1002 Tunis-Belvedere

mailing address:
use embassy street address

telephone:
[216] (1) 782-566

FAX:
[216] (1) 789-719
Diplomatic representation in the US none chief of mission:
Ambassador Hatem ATALLAH

chancery:
1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005

telephone:
[1] (202) 862-1850
Disputes - international Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, whose sovereignty remains unresolved; UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, administered by the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals; several states have extended diplomatic relations to the "Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic" represented by the Polisario Front in exile in Algeria, while others recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara; most of the approximately 102,000 Sahrawi refugees are sheltered in camps in Tindouf, Algeria none
Economic aid - recipient $NA $933.2 million (1995); note - ODA, $90 million (1998 est.)
Economy - overview Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. Incomes in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level. The Moroccan Government controls all trade and other economic activities in Western Sahara. Morocco and the EU signed a four-year agreement in July 2006 allowing European vessels to fish off the coast of Morocco, including the disputed waters off the coast of Western Sahara. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. However, in 2006 the Polisario awarded similar exploration licenses in the disputed territory, which would come into force if Morocco and the Polisario resolve their dispute over Western Sahara. Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, energy, 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. Real growth averaged 5.5% in the past four years, and inflation is slowing. Growth in tourism and increased trade have been key elements in this steady growth. Tunisia's association agreement with the European Union entered into force on 1 March 1998, the first such accord between the EU and Mediterranean countries to be activated. 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.
Electricity - consumption 79.05 million kWh (2005) 8.677 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 19 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2005) 165 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 85 million kWh (2005) 9.173 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
99.2%

hydro:
0.8%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m


highest point: unnamed location 463 m
lowest point:
Shatt al Gharsah -17 m

highest point:
Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
Environment - current issues sparse water and lack of arable land toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and presents human health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements party to: none of the selected agreements


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Marine Life Conservation
Ethnic groups Arab, Berber Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Exchange rates Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.2827 (2007), 8.7722 (2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.5744 (2003) Tunisian dinars per US dollar - 1.3753 (January 2001), 1.4667 (November 2000), 1.1862 (1999), 1.1387 (1998), 1.1059 (1997), 0.9734 (1996)
Executive branch none chief of state:
President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November 1987)

head of government:
Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI (since 17 November 1999)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); prime minister appointed by the president

election results:
President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected for a third term without opposition; percent of vote - Zine El Abidine BEN ALI nearly 100%
Exports 0 bbl/day (2004) $6.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities phosphates 62% textiles, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, agricultural products, hydrocarbons
Exports - partners Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2006) Germany 28%, France 22%, Italy 17%, Belgium 5%, Libya 4% (1999)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description - red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam
GDP - purchasing power parity - $62.8 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: 40%
agriculture:
14%

industry:
32%

services:
54% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $6,500 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 24 30 N, 13 00 W 34 00 N, 9 00 E
Geography - note the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
Highways - total:
23,100 km

paved:
18,226 km

unpaved:
4,874 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%:
2.3%

highest 10%:
30.7% (1990)
Imports 1,698 bbl/day (2004) $8.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, food
Imports - partners Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2006) France 23%, Germany 23%, Italy 15%, Belgium 3% (1999)
Independence - 20 March 1956 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 4.1% (2000 est.)
Industries phosphate mining, handicrafts petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, food, beverages
Infant mortality rate total: NA


male: NA


female: NA
29.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA% 3% (2000 est.)
International organization participation none ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, BSEC (observer), CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 1 (2000)
Irrigated land NA 3,850 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch - Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation
Labor force 12,000 2.65 million (2000 est.)

note:
shortage of skilled labor
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 50%


industry and services: 50%
services 55%, industry 23%, agriculture 22% (1995 est.)
Land boundaries total: 2,046 km


border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
total:
1,424 km

border countries:
Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
Land use arable land: 0.02%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 99.98% (2005)
arable land:
19%

permanent crops:
13%

permanent pastures:
20%

forests and woodland:
4%

other:
44% (1993 est.)
Languages Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce)
Legal system - based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session
Legislative branch - unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (182 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)

election results:
percent of vote by party - RCD 92%; seats by party - RCD 148, MDS 13, UDU 7, PUP 7, Al-Tajdid 5, PSL 2; note - reforms enabled opposition parties to win up to 20% of seats; the opposition increased number of seats from 19 to 34
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
total population:
73.92 years

male:
72.35 years

female:
75.62 years (2001 est.)
Literacy NA definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
66.7%

male:
78.6%

female:
54.6% (1995 est.)
Location Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya
Map references Africa Africa
Maritime claims contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue contiguous zone:
24 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine - total:
15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 149,554 GRT/156,861 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 2, cargo 4, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1 (2000 est.)
Military branches - Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces, National Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $356 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 1.5% (FY99)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
2,739,566 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
1,561,484 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 20 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males:
105,146 (2001 est.)
National holiday - Independence Day, 20 March (1956)
Nationality noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)


adjective: Sahrawi, Sahrawian, Sahraouian
noun:
Tunisian(s)

adjective:
Tunisian
Natural hazards hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility NA
Natural resources phosphates, iron ore petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Net migration rate - -0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines - crude oil 797 km; petroleum products 86 km; natural gas 742 km
Political parties and leaders - Al-Tajdid Movement [Adel CHAOUCH]; Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD [President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (official ruling party)]; Liberal Social Party or PSL [Mounir BEJI]; Movement of Democratic Socialists or MDS [Khamis CHAMMARI]; Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed Belhaj AMOR]; Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Abderrahmane TLILI]
Political pressure groups and leaders none the Islamic fundamentalist party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is outlawed
Population 382,617


note: estimate is based on projections by age, sex, fertility, mortality, and migration; fertility and mortality are based on data from neighboring countries (July 2007 est.)
9,705,102 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 6% (2000 est.)
Population growth rate NA 1.15% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors - Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Sfax, Sousse, Tunis, Zarzis
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 7, FM 20, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios - 2.06 million (1997)
Railways - total:
2,168 km

standard gauge:
471 km 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge:
1,687 km 1.000-m gauge

dual gauge:
10 km 1.000-m and 1.435-m gauges (three rails)
Religions Muslim Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Sex ratio NA at birth:
1.08 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.99 male(s)/female

total population:
1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed 20 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: sparse and limited system


domestic: NA


international: country code - 212; tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
general assessment:
above the African average and continuing to be upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; Internet access available

domestic:
trunk facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxial cable, and microwave radio relay

international:
5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel; two international gateway digital switches
Telephones - main lines in use about 2,000 (1999 est.) 654,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 0 (1999) 50,000 (1998)
Television broadcast stations NA 26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara
Total fertility rate NA 1.99 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 15.6% (2000 est.)
Waterways - none
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