Tunisia-Economic and political outline

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Published: 06 Oct 2008 17:49:05 PST

Economic indicators

GDP Indicators	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
GDP (billions USD)	28.255	29.039	30.837	34.142	37.779
GDP (constant prices, annual % change)	6	4	5.4	6	6.2
GDP per capita (USD)	2845.593	2891.892	3031.593	3313.393	3619.278
General government balance (in % of GDP)
Inflation rate (%)	3.6	2	4.5	3	3
Unemployment rate (% of the labor force)	14.9	14.9
Current Account (billions USD)	14.9	14.9
Current Account (in % of GDP)	-0.555	-0.306	-0.7	-0.874	-1.037

Source: IMF - World Economic Outlook Database

Note: (e) Estimated data

Breakdown of economic activity by sector	Agriculture	Industry	Services
Value added (annual % change)	10.1145	4.663231	5.844865
Value added (in % of GDP)		28.20	59.09
Employment by sector(in % of total employment)	21.6%	33.5%	42.5%

Source: - last available data.

Foreign Trade in figures

Foreign trade indicators	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006
Imports of goods (millions USD)	8980.588	10296.8	12109.52	12456.13
Exports of goods (millions USD)	6857.123	8027.423	9679.103	10488.4
Imports of services (millions USD)	1450.342	1612.004	1985.601	2182
Exports of services (millions USD)	2681.234	2936.843	3629.162	4004.059
Imports of goods and services (annual % change)	-3.796117	-0.455386	3.544806	1.122462	1.402176
Exports of goods and services (annual % change)	-3.740106	0.05432434	7.772801	3.242575	3.87691
Trade Balance (millions USD)	-2123.464	-2269.379	-2430.414	-1967.731
Current Account (millions USD)	-745.5688	-730.3302	-550.7976	-302.9057
Foreign trade (in % of GDP)	94.74265	91.50097	96.78436	98.63073	91.50097
Imports of goods and services (in % of GDP)	49.51076	47.68698	49.86128	50.63746	54.28892
Exports of goods and services (in % of GDP)	45.23189	43.81399	46.92308	47.99327	54.38311

Source:

To see more products: More imports (Intracen Data)
More exports (Intracen Data)

Sources of economic information

Economic Organizations: National Statistics Institute (INS)
The Central Bank of Tunisia
Tunis Stock Exchange
Ministries: Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Crafts (UTICA)
Agency for Agricultural Investment Promotion
National Observatory of Agriculture
Online newspapers: Le temps (only in French)
La Presse (only in French)
AL-Chourouk (only in Arabic)
Search Engines: Marweb Tunisie
Bab el Web
Winoo
Ballouchi
Economic portals: Tunisiaonline - news

Political outline

Executive Power: Article 37 of the Constitution lays down that "the executive power is exercised by the President of the Republic assisted by a government led by a Prime Minister".The President of the Republic is the Head of State. He is elected for five years by universal, free, direct and secret suffrage, and by an absolute majority of the votes cast. The President of the Republic is the guarantor of national independence, the integrity of the country, the observance of the Constitution and the laws as well as the enforcement of treaties. He sees to the regular functioning of the constitutional public authorities and ensures the continuity of the State. He benefits from jurisdictional immunity during and after the end of his period of office. The President of the Republic is the Supreme Head of the Armed Forces. He accredits diplomatic representatives to foreign powers. The President of the Republic directs the general policy of the State, defines its fundamental options and informs the Chamber of Deputies. The President of the Republic appoints the Prime Minister and, on his recommendation, the other members of the government. The President of the Republic presides over the Council of Ministers. The President of the Republic appoints civil and military high-ranking civil servants on the government's recommendation.
Legislative Power: The people exercises the legislative power through a representative assembly, called, since 1981, "Chamber of Deputies" and the Chamber of Councillors, or by referendum. The Chamber of Deputies is composed of 189 deputies elected by universal, free, direct and secret suffrage for a five-year term.
Laws are initiated conjointly by the President of the Republic and the members of the Chamber of Deputies. The bills presented by the President of the Republic have priority.
Main political parties: Democratic Constitutional Rally (RCD), the majority party.
Opposition parties:
the Progressive Democratic Party (RSP)
the Social Liberal Party (PSP)
the Unionist Democratic Union (UDU)
As for the MTI (Renaissance Party), its legalization visa has been refused.
Current political leaders: President: Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since November 1987) - RCD
Prime Minister: Mohamed EL GHANNOUCHI (since November 1999) - RCD
Next election dates: Presidential elections: 2009