Economy - overview Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control of economic affairs has gradually lessened over the past decade with increasing privatization of trade and commerce, simplification of the tax structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Real growth averaged 4.6% in 1992-96 and reached 5.6% in 1997, down from 6.9% in 1996, which benefited from a record cereal crop. Inflation has been moderate. Growth in tourism and increased trade have been key elements in this solid record. 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. Further privatization, the attraction of increased foreign investment, and improvements in government efficiency are among the challenges for the future.

GDP purchasing power parity - $56.5 billion (1997 est.)

GDP - real growth rate 5.6% (1997 est.)

GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $6,100 (1997 est.)

GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 14%
industry: 28%
services: 58% (1996 est.)

Inflation rate - consumer price index 4.6% (1997 est.)

Labor force
total: 2.917 million (1993 est.)
by occupation: services 55%, industry 23%, agriculture 22% (1995 est.)
note: shortage of skilled labor

Unemployment rate 15% (1997 est.)

Budget
revenues: $6.3 billion
expenditures: $6.8 billion, including capital expenditures to $1.5 billion (1997 est.)

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

Industrial production growth rate 3.5% (1995)

Electricity - capacity 1.414 million kW (1995)

Electricity - production 6.165 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita 696 kWh (1995)

Agriculture - products olives, dates, oranges, almonds, grain, sugar beets, grapes; poultry, beef, dairy products

Exports
total value: $5.6 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
commodities: hydrocarbons, textiles, agricultural products, phosphates and chemicals
partners: EU 80%, North African countries 6%, Asia 4%, US 1% (1996)

Imports
total value: $7.4 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
commodities: industrial goods and equipment 57%, hydrocarbons 13%, food 12%, consumer goods
partners: EU countries 80%, North African countries 5.5%, Asia 5.5%, US 5% (1996)

Debt - external $10.6 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid
recipient: ODA, $221 million (1993)

Currency 1 Tunisian dinar (TD) = 1,000 millimes

Exchange rates Tunisian dinars (TD) per US$1 - 1.1612 (January 1998), 1.1059 (1997), 0.9734 (1996), 0.9458 (1995), 1.0116 (1994), 1.0037 (1993)

Fiscal year calendar year

NOTE: The information regarding Tunisia on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Tunisia Economy 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Tunisia Economy 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.