Location Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya

Geographic coordinates 34 00 N, 9 00 E

Map references Africa

Area
total: 163,610 sq km
land: 155,360 sq km
water: 8,250 sq km

Area - comparative slightly larger than Georgia

Land boundaries
total: 1,424 km
border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km

Coastline 1,148 km

Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south

Terrain mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
highest point: Jabal ash Shanabi 1,544 m

Natural resources petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt

Land use
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 13%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 44% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land 3,850 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards NA

Environment - current issues 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: 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

Geography - note strategic location in central Mediterranean

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 Geography 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Tunisia Geography 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.