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
water: 8,250 sq km
land: 155,360 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: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m

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

Land use
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 13%
other: 68% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 3,800 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards NA

Environment - current issues toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses 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; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

NOTE: The information regarding Tunisia on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Tunisia Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Tunisia Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.