Tunisia

D

Local Government

For administrative purposes, Tunisia is divided into 23 governorates, each headed by a governor who is appointed by the president.

E

Health and Welfare

In 1994 Tunisia had about 5,300 doctors. There were 745 people per doctor and an infant mortality rate of 22 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2000, 6.3 per cent of government expenditure was spent on health care, which is free and available to a majority of the population. A system of social security, instituted in 1950, provides maternity, health, and old-age benefits. Average life expectancy at birth in 2008 was 73.8 years for men, 77.5 years for women.

F

Defence

In 2004 the armed forces of Tunisia comprised an army of about 27,000 personnel, a navy of 4,800, and an air force of 3,500. There is one year’s conscription. In 2003, Tunisia spent US$494 million (2 per cent of its gross domestic product; GDP) on defence.

G

International Organizations

Tunisia is a member of the United Nations (UN), the Arab League, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and the African Union.

VI

History

In the earliest-known period of its history, the region now called Tunisia was part of the empire of Carthage. According to tradition, Phoenician traders founded the city of Carthage in 814 bc at a location slightly north-east of the site of modern Tunis. In subsequent centuries Carthage became the centre of a mighty empire that dominated most of northern Africa and intermittently ruled the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula, Sardinia, and parts of Sicily. Beginning in 264 bc Carthage clashed with the expanding Roman Empire in a series of bloody struggles known as the Punic Wars. In the last of these, the Third Punic War (149-146 bc), Rome defeated the Carthaginians and completely destroyed their capital. From the 2nd century bc to the 5th century ad most of the region now constituting Tunisia was part of the Roman province of Africa.

During the 5th century the Teutonic tribe known as the Vandals moved south through the Iberian Peninsula, crossed the Mediterranean, and wrested the province from Roman control. After a century of Vandal rule, from about 430 to 534, the region was reconquered for Rome by the Byzantine general Belisarius.