Tunisia

814 BCE (July 1, Thursday): Founding of Carthage by Phoenician settlers

146 BCE (May 5, Tuesday): Fall of Carthage to Rome after the Third Punic War

439 CE (June 19, Tuesday): Vandals capture Carthage, establish a kingdom

698 CE (May 15, Monday): Arabs conquer Carthage, spread Islam throughout North Africa

1574 CE (July 14, Friday): Ottoman Empire takes control of Tunisia

1881 (May 12, Thursday): Tunisia becomes a French protectorate

1956 (March 20, Monday): Tunisia gains independence from France

2011 (January 14, Friday): Tunisian Revolution, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali overthrown

2014 (January 26, Sunday): New democratic constitution adopted

2018 (August 20, Monday): Severe drought impacts agriculture, especially olive oil production

2020 (July 19, Sunday): Flooding in northern Tunisia due to heavy rains

2023 (November 15, Wednesday): Earthquake hits the eastern Mediterranean, minor impacts in Tunisia

Continent: Africa
Location: North Africa, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east, Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast
Capital: Tunis
Language: Arabic (official), French (widely spoken)
Currency: Tunisian dinar (TND)
Population: ~12 million (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: Central European Time (CET)

Borders: Algeria (to the west), Libya (to the southeast)
Landscape: Coastal plains in the north, mountainous regions in the center, and the Sahara desert in the south
Major Rivers: Medjerda River, Oued Mellegue
Major Mountains: Atlas Mountains, Dorsal Mountains
Deserts: Sahara Desert (part of it)
Lakes: Chott el Jerid, Lake Tunis
Volcanoes: None
Highest Point: Jebel ech Chambi (1,544 m / 5,066 ft)
Lowest Point: Chott el Jerid (below sea level)
Climate: Mediterranean climate in the north with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters; desert climate in the south
Geological Features: Coastal plains, mountain ranges, desert region with salt flats

Ethnic Groups: Predominantly Arab-Berber, with small European and other minority communities
Religion: Predominantly Muslim (98%), small Christian and Jewish minorities
Urban Population: ~69% (last updated: 2023)
Aging Population: ~7% aged 65+ (last updated: 2024)

Famous For: Rich history, ancient ruins (like Carthage), Mediterranean beaches
Cuisine: Couscous, brik, tajine, harissa, lamb, seafood
Arts: Islamic art, modern and classical music, traditional dance
Sports: Football (soccer), handball, basketball

Economy Type: Developing, mixed economy
GDP: Approx. $45 billion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Agriculture, petroleum, mining, textiles, and tourism
Key Exports: Olive oil, textiles, chemicals, electrical machinery
Unemployment Rate: ~15.3% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Regions: Coastal region (agriculture and tourism), southern regions (oil, mining)

Government Type: Semi-presidential republic
Head of State: President Kais Saied (as of April 2025)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Najla Bouden (as of April 2025)
Legislature: Bicameral Parliament (Chamber of Deputies and Senate)
Constitution: In effect since 2014, following a revolution

Carthage: Ancient ruins of the Punic city
Tunis: Medina, Bardo Museum, and the Great Mosque of Zitouna
Sidi Bou Said: Picturesque coastal village with blue and white architecture
Tozeur: Gateway to the Sahara Desert and famous for its palm groves and salt flats
Dougga: Roman archaeological site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site