Tunisia | History, Capital, Language, Flag, Facts & Geography of Tunisia
History of Tunisia:
The northernmost point of Africa is in Tunisia. Due to its Mediterranean Sea shore, it has been the focus of numerous empires throughout history. In the eighth century BC, the Phoenicians established Carthage in Tunisia. Up to their ultimate defeat by Rome in 146 BC, Carthage fought as a prominent world force. Then, for more than 500 years, the region was a Roman province.
The Arabs who entered Tunisia in the seventh century carried the Islamic faith with them. Almost all Tunisians nowadays are Muslims. In the sixteenth century, Tunisia joined the Ottoman Empire and continued to be a hub of Arab culture. The French took over in 1881 and remained in charge until 1956, when Tunisia gained independence.
Information about Tunisia:
| Capital | Tunis |
| Population | 9,091,942 (Source: 2023 worldometer) |
| Major Cities | Tunis (capital), Lomé, Sokodé, Kara, Kpalimé, Atakpamé, Bassar, Tsévié, Aného |
| Borders | Ghana to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, and Benin to the east |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | $8,126,439,481 (2022 worldometer) |
| Currency | Tunisian dinar (TND) |
Flag of Tunisia:
Tunisia Economy Key Industries:
Tunisia Major Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
Tunisia Agricultural Products: olives, olive oil, grain, tomatoes, citrus fruit, sugar beets, dates, almonds; beef, dairy products
Tunisia Natural Resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Tunisia Major Exports: textiles, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, agricultural products, hydrocarbons
Tunisia Major Imports: textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, food
The Geography of Tunisia:
Total Size of Tunisia: 56,785 km² (source: wikipedia)
Geographical Low Point of Tunisia: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
Geographical High Point of Tunisia: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
Climate of Tunisia: Temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
General Terrain of Tunisia: mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara Desert
World Region or Continent of Tunisia: Africa
Geographical Coordinates: 34 00 N, 9 00 E
The People of Tunisia & Culture
Tunisia Government Type: republic
Tunisia Nationality: Tunisian(s)
Tunisia National Holiday: Independence Day, 20 March (1956)
Tunisia Independence: 20 March 1956 (from France)
Tunisia National Symbol: encircled red star and crescent
Tunisia National Anthem or Song: Humat Al Hima (Defenders of the Homeland)
Tunisia Languages Spoken: Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce)
Tunisia Religions: Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Interesting Facts about Tunisia:
Ceramics and pottery have a long history in Tunisia, where numerous studios and workshops produce both traditional and modern forms.
With more than 1,300 kilometers of coastline along the Mediterranean Sea, Tunisia is renowned for its stunning beaches.
The use of herbs and spices in Tunisian cooking is well known. Examples include the spicy pepper paste harissa and the herb za’atar.
With more than 80 million olive trees spread over the nation, Tunisia is a major producer of olive oil.
The smallest nation in the Maghreb region, Tunisia is situated in North Africa. The national currency of Tunisia is the dinar.
The ancient Carthage ruins, Tunis’s medina, and the island of Djerba are just a few of the country’s many tourist attractions.
Cotton, wool, and silk are among the textiles that Tunisia produces in large quantities.
Located in modern-day Tunisia, the ancient city of Carthage was a strong Phoenician city-state and a rival of Rome.
The Roman amphitheater in El Djem, the Bardo Museum in Tunis, and the holy city of Kairouan are just a few of the well-known sites in Tunisia.
Nearly 200,000 years ago, during the Stone Age, people began settling in Tunisia.
Tunisia is surrounded by the “Sahara,” the largest desert in the world.
The red crescent and star on the white backdrop of the Tunisian flag represent Islam and the nation’s freedom.
With a GDP of more than $40 billion, Tunisia’s economy is the second largest in North Africa, after Egypt.
It was in Tunisia that the Arab Spring first began.
The Arab Spring, a wave of demonstrations and upheavals that started in Tunisia in 2010 and extended across the Middle East and North Africa, has its roots in Tunisia.
With a president and parliament chosen by the people, Tunisia is a democracy.
Tunisia served as the location for numerous sequences from the Star Wars films.
Women in Tunisia have the ability to inherit land from their family and choose the nationalities and names of their offspring.
The jasmine plant is Tunisia’s national flower.
Around 90 years ago, an Egyptian composed the national hymn of Tunisia.
Algeria and Libya have a land border with Tunisia.
