Economy
Economy - overview: Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Detailed governmental control of economic affairs has gradually lessened over the past decade with increasing privatization of trade and commerce, simplification of the tax structure, and a cautious approach to debt. Real growth has averaged 4.5% in 1991-96, and inflation has been moderate. Growth in tourism and increased trade have been key elements in this solid record. Agricultural production accounted for a major portion of growth in GDP in 1996, growth having been adversely affected by drought in 1995. Further privatization, the attraction of increased foreign investment, and improvements in government efficiency are among the challenges for the future.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $43.3 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 7.1% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,800 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13.5% industry: 33.8% services: 52.7% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 6% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 2.917 million (1993 est.) by occupation: services 55%, industry 23%, agriculture 22% (1995 est.) note : shortage of skilled labor
Unemployment rate: 16% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues : $5.2 billion expenditures: $7.2 billion, including capital expenditures to $1.4 billion (1996 est.)