9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed)
Religions
Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 86.8%, Protestant (various denominations including Reformate and Pentecostal) 7.5%, Roman Catholic 4.7%, other (mostly Muslim) and unspecified 0.9%, none 0.1% (2002 census)
Languages
Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce)
Romanian 91% (official), Hungarian 6.7%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 1.2%
Exports
clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons, electrical equipment
machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products
External Debt
$23,210,000,000 $
$136,100,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar - 1.211 (2008 est.), 1.2776 (2007), 1.331 (2006), 1.2974 (2005), 1.2455 (2004)
lei (RON) per US dollar - 2.5 (2008 est.), 2.43 (2007), 2.809 (2006), 3 (2005), 3 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.400%
1.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
8
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine
Area
163,610 km sq
238,391 km sq
Coastline
1,148 km
225 km
Climate
temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
