Area comparison map:

slightly larger than Georgia

Land boundaries:
total: 1,495 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (2): Algeria 1034 km, Libya 461 km

Coastline:
1,148 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
contiguous zone: 24 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - contiguous zone country ranks ]

Climate:
temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
More Climate Details

Terrain:
mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara

Elevation:
mean elevation: 246 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt

Land use:
agricultural land: 64.8% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 18.3% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 15.4% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 31.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 6.6% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 28.6% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
4,590 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
the overwhelming majority of the population is located in the northern half of the country; the south remains largely underpopulated

Natural hazards:
flooding; earthquakes; droughts

Environment - current issues:
toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural freshwater resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:
strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration