Tunisia officially the Tunisian Republic or the Republic of Tunisia is the northernmost country in Africa, covering 165,000 square kilometers (64,000 sq miles). Its northernmost point, Ras ben Sakka, is the northernmost point on the African continent. It is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. As of 2013, its population is estimated at just under 10.8 million. Its name is derived from its capital city, Tunis, which is located on the country's northeast coast, close to the ancient city of Carthage.
Tunisia was ruled by the Ottoman Empire from 1574 until 1881, when it was occupied by the French. Tunisia gained independence from France in 1956.
