2020 Edition

Background

Many empires have controlled Tunisia, including the Phoenicians (as early as the 12 century B.C.), Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, various Arab and Berber kingdoms, and Ottomans (16th to late-19th centuries). Rivalry between French and Italian interests in Tunisia culminated in a French invasion in 1881 and the creation of a protectorate. Agitation for independence in the decades after World War I finally convinced the French to recognize Tunisia as an independent state in 1956. The country's first president, Habib BOURGUIBA, established a strict one-party state. He dominated the country for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism and establishing rights for women. In 1987, Zine el Abidine BEN ALI replaced BOURGUIBA in a bloodless coup. Street protests that began in Tunis in 2010 over high unemployment, corruption, widespread poverty, and high food prices escalated in 2011, culminating in rioting that led to hundreds of deaths and later became known as the start of the regional Arab Spring uprising. BEN ALI dismissed the government and fled the country, and a "national unity government" was formed. Elections for the new Constituent Assembly were held later that year, and human rights activist Moncef MARZOUKI was elected as interim president. The Assembly began drafting a new constitution in 2012 and, after several iterations and a months-long political crisis that stalled the transition, ratified the document in 2014. Parliamentary and presidential elections for a permanent government were held at the end of 2014. Beji CAID ESSEBSI was elected as the first president under the country's new constitution. After ESSEBSI’s death in office in 2019, Kais SAIED was elected. SAIED's term, as well as that of Tunisia's 217-member parliament, was set to expire in 2024. However, in 2021, SAIED used the exceptional powers allowed under Tunisia's constitution to dismiss the prime minister and suspend the legislature. Tunisians approved a new constitution through public referendum in 2022, expanding presidential powers and creating a new bicameral legislature. 

Area

land

155,360 sq km

total

163,610 sq km

water

8,250 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Georgia

Climate

temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south

Coastline

1,148 km

Elevation

highest point

Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m

lowest point

Shatt al Gharsah -17 m

mean elevation

246 m

Geographic coordinates

34 00 N, 9 00 E

Geography - note

strategic location in central Mediterranean

Irrigated land

3,920 sq km (2013)

Land boundaries

border countries

Algeria 1,034 km; Libya 461 km

total

1,495 km

Land use

agricultural land

62.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 18.2% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 13.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 30.6% (2023 est.)

forest

4.5% (2023 est.)

other

33.1% (2023 est.)

Location

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya

Major aquifers

North Western Sahara Aquifer System

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

12 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

flooding; earthquakes; droughts

Natural resources

petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt

Population distribution

the overwhelming majority of the population is located in the northern half of the country; the south remains largely underpopulated, as shown in this population distribution map

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years

24.4% (male 1,516,871/female 1,426,522)

15-64 years

65.2% (male 3,861,731/female 3,990,802)

65 years and over

10.4% (2024 est.) (male 593,640/female 659,281)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

1.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

11.35 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

0% (2018)

women married by age 15

0% (2018)

women married by age 18

1.5% (2018)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.6% (2018 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

52.5% (2023 est.)

Death rate

6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

15.1 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

6.6 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

50.7 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

35.6 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 93.4% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 97.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 6.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 2.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

6.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

17.3% national budget (2025 est.)

Ethnic groups

Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%

Gross reproduction rate

0.77 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

7% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

11.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

9.8 deaths/1,000 live births

male

12.7 deaths/1,000 live births

total

10.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

Arabic (official, one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce), Tamazight

major-language sample(s)

كتاب حقائق العالم، أحسن كتاب تتعلم به المعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.1 years

male

75.7 years

total population

77.3 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

80.1% (2023 est.)

male

92.7% (2023 est.)

total population

86.2% (2023 est.)

Major urban areas - population

2.475 million TUNIS (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

36 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

35.1 years

male

33.6 years

total

34.1 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Tunisian

noun

Tunisian(s)

Net migration rate

-1.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

26.9% (2016)

Physician density

1.32 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

Population

female

6,036,254

male

5,926,741

total

11,962,995 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

0.38% (2025 est.)

Religions

Muslim (official; Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Shia Muslim, and Baha'i) <1%

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 99% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2016 est.)

male

14 years (2016 est.)

total

14 years (2016 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.9 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

1.4% (2025 est.)

male

37.6% (2025 est.)

total

19% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

70.5% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

24 governorates (wilayat, singular - wilayah); Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin 'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba (Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili (Qibili), Kef (Al Kaf), L'Ariana (Aryanah), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah), Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax (Safaqis), Sidi Bouzid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse (Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan (Zaghwan)

Capital

etymology

the origin of the ancient name is unclear; it is sometimes associated with the name of the Phoenician goddess Tanith

geographic coordinates

36 48 N, 10 11 E

name

Tunis

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Tunisia

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

amendment process

proposed by the president of the republic or one third of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People membership; following Constitutional Court review, approval to proceed requires an absolute majority vote in the Assembly, and final passage requires a two-thirds Assembly majority vote; the president can opt to submit an amendment to a referendum, which requires an absolute majority of votes cast for passage

history

several previous; latest draft published by the president 30 June 2022, approved by referendum 25 July 2022, and adopted 27 July 2022

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Tunisia

conventional short form

Tunisia

etymology

the country name derives from the capital city of Tunis

local long form

Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah

local short form

Tunis

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Bill BAZZI (since 21 November 2025)

email address and website

tuniswebsitecontact@state.gov https://tn.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Les Berges du Lac, 1053 Tunis

FAX

[216] 71-107-090

mailing address

6360 Tunis Place, Washington DC 20521-6360

telephone

[216] 71-107-000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Anis HAJRI (since 1 August 2025)

email address and website

AT.Washington@Tunisiaembassy.org https://www.tunisianembassy.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 862-1858

telephone

[1] (202) 862-1850

Executive branch

cabinet

prime minister appointed by the president; cabinet members appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister

chief of state

President Kais SAIED (since 23 October 2019)

election results

2024: Kais SAIED reelected president in first round - Kais SAIED (independent) 90.7%, Ayachi ZAMMEL (Long Live Tunisia) 7.3%, Zouhair MAGHZAOUI (People's Movement) 2% 2019: Kais SAIED elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Kais SAIED (independent) 18.4%, Nabil KAROUI (Heart of Tunisia) 15.6%, Abdelfattah MOUROU (Nahda Movement) 12.9%, Abdelkrim ZBIDI (independent) 10.7%, Youssef CHAHED (Long Live Tunisia) 7.4%, Safi SAID (independent) 7.1%, Lotfi MRAIHI (Republican People's Union) 6.6%, other 21.3%; percent of vote in second round - Kais SAIED 72.7%, Nabil KAROUI 27.3%

election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)

expected date of next election

2029

head of government

Prime Minister Sarra ZAAFRANI Zenzri (since 21 March 2025)

most recent election date

6 October 2024

Flag

description: red with a white disk in the center that displays a red crescent around a five-pointed red star meaning: red stands for martyrs' blood shed the fight against oppression, and white for peace; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam history: resembles the Ottoman flag (red banner with white crescent and star), a reference to Tunisia's history as part of the Ottoman Empire

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

20 March 1956 (from France)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AIIB, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Court of Cassation (consists of the first president, chamber presidents, and magistrates; organized into 27 civil and 11 criminal chambers)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges nominated by the Supreme Judicial Council, an independent 4-part body consisting mainly of elected judges and the remainder legal specialists; judge tenure based on terms of appointment; Constitutional Court (established in the 2014 and 2022 constitutions, but never implemented)

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; administrative courts; Court of Audit; Housing Court; courts of first instance; lower district courts; military courts

Legal system

mixed system of civil law, based on the French civil code and Islamic (sharia) law; Supreme Court reviews some legislative acts in joint session

Legislative branch

legislative structure

bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

Assembly of People's Representatives (Majlis Nawwab ash-Sha'ab)

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

December 2027

most recent election date

12/17/2022 to 1/29/2023

number of seats

161 (all directly elected)

percentage of women in chamber

15.8%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

National Council of Regions and Districts

expected date of next election

April 2029

most recent election date

4/19/2024

number of seats

77 (all indirectly elected)

percentage of women in chamber

13%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1957, replaced 1958, restored 1987; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of the United Arab Emirates

lyrics/music

Mustafa Sadik AL-RAFII and Aboul-Qacem ECHEBBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB

title

"Humat Al Hima" (Defenders of the Homeland)

National color(s)

red, white

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Amphitheatre of El Jem (c); Archaeological Site of Carthage (c); Medina of Tunis (c); Ichkeul National Park (n); Punic Town of Kerkuane (c); Kairouan (c); Medina of Sousse (c); Dougga / Thugga (c); Djerba: Testimony to a settlement pattern in an island territory (c)

total World Heritage Sites

9 (8 cultural, 1 natural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 20 March (1956); Revolution and Youth Day, 14 January (2011)

National symbol(s)

red crescent moon and five-pointed star in a white circle

Political parties

Afek Tounes Al Badil Al-Tounisi (The Tunisian Alternative) Al-Amal Party Call for Tunisia Party (Nidaa Tounes) Current of Love (formerly the Popular Petition party) Democratic Current Democratic Patriots' Unified Party Dignity Coalition or Al Karama Coalition Ennahda Movement (The Renaissance) Ettakatol Party Free Destourian Party or PDL Green Tunisia Party Harakat Hak Heart of Tunisia (Qalb Tounes) July 25 Movement Labor and Achievement Party Long Live Tunisia (Tahya Tounes) Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS National Coalition Party National Salvation Front New Carthage Party Party of the Democratic Arab Vanguard People's Movement Republican Party (Al Joumhouri) The Movement Party (Hizb Harak) Third Republic Party Tunisian Ba'ath Movement Voice of the Republic Workers' Party

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal except for active government security forces (including the police and the military), people with mental disabilities, people who have served more than three months in prison (criminal cases only), and people given a suspended sentence of more than six months

Agricultural products

milk, tomatoes, olives, onions, chillies/peppers, watermelons, potatoes, wheat, dates, oranges (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

3.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

22.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$12.375 billion (2019 est.)

revenues

$10.866 billion (2019 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

-$2.77 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$3.969 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$1.111 billion (2023 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$21.212 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview

lower middle-income North African economy; drafting reforms for foreign lenders; high unemployment, especially for youth and women; hit hard by COVID-19; high public sector wages; high public debt; protectionist austerity measures; key EU trade partner

Exchange rates

Currency

Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

2.812 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

2.794 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

3.104 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

3.106 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

3.107 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$14.054 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$17.254 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$19.732 billion (2023 est.)

Exports - commodities

garments, insulated wire, olive oil, refined petroleum, crude petroleum (2023)

Exports - partners

France 22%, Italy 17%, Germany 13%, USA 4%, Libya 4% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

48.4% (2024 est.)

government consumption

18.6% (2024 est.)

household consumption

76.2% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-56.6% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

13.4% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

0% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

9.3% (2023 est.)

industry

23.6% (2023 est.)

services

62.1% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$53.41 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

33.7 (2021 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

27% (2021 est.)

lowest 10%

3.1% (2021 est.)

Imports

Imports 2021

$18.178 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$22.453 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$21.953 billion (2023 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, natural gas, plastic products, cars, plastics (2023)

Imports - partners

Italy 13%, France 12%, China 10%, Russia 8%, Germany 7% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

-2.5% (2024 est.)

Industries

petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate, iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

8.3% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

9.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

7.2% (2024 est.)

Labor force

4.247 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

16.6% (2021 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

62.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$153.945 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$154.006 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$156.086 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

2.7% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

0% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

1.4% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$12,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$12,600 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$12,700 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

6.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

6.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$8.094 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$9.24 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$9.344 billion (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

15.3% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

15.2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

16.3% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

37.6% (2024 est.)

male

41.1% (2024 est.)

total

40.1% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

2,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

28 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

3,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

19.153 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

80 million kWh (2023 est.)

imports

2.576 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

6.639 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

4.629 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

99.7%

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

100%

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

96.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

33.754 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

5.131 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

3.887 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

1.313 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

65.129 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

425 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

104,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

35,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

14 (2023 est.)

total

1.73 million (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

2 state-owned TV stations; 10 private local TV stations; satellite TV service available; state-owned radio network with 2 stations; several dozen private radio stations and community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available (2019)

Internet country code

.tn

Internet users

percent of population

72% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

15 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

1.863 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

118 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

14.4 million (2024 est.)

Airports

14 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

TS

Heliports

11 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

container ship 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 1, other 62

total

72 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Ashtart Oil Terminal, Banzart, Didon Terminal, Gabes, La Goulette, Menzel Bourguiba, Mersa Sfax, Sousse, Tazerka Oil Terminal, Tunis

large

0

medium

3

ports with oil terminals

10

small

7

total ports

16 (2024)

very small

6

Railways

dual gauge

8 km (2014) 1.435-1.000-m gauge

narrow gauge

1,694 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)

standard gauge

471 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

total

2,173 km (2014) (1,991 in use)

Military - note

the Tunisian Armed Forces (FAT) are responsible for territorial defense and internal security; operational areas of focus include counterterrorism and assisting with securing the border regions, particularly along the frontiers with Algerian and Libya   the FAT conducts bilateral and multinational training exercises with a variety of countries, including Algeria and other North African and Middle Eastern countries, France, and the US, as well as NATO; it also participates in UN peacekeeping operations; Tunisia has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2025)

Military and security forces

Tunisian Armed Forces (Forces Armées Tunisiennes, FAT): Tunisian Army (includes Air Defense Force), Tunisian Navy, Tunisia Air Force Ministry of Interior (MoI): Internal Security Forces (National Police, National Guard) (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 35,000 active-duty Armed Forces (2025)

Military deployments

840 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Tunisian military's inventory consists mostly of older or secondhand equipment from a variety of suppliers, including Austria, France, Italy, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; men 20-35 years of age subject to 12 months of compulsory national service (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

12,575 (2024 est.)

Trafficking in persons

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Tunisia was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/tunisia

Terrorist group(s)

Ansar al-Sharia in Tunisia; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) network in Tunisia (known locally as Ajnad al-Khilafah or the Army of the Caliphate); al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

4,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

10.392 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

14.249 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

24.645 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

toxic and hazardous waste disposal; water pollution from raw sewage; limited freshwater resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

International environmental agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Marine Life Conservation

Methane emissions

agriculture

94.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)

energy

88 kt (2022-2024 est.)

other

3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

97.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

26.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

4.615 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

2.71 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

61.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

815.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

2.7 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

10.9% (2022 est.)