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Tunisia

2025 Edition · 433 data fields

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Introduction

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.

Geography

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

Continent

Africa

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
number of neighbors: 2
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.)
arable land: 18.22%
Forest: 4.5% (2023 est.)
Other: 33.1% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 13.64%

Landlocked

Location

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

Major aquifers

North Western Sahara Aquifer System

Map links

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/KgUmpZdUuNRaougs8
OpenStreetMap: https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/192757

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

Subregion

Northern Africa

Terrain

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

Time zone

UTC+01:00
number of time zones: 1

People and Society

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.)
adult female: 58 per 1,000
adult male: 115 per 1,000

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 total: 64.98%
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.)

Education expenditures

7 % of GDP

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

0.77 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

8 % of GDP
Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 11.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1%

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
neonatal: 8 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.
Note: note: despite having no official status, French plays a major role in the country and is spoken by about two thirds of the population
number of languages: 1

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.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

4 births/1,000 women 15-19

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 total: 79.79%
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)

Vaccination rate

measles: 96%

Government

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

Coat of arms

svg: https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/tn.svg

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

alternative spellings: TN, Republic of Tunisia, al-Jumhūriyyah at-Tūnisiyyah
Conventional long form: Republic of Tunisia
Conventional short form: Tunisia
Etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Tunis
FIFA code: TUN
Local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
local long form (ara): الجمهورية التونسية
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); Chargé 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
Note: note: the president can dismiss any member of government on his own initiative or in consultation with the prime minister

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

Flag description

The flag of Tunisia has a red field. A white circle bearing a five-pointed red star within a fly-side facing red crescent is situated at the center of the field.

Flag image

svg: https://flagcdn.com/tn.svg

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)
Note: note: the Tunisian constitution of January 2014 called for the establishment of a constitutional court by the end of 2015, but the court was never formed; the new constitution of July 2022 calls for the establishment of a constitutional court consisting of 9 members appointed by presidential decree; members to include former senior judges of other courts
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
Note: note: in 2022, President SAIED issued a new electoral law that requires all legislative candidates to run as independents

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 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
note: note: President SAIED in 2022 issued a decree that forbids political parties' participation in legislative elections; although parties remain a facet of Tunisian political life, they have lost significant influence

Start of week

Monday

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

UN Member

Yes

Economy

Agricultural products

milk, tomatoes, olives, onions, chillies/peppers, watermelons, potatoes, wheat, dates, oranges (2023)
note: note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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.)

Currency

code: TND
name: Tunisian dinar (TND) [د.ت]

Current account balance

$-775,300,123
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.)
Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

$40.46 billion
Debt - external 2023: $21.212 billion (2023 est.)
Note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

$25.67 billion
Exports 2021: $14.054 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2022: $17.254 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $19.732 billion (2023 est.)
Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

garments, insulated wire, olive oil, refined petroleum, crude petroleum (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

France 22%, Italy 17%, Germany 13%, USA 4%, Libya 4% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Foreign direct investment

net inflows: $759.6 million

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.)
Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

Agriculture: 9.3% (2023 est.)
Industry: 23.6% (2023 est.)
Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Services: 62.1% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$53.41 billion (2024 est.)
note: note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP per capita (nominal)

$4,181

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

32.8 (2015)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 33.7 (2021 est.)
Note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

GNI (gross national income)

$50.32 billion

GNI per capita

$3,880

Gross domestic investment

8 % of GDP

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Highest 10%: 27% (2021 est.)
Lowest 10%: 3.1% (2021 est.)
Note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

$28.9 billion
Imports 2021: $18.178 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2022: $22.453 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $21.953 billion (2023 est.)
Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, natural gas, plastic products, cars, plastics (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

Italy 13%, France 12%, China 10%, Russia 8%, Germany 7% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

-2.5% (2024 est.)
note: note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.21%
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.)
Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

4.247 million (2024 est.)
note: note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
total: 4.27 million persons

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 12.46%
industry: 33.28%
services: 54.26%

Population below poverty line

16.6% (2021 est.)
note: note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

Public debt 2016: 62.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$178.28 billion
Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
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

1.61%
Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
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

$14,521
Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
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

$3.26 billion
Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
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

$9.34 billion
Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
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

15.11%
Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
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.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 40.1% (2024 est.)

Energy

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.)
consumption per capita: 1,595 kWh
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.)
hydroelectric: 0.07%
nuclear: 0%
renewable: 2.82%
Solar: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Wind: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

956 kg of oil equivalent
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.)

Renewable energy consumption

11.6%

Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

per 100 inhabitants: 14 per 100
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.)

Postal code format

####

Telephone calling code

+216

Telephones - fixed lines

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2023 est.)
Total subscriptions: 1.863 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100: 134 per 100
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2024 est.)
Total subscriptions: 14.4 million (2024 est.)

Transportation

Air transport

passengers carried: 4.11 million passengers
registered carrier departures: 35,726 departures

Airports

14 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Driving side

Right

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)

Vehicle registration code

Military and Security

Land forces

armored vehicles
tanks

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)
active duty personnel: 48,000
note: note: the National Police has primary responsibility for law enforcement in the major cities, while the National Guard (gendarmerie) oversees border security and patrols smaller towns and rural areas
percent of total labor force: 1.18 %

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, Türkiye, and the US (2025)

Military expenditures

3 % of GDP
current USD: $1,313,683,263
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.)
percent of central government expenditure: 7.27 %
percent of GDP: 2.51 % of GDP

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)
note: note: compulsory national service may be in the Armed Forces or other government ministries as needed

Military strength ranking

PowerIndex score: 1.7823

Transnational Issues

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

Terrorism

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
note: note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Environment

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.)

Protected areas

5 % of total land area

Renewable electricity output

3 % of total

Total renewable water resources

4.615 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

92 % of internal resources
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.)