ARCHIVE // TN // 2025
Tunisia
2025 Edition — sovereign
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Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
[time series]
total: 1.73 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
[time series]
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
[time series]
.tn
Internet users
[time series]
percent of population: 72% (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines
[time series]
total subscriptions: 1.863 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
[time series]
total subscriptions: 14.4 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2024 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products
[time series]
milk, tomatoes, olives, onions, chillies/peppers, watermelons, potatoes, wheat, dates, oranges (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Average household expenditures
[time series]
on food: 22.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $10.866 billion (2019 est.) expenditures: $12.375 billion (2019 est.)
Current account balance
[time series]
-$1.111 billion (2023 est.) -$3.969 billion (2022 est.) -$2.77 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Debt - external
[time series]
$21.212 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Economic overview
[time series]
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
[time series]
Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar - 3.107 (2024 est.) 3.106 (2023 est.) 3.104 (2022 est.) 2.794 (2021 est.) 2.812 (2020 est.)
Exports
[time series]
$19.732 billion (2023 est.) $17.254 billion (2022 est.) $14.054 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
[time series]
garments, insulated wire, olive oil, refined petroleum, crude petroleum (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exports - partners
[time series]
France 22%, Italy 17%, Germany 13%, USA 4%, Libya 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
GDP (official exchange rate)
[time series]
$53.41 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP - composition, by end use
[time series]
household consumption: 76.2% (2024 est.) government consumption: 18.6% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 13.4% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 48.4% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -56.6% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
[time series]
agriculture: 9.3% (2023 est.) industry: 23.6% (2023 est.) services: 62.1% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
[time series]
33.7 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: 3.1% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 27% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Imports
[time series]
$21.953 billion (2023 est.) $22.453 billion (2022 est.) $18.178 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
[time series]
refined petroleum, natural gas, plastic products, cars, plastics (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - partners
[time series]
Italy 13%, France 12%, China 10%, Russia 8%, Germany 7% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
-2.5% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Industries
[time series]
petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate, iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
7.2% (2024 est.) 9.3% (2023 est.) 8.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Labor force
[time series]
4.247 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Population below poverty line
[time series]
16.6% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Public debt
[time series]
62.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
[time series]
$156.086 billion (2024 est.) $154.006 billion (2023 est.) $153.945 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
[time series]
1.4% (2024 est.) 0% (2023 est.) 2.7% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP per capita
[time series]
$12,700 (2024 est.) $12,600 (2023 est.) $12,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Remittances
[time series]
6% of GDP (2023 est.) 6.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 6.3% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
[time series]
$9.344 billion (2024 est.) $9.24 billion (2023 est.) $8.094 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Unemployment rate
[time series]
16.3% (2024 est.) 15.2% (2023 est.) 15.3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
[time series]
total: 40.1% (2024 est.) male: 41.1% (2024 est.) female: 37.6% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Energy
Coal
[time series]
consumption: 2,000 metric tons (2022 est.) exports: 28 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 3,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Electricity
[time series]
installed generating capacity: 6.639 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 19.153 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 80 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 2.576 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 4.629 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity access
[time series]
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 100% electrification - rural areas: 99.7%
Electricity generation sources
[time series]
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
[time series]
33.754 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Natural gas
[time series]
production: 1.313 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 5.131 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 3.887 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 65.129 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Petroleum
[time series]
total petroleum production: 35,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 104,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 425 million barrels (2021 est.)
Environment
Carbon dioxide emissions
[time series]
24.645 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 4,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 14.249 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 10.392 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Climate
[time series]
temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
Environmental issues
[time series]
toxic and hazardous waste disposal; water pollution from raw sewage; limited freshwater resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
International environmental agreements
[time series]
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
Land use
[time series]
agricultural land: 62.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 18.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 13.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 30.6% (2023 est.) forest: 4.5% (2023 est.) other: 33.1% (2023 est.)
Methane emissions
[time series]
energy: 88 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 94.5 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 97.9 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
[time series]
26.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
[time series]
4.615 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal
[time series]
municipal: 815.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 61.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 2.71 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 70.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
[time series]
municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.7 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10.9% (2022 est.)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total : 163,610 sq km land: 155,360 sq km water: 8,250 sq km
Area - comparative
[time series]
slightly larger than Georgia
Climate
[time series]
temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
Coastline
[time series]
1,148 km
Elevation
[time series]
highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m mean elevation: 246 m
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
34 00 N, 9 00 E
Geography - note
[time series]
strategic location in central Mediterranean
Irrigated land
[time series]
3,920 sq km (2013)
Land boundaries
[time series]
total: 1,495 km border countries (2): Algeria 1,034 km; Libya 461 km
Land use
[time series]
agricultural land: 62.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 18.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 13.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 30.6% (2023 est.) forest: 4.5% (2023 est.) other: 33.1% (2023 est.)
Location
[time series]
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya
Major aquifers
[time series]
North Western Sahara Aquifer System
Map references
[time series]
Africa
Maritime claims
[time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
Natural hazards
[time series]
flooding; earthquakes; droughts
Natural resources
[time series]
petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Population distribution
[time series]
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
[time series]
mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
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
[time series]
name: Tunis geographic coordinates: 36 48 N, 10 11 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the origin of the ancient name is unclear; it is sometimes associated with the name of the Phoenician goddess Tanith
Citizenship
[time series]
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
[time series]
history: several previous; latest draft published by the president 30 June 2022, approved by referendum 25 July 2022, and adopted 27 July 2022 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
Country name
[time series]
conventional long form: Republic of Tunisia conventional short form: Tunisia local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah local short form: Tunis etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Tunis
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Bill BAZZI (since 21 November 2025) embassy: Les Berges du Lac, 1053 Tunis mailing address: 6360 Tunis Place, Washington DC 20521-6360 telephone: [216] 71-107-000 FAX: [216] 71-107-090 email address and website: tuniswebsitecontact@state.gov https://tn.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg d'Affaires Anis HAJRI (since 1 August 2025) chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850 FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858 email address and website: AT.Washington@Tunisiaembassy.org https://www.tunisianembassy.org/
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state: President Kais SAIED (since 23 October 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Sarra ZAAFRANI Zenzri (since 21 March 2025) cabinet: prime minister appointed by the president; cabinet members appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister 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) most recent election date: 6 October 2024 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% expected date of next election: 2029 note: the president can dismiss any member of government on his own initiative or in consultation with the prime minister
Flag
[time series]
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
[time series]
parliamentary republic
Independence
[time series]
20 March 1956 (from France)
International law organization participation
[time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation
[time series]
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
[time series]
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 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
Legal system
[time series]
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
[time series]
legislative structure: bicameral note: in 2022, President SAIED issued a new electoral law that requires all legislative candidates to run as independents
Legislative branch - lower chamber
[time series]
chamber name: Assembly of People's Representatives (Majlis Nawwab ash-Sha'ab) number of seats: 161 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 12/17/2022 to 1/29/2023 percentage of women in chamber: 15.8% expected date of next election: December 2027
Legislative branch - upper chamber
[time series]
chamber name: National Council of Regions and Districts number of seats: 77 (all indirectly elected) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 4/19/2024 percentage of women in chamber: 13% expected date of next election: April 2029
National anthem(s)
[time series]
title: "Humat Al Hima" (Defenders of the Homeland) lyrics/music: Mustafa Sadik AL-RAFII and Aboul-Qacem ECHEBBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB history: adopted 1957, replaced 1958, restored 1987; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of the United Arab Emirates
National color(s)
[time series]
red, white
National heritage
[time series]
total World Heritage Sites: 9 (8 cultural, 1 natural) 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)
National holiday
[time series]
Independence Day, 20 March (1956); Revolution and Youth Day, 14 January (2011)
National symbol(s)
[time series]
red crescent moon and five-pointed star in a white circle
Political parties
[time series]
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: 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
Suffrage
[time series]
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
Introduction
Background
[time series]
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 (16 th to late-19 th 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.
Military and Security
Military - note
[time series]
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
[time series]
Tunisian Armed Forces (Forces Arm es 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) 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
Military and security service personnel strengths
[time series]
approximately 35,000 active-duty Armed Forces (2025)
Military deployments
[time series]
840 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
[time series]
the Tunisian military's inventory consists mostly of older or secondhand equipment from a variety of suppliers, including Austria, France, Italy, T rkiye, and the US (2025)
Military expenditures
[time series]
2.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 3% of GDP (2021 est.) 3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military service age and obligation
[time series]
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: compulsory national service may be in the Armed Forces or other government ministries as needed
People and Society
Age structure
[time series]
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
[time series]
total: 1.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
11.35 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Child marriage
[time series]
women married by age 15: 0% (2018) women married by age 18: 1.5% (2018) men married by age 18: 0% (2018)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
[time series]
1.6% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
[time series]
52.5% (2023 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios
[time series]
total dependency ratio: 50.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 35.6 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 15.1 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 6.6 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
[time series]
urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 93.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 97.2% of population (2022 est.) urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 6.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 2.8% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
[time series]
6.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 17.3% national budget (2025 est.)
Ethnic groups
[time series]
Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Gross reproduction rate
[time series]
0.77 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure
[time series]
7% of GDP (2021) 11.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Hospital bed density
[time series]
2.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
total: 10.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
[time series]
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: despite having no official status, French plays a major role in the country and is spoken by about two thirds of the population
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 77.3 years (2024 est.) male: 75.7 years female: 79.1 years
Literacy
[time series]
total population: 86.2% (2023 est.) male: 92.7% (2023 est.) female: 80.1% (2023 est.)
Major urban areas - population
[time series]
2.475 million TUNIS (capital) (2023)
Maternal mortality ratio
[time series]
36 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Median age
[time series]
total: 34.1 years (2025 est.) male: 33.6 years female: 35.1 years
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Tunisian(s) adjective: Tunisian
Net migration rate
[time series]
-1.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
26.9% (2016)
Physician density
[time series]
1.32 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Population
[time series]
total: 11,962,995 (2025 est.) male: 5,926,741 female: 6,036,254
Population distribution
[time series]
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
Population growth rate
[time series]
0.38% (2025 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Muslim (official; Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Shia Muslim, and Baha'i) 1%
Sanitation facility access
[time series]
urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 99.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 99% of population (2022 est.) urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 1% of population (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
[time series]
total: 14 years (2016 est.) male: 14 years (2016 est.) female: 15 years (2016 est.)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 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 total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Tobacco use
[time series]
total: 19% (2025 est.) male: 37.6% (2025 est.) female: 1.4% (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
1.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 70.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
[time series]
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: 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
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
[time series]
refugees: 12,575 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons
[time series]
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
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
14 (2025)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
[time series]
TS
Heliports
[time series]
11 (2025)
Merchant marine
[time series]
total: 72 (2023) by type: container ship 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 1, other 62
Ports
[time series]
total ports: 16 (2024) large: 0 medium: 3 small: 7 very small: 6 ports with oil terminals: 10 key ports: Ashtart Oil Terminal, Banzart, Didon Terminal, Gabes, La Goulette, Menzel Bourguiba, Mersa Sfax, Sousse, Tazerka Oil Terminal, Tunis
Railways
[time series]
total: 2,173 km (2014) (1,991 in use) standard gauge: 471 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 1,694 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) dual gauge: 8 km (2014) 1.435-1.000-m gauge