Tunisia

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 1.73 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (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

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

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 14.4 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

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

Average household expenditures

on food: 22.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

revenues: $10.866 billion (2019 est.) expenditures: $12.375 billion (2019 est.)

Current account balance

-$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

$21.212 billion (2023 est.) 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

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

$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

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

Exports - partners

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)

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

GDP - composition, by end use

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

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

33.7 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$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

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

Imports - partners

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

-2.5% (2024 est.) 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)

7.2% (2024 est.) 9.3% (2023 est.) 8.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

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

Population below poverty line

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

Public debt

62.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$156.086 billion (2024 est.) $154.006 billion (2023 est.) $153.945 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

1.4% (2024 est.) 0% (2023 est.) 2.7% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$12,700 (2024 est.) $12,600 (2023 est.) $12,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances

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

$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

16.3% (2024 est.) 15.2% (2023 est.) 15.3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 40.1% (2024 est.) male: 41.1% (2024 est.) female: 37.6% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Coal

consumption: 2,000 metric tons (2022 est.) exports: 28 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 3,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

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

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 100% electrification - rural areas: 99.7%

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

33.754 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

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

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.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

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

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

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

Land use

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

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

26.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

4.615 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

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

urban population: 70.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 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.)

Area

total : 163,610 sq km land: 155,360 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

total: 1,495 km border countries (2): Algeria 1,034 km; Libya 461 km

Land use

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

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

Major aquifers

North Western Sahara Aquifer System

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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: 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) 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

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)

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)

red, white

National heritage

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

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: 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

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

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 (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 - 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 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

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 rkiye, and the US (2025)

Military expenditures

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

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

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

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

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

Child marriage

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

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

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

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

6.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 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

7% of GDP (2021) 11.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

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

Infant mortality rate

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

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

total population: 77.3 years (2024 est.) male: 75.7 years female: 79.1 years

Literacy

total population: 86.2% (2023 est.) male: 92.7% (2023 est.) female: 80.1% (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

total: 34.1 years (2025 est.) male: 33.6 years female: 35.1 years

Nationality

noun: Tunisian(s) adjective: Tunisian

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

total: 11,962,995 (2025 est.) male: 5,926,741 female: 6,036,254

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

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

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)

total: 14 years (2016 est.) male: 14 years (2016 est.) female: 15 years (2016 est.)

Sex ratio

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

total: 19% (2025 est.) male: 37.6% (2025 est.) female: 1.4% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 70.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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: 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

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

Airports

14 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

TS

Heliports

11 (2025)

Merchant marine

total: 72 (2023) by type: container ship 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 1, other 62

Ports

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

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