Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
14 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
1.73 million (2023 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.tn
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
76.50% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
15 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
1.863 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
118 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
14.4 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
milk, tomatoes, olives, onions, chillies/peppers, watermelons, potatoes, wheat, dates, oranges (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
3.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
22.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$12.375 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$10.866 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$3.879 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$4.463 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$3.924 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$3.783 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$4.222 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$4.608 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$3.373 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$2.555 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$2.77 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$3.969 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$1.111 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$775.3 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$41.041 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$21.212 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
3.1075 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
1.6247 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
1.6977 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
1.9616 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
2.1480 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
2.4194 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
2.6469 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
2.9344 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
2.8124 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
2.7945 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
3.1036 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
3.1062 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
3.1075 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
garments, insulated wire, olive oil, refined petroleum, crude petroleum (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$22.163 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$21.590 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$17.579 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$16.988 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$17.591 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$19.416 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$19.256 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$16.143 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$14.054 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$17.254 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$19.732 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$25.667 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
48.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
18.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
76.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-56.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
13.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
9.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
23.6% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
62.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$14,521 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$53.41 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$178.276 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
32.8 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
33.7 (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
27% (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
3.1% (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, natural gas, plastic products, cars, plastics (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$24.116 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$22.363 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$21.647 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$22.806 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$24.923 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$23.627 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$19.691 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$18.178 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$22.453 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$21.953 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$28.898 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-2.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
4.44% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
3.63% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
5.31% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
7.31% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
6.72% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
5.63% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
5.71% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
8.31% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
9.33% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
7.21% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
4.247 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
16.60% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
62.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$123.418 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$122.945 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$126.742 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$131.520 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$148.377 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$142.708 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$149.937 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$153.945 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$154.006 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$156.086 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
0.97% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
1.12% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
2.25% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
2.61% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
1.55% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-8.98% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
4.74% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
2.75% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
0.18% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
1.61% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$10,947 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$10,783 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$10,994 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$11,289 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$12,495 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$11,918 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$12,444 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$13,619 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$14,041 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$2.291 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$2.347 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$1.971 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$2.281 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
6.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
6.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$3.257 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$7.559 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$6.137 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$6.144 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$5.661 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$7.920 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$9.811 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$8.846 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$8.094 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$9.24 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$9.344 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
17.15% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
17.65% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
16.63% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
15.30% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
15.11% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
15.34% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
37.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
41.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
40.1% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
2,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
28 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
3,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
99.7%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
100%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
96.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
19.153 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
80 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
2.576 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
6.639 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
4.629 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
33.754 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
5.131 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
3.887 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
1.313 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
65.129 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
425 million barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
104,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
35,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
4,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
10.392 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
14.249 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
24.645 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
Environment: Environmental issues
toxic and hazardous waste disposal; water pollution from raw sewage; limited freshwater resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Marine Life Conservation
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
62.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 18.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 13.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 30.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
4.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
33.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
94.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
88 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
97.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
26.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
4.615 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
2.71 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
61.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
815.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
70.36% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
2.7 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
10.9% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly larger than Georgia
Geography: Area: land
155,360 sq km
Geography: Area: water
8,250 sq km
Geography: Coastline
1,148 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
246 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
34 00 N, 9 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
strategic location in central Mediterranean
Geography: Irrigated land
3,920 sq km (2013)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Algeria 1,034 km; Libya 461 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
1,495 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
62.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 18.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 13.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 30.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
4.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
33.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
North Western Sahara Aquifer System
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
12 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
flooding; earthquakes; droughts
Geography: 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
Geography: Terrain
mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara
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)
Government: Capital: etymology
the origin of the ancient name is unclear; it is sometimes associated with the name of the Phoenician goddess Tanith
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
36 48 N, 10 11 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Tunisia
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: 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
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest draft published by the president 30 June 2022, approved by referendum 25 July 2022, and adopted 27 July 2022
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Tunisia
Government: Country name: etymology
the country name derives from the capital city of Tunis
Government: Country name: local long form
Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
Government: Country name: local short form
Tunis
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Bill BAZZI (since 21 November 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
tuniswebsitecontact@state.gov https://tn.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Les Berges du Lac, 1053 Tunis
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[216] 71-107-090
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
6360 Tunis Place, Washington DC 20521-6360
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[216] 71-107-000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Anis HAJRI (since 1 August 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
AT.Washington@Tunisiaembassy.org https://www.tunisianembassy.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 862-1858
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 862-1850
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
prime minister appointed by the president; cabinet members appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Kais SAIED (since 23 October 2019)
Government: Executive branch: 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%
Government: Executive branch: 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)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2029
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Sarra ZAAFRANI Zenzri (since 21 March 2025)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
6 October 2024
Government: 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: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Courts of Appeal; administrative courts; Court of Audit; Housing Court; courts of first instance; lower district courts; military courts
Government: 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
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
Assembly of People's Representatives (Majlis Nawwab ash-Sha'ab)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
December 2027
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
12/17/2022 to 1/29/2023
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
161 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
15.8%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
National Council of Regions and Districts
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
April 2029
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
4/19/2024
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
77 (all indirectly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
13%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1957, replaced 1958, restored 1987; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of the United Arab Emirates
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Mustafa Sadik AL-RAFII and Aboul-Qacem ECHEBBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB
Government: National color(s)
red, white
Government: 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)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
9 (8 cultural, 1 natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 20 March (1956); Revolution and Youth Day, 14 January (2011)
Government: National symbol(s)
red crescent moon and five-pointed star in a white circle
Government: 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
Government: 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
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.
Military and Security: 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: Military and security forces
Tunisian Armed Forces (Forces Armées Tunisiennes, FAT): Tunisian Army (includes Air Defense Force), Tunisian Navy, Tunisia Air Force Ministry of Interior (MoI): Internal Security Forces (National Police, National Guard) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 35,000 active-duty Armed Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
840 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)
Military and Security: 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 and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
2.14% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
2.22% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
2.03% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.98% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
2.38% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
2.71% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
2.63% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
2.57% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
2.49% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
2.51% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: 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)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
24.4% (male 1,516,871/female 1,426,522)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
65.2% (male 3,861,731/female 3,990,802)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
10.4% (2024 est.) (male 593,640/female 659,281)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
1.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
11.35 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
0% (2018)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
0% (2018)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
1.5% (2018)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
1.6% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
7.99% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
52.5% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
15.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
6.6 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
50.7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
35.6 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 93.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 97.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 6.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 2.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
6.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
17.3% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
6.73% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.77 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
7% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
11.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.10% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.8 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
9.8 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
12.7 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
9.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Arabic (official, one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce), Tamazight
People and Society: Languages: 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.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
79.3 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
74.1 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
80.1% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
92.7% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
86.25% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
2.475 million TUNIS (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
36 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
35.1 years
People and Society: Median age: male
33.6 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Tunisian
People and Society: Net migration rate
-1.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
26.9% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
1.32 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
People and Society: Population
12,277,109 (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.38% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
6,036,254
People and Society: Population: male
5,926,741
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 99% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
15 years (2016 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
14 years (2016 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
14 years (2016 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.97 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.9 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
1.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
37.6% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
19% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.82 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
70.36% (2024 est.)
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
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
12,575 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: 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
Transportation: Airports
14 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
TS
Transportation: Heliports
11 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
container ship 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 1, other 62
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
72 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Ashtart Oil Terminal, Banzart, Didon Terminal, Gabes, La Goulette, Menzel Bourguiba, Mersa Sfax, Sousse, Tazerka Oil Terminal, Tunis
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
3
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
10
Transportation: Ports: small
7
Transportation: Ports: total ports
16 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
6
Transportation: Railways: dual gauge
8 km (2014) 1.435-1.000-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
1,694 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)
Transportation: Railways: standard gauge
471 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
2,173 km (2014) (1,991 in use)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.