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. TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes
Geography
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya
Geographic coordinates
34 00 N, 9 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area
total : 163,610 sq km
land: 155,360 sq km
water: 8,250 sq km
comparison ranking: total 93
Area – comparative
slightly larger than Georgia
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 1,495 km
border countries (2): Algeria 1,034 km; Libya 461 km
Coastline
1,148 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
Climate
temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
Terrain
mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara
Elevation
highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
mean elevation: 246 m
Natural resources
petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Land use
agricultural land: 62.4% (2022 est.)
arable land: 18.2% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 13.6% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 30.6% (2022 est.)
forest: 4.5% (2022 est.)
other: 33% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
3,920 sq km (2013)
Major aquifers
North Western Sahara Aquifer System
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
Natural hazards
flooding; earthquakes; droughts
Geography – note
strategic location in central Mediterranean
People and Society
Population
total: 12,048,847 (2024 est.)
male: 5,972,242
female: 6,076,605
comparison rankings: total 81; female 81; male 82
Nationality
noun: Tunisian(s)
adjective: Tunisian
Ethnic groups
Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Languages
Arabic (official, one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce), Tamazight
major-language sample(s):
كتاب Øقائق العالم، Ø£Øسن 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
Arabic audio sample:
French audio sample:
Religions
Muslim (official; Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Shia Muslim, and Baha’i) <1%
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)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 53.4 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 37.5 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 16 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 6.3 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 34.4 years (2024 est.)
male: 33.6 years
female: 35.1 years
comparison ranking: total 102
Population growth rate
0.58% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 143
Birth rate
13.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 127
Death rate
6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 143
Net migration rate
-1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 154
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
Urbanization
urban population: 70.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
2.475 million TUNIS (capital) (2023)
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.)
Maternal mortality ratio
37 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 108
Infant mortality rate
total: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.8 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 119
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.3 years (2024 est.)
male: 75.7 years
female: 79.1 years
comparison ranking: total population 93
Total fertility rate
1.93 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 115
Gross reproduction rate
0.94 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
50.7% (2018)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 97.3% of population
total: 99.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 2.7% of population
total: 0.8% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
7% of GDP (2021)
11.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
1.32 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density
2.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 98.8% of population
rural: 99.4% of population
total: 99% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1.2% of population
rural: 0.6% of population
total: 1% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
26.9% (2016)
comparison ranking: 40
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.)
comparison ranking: total 139
Tobacco use
total: 19% (2025 est.)
male: 37.6% (2025 est.)
female: 1.4% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 76
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
1.6% (2018)
comparison ranking: 103
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
53.9% (2023 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)
Education expenditure
6.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
17.8% national budget (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 20
Literacy
total population: 86.2% (2023 est.)
male: 92.7% (2023 est.)
female: 80.1% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 16 years (2016)
Environment
Environment – current issues
toxic and hazardous waste disposal; water pollution from raw sewage; limited freshwater resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment – international 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
Climate
temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
Land use
agricultural land: 62.4% (2022 est.)
arable land: 18.2% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 13.6% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 30.6% (2022 est.)
forest: 4.5% (2022 est.)
other: 33% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 70.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 26.52 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 29.94 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 7.89 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.7 million tons (2014 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 108,000 tons (2014 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4% (2014 est.)
Major aquifers
North Western Sahara Aquifer System
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 820 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 2.71 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
4.62 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
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
Government type
parliamentary republic
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
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)
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
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 by one third of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People membership; following review by the Constitutional Court, approval to proceed requires an absolute majority vote by 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
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
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
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
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
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
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Hanene TAJOURI BESSASSI (since 1 December 2021)
chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850
FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://www.tunisianembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Joey HOOD (since 2 February 2023)
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:
[email protected]
https://tn.usembassy.gov/
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
Independence
20 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday
Independence Day, 20 March (1956); Revolution and Youth Day, 14 January (2011)
Flag description
red with a white disk in the center with a red crescent around a five-pointed red star; resembles the Ottoman flag (red banner with white crescent and star), a reference to Tunisia’s history as part of the Ottoman Empire; red stands for martyrs’ blood shed the fight against oppression, and white for peace; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam
National symbol(s)
red crescent moon and five-pointed star in a white circle
National color(s)
red, white
National anthem
name: “Humat Al Hima” (Defenders of the Homeland)
lyrics/music: Mustafa Sadik AL-RAFII and Aboul-Qacem ECHEBBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB
note: adopted 1957, replaced 1958, restored 1987; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of the United Arab Emirates
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)
Economy
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$153.152 billion (2023 est.)
$153.092 billion (2022 est.)
$149.106 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 83
Real GDP growth rate
0.04% (2023 est.)
2.67% (2022 est.)
4.61% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 189
Real GDP per capita
$12,600 (2023 est.)
$12,600 (2022 est.)
$12,400 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 134
GDP (official exchange rate)
$48.53 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
7.2% (2024 est.)
9.3% (2023 est.)
8.3% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 173
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 9.5% (2023 est.)
industry: 23.5% (2023 est.)
services: 62.1% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 76; industry 112; agriculture 80
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 73.1% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 19.7% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 15.9% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 51.9% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -55.3% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
milk, tomatoes, olives, onions, chillies/peppers, watermelons, potatoes, wheat, dates, oranges (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate, iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
Industrial production growth rate
-0.97% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 163
Labor force
4.247 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 96
Unemployment rate
16.2% (2024 est.)
15.1% (2023 est.)
15.3% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 186
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
comparison ranking: total 10
Population below poverty line
16.6% (2021 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
33.7 (2021 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 93
Average household expenditures
on food: 22.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 3.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
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
Remittances
5.92% of GDP (2023 est.)
6.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
6.34% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $10.866 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $12.375 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt
70.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 58
Taxes and other revenues
24.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 50
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
comparison ranking: 143
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
comparison ranking: 92
Exports – partners
France 22%, Italy 17%, Germany 13%, USA 4%, Libya 4% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
garments, insulated wire, olive oil, refined petroleum, crude petroleum (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
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
comparison ranking: 94
Imports – partners
Italy 13%, France 12%, China 10%, Russia 8%, Germany 7% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
refined petroleum, natural gas, plastic products, cars, plastics (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$8.77 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
comparison ranking: 85
Debt – external
$21.212 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 34
Exchange rates
Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
3.107 (2024 est.)
3.106 (2023 est.)
3.104 (2022 est.)
2.794 (2021 est.)
2.812 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)
electrification – urban areas: 100%
electrification – rural areas: 99.7%
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.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 159; imports 63; exports 91; consumption 79; installed generating capacity 80
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.)
Coal
consumption: 2,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
exports: 28 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 3,000 metric tons (2023 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.)
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.)
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.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 77
Energy consumption per capita
33.754 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 111
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 1.863 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 53
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 16.4 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 69
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.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 1.73 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 65
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
TS
Airports
14 (2025)
comparison ranking: 151
Heliports
11 (2025)
comparison ranking: 73
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
Merchant marine
total: 72 (2023)
by type: container ship 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 1, other 62
comparison ranking: total 107
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
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)
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 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 and security service personnel strengths
approximately 35,000 active-duty Armed Forces (25,000 Army; 5,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Tunisian military’s inventory consists mostly of older or second-hand equipment from a wide variety of suppliers, including Brazil, China, Turkey, and the US, as well as several European countries, such as France, Germany, and Italy (2024)
Military service age and obligation
18-23 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; 20-23 years of age for compulsory (national) service for men with a 12-month service obligation; individuals engaged in higher education or vocational training programs prior to their military drafting are allowed to delay service until they have completed their programs (up to age 35); exemptions allowed for males considered to a family’s sole provider (2023)
note: women have been allowed in the service since 1975 as volunteers; as of 2023, women constituted about 8% of the military and served in all three services
Military deployments
775 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2024)
Military – note
the FAT is responsible for territorial defense and internal security; its operational areas of focus are countering Islamist terrorist groups and assisting with securing the border; areas of focus include security operations in the mountainous regions along the Algerian border where smuggling and criminal activity has occurred and militants linked to the al-Qa’ida and Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham terrorist groups have been active; the military has the lead for security operations in the area and has conducted joint operations with Algerian security forces; the FAT in recent years also has increased its role in securing the southern border with Libya against terrorist activity and infiltrators, criminal gangs, smuggling, and trafficking; in the remote areas of the border with Libya, buffer/exclusion zones have also been established where the military has the lead for security and counter-terrorism operations; outside of these border areas, the Ministry of Interior has responsibility
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 (2024)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
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
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs
NA
