Tunisia

<p>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. <br><br>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. </p>

Land

155,360 sq km

Total

163,610 sq km

Water

8,250 sq km

slightly larger than Georgia

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

1,148 km

Africa

Highest point

Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m

Lowest point

Shatt al Gharsah -17 m

Mean elevation

246 m

34 00 N, 9 00 E

strategic location in central Mediterranean

3,920 sq km (2013)

Border countries

Algeria 1,034 km; Libya 461 km

number of neighbors

2

Total

1,495 km

Agricultural land

62.4% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 18.2% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 13.6% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 30.6% (2023 est.)

arable land

18.22%

Forest

4.5% (2023 est.)

Other

33.1% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

13.64%

No

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

North Western Sahara Aquifer System

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/KgUmpZdUuNRaougs8

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/192757

Africa

Contiguous zone

24 nm

Exclusive economic zone

12 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

flooding; earthquakes; droughts

petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt

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

Northern Africa

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

UTC+01:00

number of time zones

1

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)

Beer

0.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

1.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

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

Men married by age 18

0% (2018)

Women married by age 15

0% (2018)

Women married by age 18

1.5% (2018)

1.6% (2018 est.)

52.5% (2023 est.)

6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

58 per 1,000

adult male

115 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

15.1 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

6.6 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

50.7 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

35.6 (2025 est.)

improved total

64.98%

Improved: rural

rural: 93.4% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 97.2% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 6.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 2.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

6.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

17.3% national budget (2025 est.)

7 % of GDP

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

0.77 (2025 est.)

8 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

7% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

11.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.1%

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

Female

9.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

12.7 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

8 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

10.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official, one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce), Tamazight

Major-language sample(s)

<br>كتاب حقائق العالم، أحسن كتاب تتعلم به المعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)<br><br>The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Note

<strong>note:</strong> despite having no official status, French plays a major role in the country and is spoken by about two thirds of the population

number of languages

1

Female

79.1 years

Male

75.7 years

Total population

77.3 years (2024 est.)

Female

80.1% (2023 est.)

Male

92.7% (2023 est.)

Total population

86.2% (2023 est.)

2.475 million TUNIS (capital) (2023)

36 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

35.1 years

Male

33.6 years

Total

34.1 years (2025 est.)

4 births/1,000 women 15-19

Adjective

Tunisian

Noun

Tunisian(s)

-1.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

26.9% (2016)

1.32 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

Female

6,036,254

Male

5,926,741

Total

11,962,995 (2025 est.)

0.38% (2025 est.)

Muslim (official; Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Shia Muslim, and Baha'i) &lt;1%

improved total

79.79%

Improved: rural

rural: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 99% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)

Female

15 years (2016 est.)

Male

14 years (2016 est.)

Total

14 years (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.9 male(s)/female

At birth

1.06 male(s)/female

Total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

1.4% (2025 est.)

Male

37.6% (2025 est.)

Total

19% (2025 est.)

1.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

1.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

70.5% of total population (2023)

measles

96%

24 governorates (<em>wilayat</em>, singular - <em>wilayah</em>); 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)

Etymology

the origin of the ancient name is unclear; it is sometimes associated with the name of the Phoenician goddess Tanith

Geographic coordinates

36 48 N, 10 11 E

Name

Tunis

Time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship 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

svg

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

Amendment process

proposed by the president of the republic or one third of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People membership; following Constitutional Court review, approval to proceed requires an absolute majority vote in the Assembly, and final passage requires a two-thirds Assembly majority vote; the president can opt to submit an amendment to a referendum, which requires an absolute majority of votes cast for passage

History

several previous; latest draft published by the president 30 June 2022, approved by referendum 25 July 2022, and adopted 27 July 2022

alternative spellings

TN, Republic of Tunisia, al-Jumhūriyyah at-Tūnisiyyah

Conventional long form

Republic of Tunisia

Conventional short form

Tunisia

Etymology

the country name derives from the capital city of Tunis

FIFA code

TUN

Local long form

Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah

local long form (ara)

الجمهورية التونسية

Local short form

Tunis

Chief of mission

Ambassador Bill BAZZI (since 21 November 2025)

Email address and website

<br>tuniswebsitecontact@state.gov<br><br>https://tn.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

Les Berges du Lac, 1053 Tunis

FAX

[216] 71-107-090

Mailing address

6360 Tunis Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-6360

Telephone

[216] 71-107-000

Chancery

1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005

Chief of mission

Ambassador&nbsp;(vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Anis HAJRI (since 1 August 2025)

Email address and website

<br>AT.Washington@Tunisiaembassy.org<br><br>https://www.tunisianembassy.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 862-1858

Telephone

[1] (202) 862-1850

Cabinet

prime minister appointed by the president; cabinet members appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister

Chief of state

President Kais SAIED (since 23 October 2019)

Election results

<br>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%<em><br><br>2019:</em> Kais SAIED elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Kais SAIED (independent) 18.4%, Nabil KAROUI (Heart of Tunisia) 15.6%, Abdelfattah MOUROU (Nahda Movement) 12.9%, Abdelkrim ZBIDI (independent) 10.7%, Youssef CHAHED (Long Live Tunisia) 7.4%, Safi SAID (independent) 7.1%, Lotfi MRAIHI (Republican People's Union) 6.6%, other 21.3%; percent of vote in second round - Kais SAIED 72.7%, Nabil KAROUI 27.3%

Election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)

Expected date of next election

2029

Head of government

Prime Minister Sarra ZAAFRANI Zenzri (since 21 March 2025)

Most recent election date

6 October 2024

Note

<strong>note: </strong>the president can dismiss any member of government on his own initiative or in consultation with the prime minister

<strong>description:</strong> red with a white disk in the center that displays a red crescent around a five-pointed red star<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> red stands for martyrs' blood shed the fight against oppression, and white for peace; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam<br><br><strong>history:</strong> resembles the Ottoman flag (red banner with white crescent and star), a reference to Tunisia's history as part of the Ottoman Empire

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

svg

https://flagcdn.com/tn.svg

parliamentary republic

20 March 1956 (from France)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Highest court(s)

Court of Cassation (consists of the first president, chamber presidents, and magistrates; organized into 27 civil and 11 criminal chambers)

Judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges nominated by the Supreme Judicial Council, an independent 4-part body consisting mainly of elected judges and the remainder legal specialists; judge tenure based on terms of appointment; Constitutional Court (established in the 2014 and 2022 constitutions, but never implemented)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> the Tunisian constitution of January 2014 called for the establishment of a constitutional court by the end of 2015, but the court was never formed; the new constitution of July 2022 calls for the establishment of a constitutional court consisting of 9 members appointed by presidential decree; members to include former senior judges of other courts

Subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; administrative courts; Court of Audit; Housing Court; courts of first instance; lower district courts; military courts

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 structure

bicameral

Note

<strong>note:</strong> in 2022, President SAIED issued a new electoral law that requires all legislative candidates to run as independents

Chamber name

Assembly of People's Representatives (Majlis Nawwab ash-Sha'ab)

Electoral system

plurality/majority

Expected date of next election

December 2027

Most recent election date

12/17/2022 to 1/29/2023

Number of seats

161 (all directly elected)

Percentage of women in chamber

15.8%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

5 years

Chamber name

National Council of Regions and Districts

Expected date of next election

April 2029

Most recent election date

4/19/2024

Number of seats

77 (all indirectly elected)

Percentage of women in chamber

13%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

5 years

red, white

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Amphitheatre of El Jem (c); Archaeological Site of Carthage (c); Medina of Tunis (c); Ichkeul National Park (n); Punic Town of Kerkuane (c); Kairouan (c); Medina of Sousse (c); Dougga / Thugga (c); Djerba: Testimony to a settlement pattern in an island territory (c)

Total World Heritage Sites

9 (8 cultural, 1 natural)

Independence Day, 20 March (1956); Revolution and Youth Day, 14 January (2011)

red crescent moon and five-pointed star in a white circle

Afek Tounes<br>Al Badil Al-Tounisi (The Tunisian Alternative)<br>Al-Amal Party<br>Call for Tunisia Party (Nidaa Tounes)<br>Current of Love (formerly the Popular Petition party)<br>Democratic Current<br>Democratic Patriots' Unified Party<br>Dignity Coalition or Al Karama Coalition<br>Ennahda Movement (The Renaissance)<br>Ettakatol Party<br>Free Destourian Party or PDL<br>Green Tunisia Party<br>Harakat Hak<br>Heart of Tunisia (Qalb Tounes)<br>July 25 Movement<br>Labor and Achievement Party<br>Long Live Tunisia (Tahya Tounes)<br>Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS<br>National Coalition Party<br>National Salvation Front<br>New Carthage Party<br>Party of the Democratic Arab Vanguard<br>People's Movement<br>Republican Party (Al Joumhouri)<br>The Movement Party (Hizb Harak)<br>Third Republic Party<br>Tunisian Ba'ath Movement<br>Voice of the Republic<br>Workers' Party

note

<strong>note:</strong> 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

Monday

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

Yes

milk, tomatoes, olives, onions, chillies/peppers, watermelons, potatoes, wheat, dates, oranges (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

On alcohol and tobacco

3.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

22.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Expenditures

$12.375 billion (2019 est.)

Revenues

$10.866 billion (2019 est.)

code

TND

name

Tunisian dinar (TND) [د.ت]

$-775,300,123

Current account balance 2021

-$2.77 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$3.969 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$1.111 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$40.46 billion

Debt - external 2023

$21.212 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

Currency

Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

2.812 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

2.794 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

3.104 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

3.106 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

3.107 (2024 est.)

$25.67 billion

Exports 2021

$14.054 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$17.254 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$19.732 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

garments, insulated wire, olive oil, refined petroleum, crude petroleum (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

France 22%, Italy 17%, Germany 13%, USA 4%, Libya 4% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$759.6 million

Exports of goods and services

48.4% (2024 est.)

Government consumption

18.6% (2024 est.)

Household consumption

76.2% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-56.6% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

13.4% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories

0% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

9.3% (2023 est.)

Industry

23.6% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

62.1% (2023 est.)

$53.41 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$4,181

32.8 (2015)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

33.7 (2021 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$50.32 billion

$3,880

8 % of GDP

Highest 10%

27% (2021 est.)

Lowest 10%

3.1% (2021 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$28.9 billion

Imports 2021

$18.178 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$22.453 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$21.953 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, natural gas, plastic products, cars, plastics (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Italy 13%, France 12%, China 10%, Russia 8%, Germany 7% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

-2.5% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

7.21%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

8.3% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

9.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

7.2% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

4.247 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

4.27 million persons

agriculture

12.46%

industry

33.28%

services

54.26%

16.6% (2021 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt 2016

62.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

$178.28 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$153.945 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$154.006 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$156.086 billion (2024 est.)

1.61%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

2.7% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

0% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

1.4% (2024 est.)

$14,521

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$12,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$12,600 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$12,700 (2024 est.)

$3.26 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

6.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

6.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

6% of GDP (2023 est.)

$9.34 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$8.094 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$9.24 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$9.344 billion (2024 est.)

15.11%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

15.3% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

15.2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

16.3% (2024 est.)

Female

37.6% (2024 est.)

Male

41.1% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

40.1% (2024 est.)

Consumption

2,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

Exports

28 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

3,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

19.153 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

1,595 kWh

Exports

80 million kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

2.576 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

6.639 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

4.629 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - rural areas

99.7%

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas

100%

Fossil fuels

96.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

0.07%

nuclear

0%

renewable

2.82%

Solar

2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind

1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

956 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

33.754 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Consumption

5.131 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports

3.887 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Production

1.313 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

65.129 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves

425 million barrels (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

104,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Total petroleum production

35,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

11.6%

per 100 inhabitants

14 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

14 (2023 est.)

Total

1.73 million (2023 est.)

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)

.tn

Percent of population

72% (2023 est.)

####

+216

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

15 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

1.863 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100

134 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

118 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

14.4 million (2024 est.)

passengers carried

4.11 million passengers

registered carrier departures

35,726 departures

14 (2025)

TS

Right

11 (2025)

By type

container ship 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 1, other 62

Total

72 (2023)

Key ports

Ashtart Oil Terminal, Banzart, Didon Terminal, Gabes, La Goulette, Menzel Bourguiba, Mersa Sfax, Sousse, Tazerka Oil Terminal, Tunis

Large

0

Medium

3

Ports with oil terminals

10

Small

7

Total ports

16 (2024)

Very small

6

Dual gauge

8 km (2014) 1.435-1.000-m gauge

Narrow gauge

1,694 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)

Standard gauge

471 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Total

2,173 km (2014) (1,991 in use)

TN

armored vehicles

tanks

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<br> <br>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)

Tunisian Armed Forces (Forces Armées Tunisiennes, FAT): Tunisian Army (includes Air Defense Force), Tunisian Navy, Tunisia Air Force<br><br>Ministry of Interior (MoI): Internal Security Forces (National Police, National Guard) (2025)

active duty personnel

48,000

note

<strong>note:</strong> the National Police has primary responsibility for law enforcement in the major cities, while the National Guard (gendarmerie) oversees border security and patrols smaller towns and rural areas

percent of total labor force

1.18 %

approximately 35,000 active-duty Armed Forces (2025)

840 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)

the Tunisian military's inventory consists mostly of older or secondhand equipment from a variety of suppliers, including Austria, France, Italy, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US (2025)

3 % of GDP

current USD

$1,313,683,263

Military Expenditures 2020

3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

7.27 %

percent of GDP

2.51 % of GDP

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

<strong>note:</strong> compulsory national service may be in the Armed Forces or other government ministries as needed

PowerIndex score

1.7823

Refugees

12,575 (2024 est.)

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:<br>https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/tunisia

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

<strong>note:</strong> 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

From coal and metallurgical coke

4,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

10.392 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

14.249 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

24.645 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

toxic and hazardous waste disposal; water pollution from raw sewage; limited freshwater resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

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

Agriculture

94.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Energy

88 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Other

3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste

97.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

26.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

5 % of total land area

3 % of total

4.615 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

92 % of internal resources

Agricultural

2.71 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

61.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

815.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

2.7 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

10.9% (2022 est.)