Tunisia — Country profile

Africa

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.

Economy

Budget: revenues:
$10.866 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures:
$12.375 billion (2019 est.)
Exports: Exports 2021:
$14.054 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2022:
$17.254 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023:
$19.732 billion (2023 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports: Imports 2021:
$18.178 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2022:
$22.453 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023:
$21.953 billion (2023 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate, iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
Labor force: 4.247 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Public debt: Public debt 2016:
62.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2021:
6.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022:
6.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023:
6% of GDP (2023 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Exchange rates: 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.)
Debt - external: Debt - external 2023:
$21.212 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Economic overview: lower middle-income North African economy; drafting reforms for foreign lenders; high unemployment, especially for youth and women; hit hard by COVID-19; high public sector wages; high public debt; protectionist austerity measures; key EU trade partner
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022:
15.3% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023:
15.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024:
16.3% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
Exports - partners: France 22%, Italy 17%, Germany 13%, USA 4%, Libya 4% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners: Italy 13%, France 12%, China 10%, Russia 8%, Germany 7% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Real GDP per capita: 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.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 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.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Agricultural products: milk, tomatoes, olives, onions, chillies/peppers, watermelons, potatoes, wheat, dates, oranges (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Exports - commodities: garments, insulated wire, olive oil, refined petroleum, crude petroleum (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, plastic products, cars, plastics (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Current account balance: 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: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $53.41 billion (2024 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption:
76.2% (2024 est.)
government consumption:
18.6% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories:
0% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital:
13.4% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services:
48.4% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services:
-56.6% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Population below poverty line: 16.6% (2021 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Average household expenditures: on food:
22.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco:
3.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 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: annual % change based on consumer prices
Industrial production growth rate: -2.5% (2024 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): 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.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male:
41.1% (2024 est.)
total:
40.1% (2024 est.)
female:
37.6% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: 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.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry:
23.6% (2023 est.)
services:
62.1% (2023 est.)
agriculture:
9.3% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
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
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021:
33.7 (2021 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Energy

Coal: exports:
28 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports:
3,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption:
2,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production:
35,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves:
425 million barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption:
104,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity: exports:
80 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports:
2.576 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption:
19.153 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity:
6.639 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses:
4.629 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas: imports:
3.887 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
production:
1.313 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption:
5.131 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves:
65.129 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Electricity access: electrification - rural areas:
99.7%
electrification - urban areas:
100%
electrification - total population:
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023:
33.754 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: wind:
1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar:
2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels:
96.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

More about Tunisia

People and Society

Literacy: male:
92.7% (2023 est.)
female:
80.1% (2023 est.)
total population:
86.2% (2023 est.)
Languages: Languages:
Arabic (official, one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce), Tamazight
major-language sample(s):

كتاب حقائق العالم، أحسن كتاب تتعلم به المعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
note: despite having no official status, French plays a major role in the country and is spoken by about two thirds of the population
Religions: Muslim (official; Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Shia Muslim, and Baha'i) <1%
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
total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over:
0.9 male(s)/female
Birth rate: 11.35 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age: male:
33.6 years
total:
34.1 years (2025 est.)
female:
35.1 years
Population: male:
5,926,741
total:
11,962,995 (2025 est.)
female:
6,036,254
Nationality: noun:
Tunisian(s)
adjective:
Tunisian
Tobacco use: male:
37.6% (2025 est.)
total:
19% (2025 est.)
female:
1.4% (2025 est.)
Urbanization: urban population:
70.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization:
1.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
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)
Ethnic groups: Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Child marriage: men married by age 18:
0% (2018)
women married by age 15:
0% (2018)
women married by age 18:
1.5% (2018)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio:
50.7 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio:
35.6 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio:
6.6 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio:
15.1 (2025 est.)
Physician density: 1.32 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP):
7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget):
11.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 2.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: 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: Education expenditure (% GDP):
6.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget):
17.3% national budget (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate: male:
12.7 deaths/1,000 live births
total:
10.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female:
9.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate: 0.38% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.77 (2025 est.)
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
Life expectancy at birth: male:
75.7 years
female:
79.1 years
total population:
77.3 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 36 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access: 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.)
Alcohol consumption per capita: beer:
0.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine:
0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total:
1.51 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.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.475 million TUNIS (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 26.9% (2016)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 52.5% (2023 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.6% (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male:
14 years (2016 est.)
total:
14 years (2016 est.)
female:
15 years (2016 est.)

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
Capital: name:
Tunis
etymology:
the origin of the ancient name is unclear; it is sometimes associated with the name of the Phoenician goddess Tanith
time difference:
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates:
36 48 N, 10 11 E
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
Citizenship: citizenship by birth:
no
citizenship by descent only:
at least one parent must be a citizen of Tunisia
dual citizenship recognized:
yes
residency requirement for naturalization:
5 years
Constitution: history:
several previous; latest draft published by the president 30 June 2022, approved by referendum 25 July 2022, and adopted 27 July 2022
amendment process:
proposed by the president of the republic or one third of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People membership; following Constitutional Court review, approval to proceed requires an absolute majority vote in the Assembly, and final passage requires a two-thirds Assembly majority vote; the president can opt to submit an amendment to a referendum, which requires an absolute majority of votes cast for passage
Country name: etymology:
the country name derives from the capital city of Tunis
local long form:
Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
local short form:
Tunis
conventional long form:
Republic of Tunisia
conventional short form:
Tunisia
Independence: 20 March 1956 (from France)
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 type: parliamentary republic
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)
subordinate courts:
Courts of Appeal; administrative courts; Court of Audit; Housing Court; courts of first instance; lower district courts; military courts
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: 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
Executive branch: 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:

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%
head of government:
Prime Minister Sarra ZAAFRANI Zenzri (since 21 March 2025)
most recent election date:
6 October 2024
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
note: the president can dismiss any member of government on his own initiative or in consultation with the prime minister
National holiday: Independence Day, 20 March (1956); Revolution and Youth Day, 14 January (2011)
National color(s): red, white
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites:
9 (8 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales:
Amphitheatre of El Jem (c); Archaeological Site of Carthage (c); Medina of Tunis (c); Ichkeul National Park (n); Punic Town of Kerkuane (c); Kairouan (c); Medina of Sousse (c); Dougga / Thugga (c); Djerba: Testimony to a settlement pattern in an island territory (c)
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
Legislative branch: legislative structure:
bicameral
note: in 2022, President SAIED issued a new electoral law that requires all legislative candidates to run as independents
National anthem(s): title:
"Humat Al Hima" (Defenders of the Homeland)
history:
adopted 1957, replaced 1958, restored 1987; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of the United Arab Emirates
lyrics/music:
Mustafa Sadik AL-RAFII and Aboul-Qacem ECHEBBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB
National symbol(s): red crescent moon and five-pointed star in a white circle
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)
Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name:
Assembly of People's Representatives (Majlis Nawwab ash-Sha'ab)
term in office:
5 years
number of seats:
161 (all directly elected)
electoral system:
plurality/majority
scope of elections:
full renewal
most recent election date:
12/17/2022 to 1/29/2023
expected date of next election:
December 2027
percentage of women in chamber:
15.8%
Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name:
National Council of Regions and Districts
term in office:
5 years
number of seats:
77 (all indirectly elected)
scope of elections:
full renewal
most recent election date:
4/19/2024
expected date of next election:
April 2029
percentage of women in chamber:
13%
Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX:
[1] (202) 862-1858
chancery:
1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone:
[1] (202) 862-1850
chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Anis HAJRI (since 1 August 2025)
email address and website:

AT.Washington@Tunisiaembassy.org

https://www.tunisianembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX:
[216] 71-107-090
embassy:
Les Berges du Lac, 1053 Tunis
telephone:
[216] 71-107-000
mailing address:
6360 Tunis Place, Washington DC 20521-6360
chief of mission:
Ambassador Bill BAZZI (since 21 November 2025)
email address and website:

tuniswebsitecontact@state.gov

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
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Communications

Internet users: percent of population:
72% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: 2 state-owned TV stations; 10 private local TV stations; satellite TV service available; state-owned radio network with 2 stations; several dozen private radio stations and community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available (2019)
Internet country code: .tn
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions:
1.863 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
15 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions:
14.4 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
118 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total:
1.73 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
14 (2023 est.)

Transportation

Ports: large:
0
small:
7
medium:
3
key ports:
Ashtart Oil Terminal, Banzart, Didon Terminal, Gabes, La Goulette, Menzel Bourguiba, Mersa Sfax, Sousse, Tazerka Oil Terminal, Tunis
very small:
6
total ports:
16 (2024)
ports with oil terminals:
10
Airports: 14 (2025)
Railways: total:
2,173 km (2014) (1,991 in use)
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
Heliports: 11 (2025)
Merchant marine: total:
72 (2023)
by type:
container ship 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 1, other 62
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TS

Geography

Area: land:
155,360 sq km
water:
8,250 sq km
total :
163,610 sq km
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
Land use: other:
33.1% (2023 est.)
forest:
4.5% (2023 est.)
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.)
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya
Coastline: 1,148 km
Elevation: lowest point:
Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
highest point:
Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
mean elevation:
246 m
Irrigated land: 3,920 sq km (2013)
Major aquifers: North Western Sahara Aquifer System
Map references: Africa
Land boundaries: total:
1,495 km
border countries:
Algeria 1,034 km; Libya 461 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone:
24 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
exclusive economic zone:
12 nm
Natural hazards: flooding; earthquakes; droughts
Geography - note: strategic location in central Mediterranean
Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Georgia
Geographic coordinates: 34 00 N, 9 00 E
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

Environment

Climate: temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
Land use: other:
33.1% (2023 est.)
forest:
4.5% (2023 est.)
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.)
Urbanization: urban population:
70.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization:
1.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions: other:
3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste:
97.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy:
88 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture:
94.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually:
2.7 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
10.9% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal; water pollution from raw sewage; limited freshwater resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Total water withdrawal: municipal:
815.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial:
61.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural:
2.71 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions:
24.645 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas:
10.392 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.)
Particulate matter emissions: 26.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 4.615 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental agreements: party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Marine Life Conservation

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 deployments: 840 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)
Military expenditures: 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.)
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 service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; men 20-35 years of age subject to 12 months of compulsory national service (2025)
note: compulsory national service may be in the Armed Forces or other government ministries as needed
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 service personnel strengths: approximately 35,000 active-duty Armed Forces (2025)

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
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees:
12,575 (2024 est.)

Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain).

Tunisia — Country profile

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