THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

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.

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
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries: total: 1,495 km
border countries: 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% (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.)
forest: 4.5% (2023 est.)
other: 33.1% (2023 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

Population: total: 11,962,995 (2025 est.)
male: 5,926,741
female: 6,036,254
Nationality: noun: Tunisian(s)
adjective: Tunisian
Ethnic groups: Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
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.
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)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 50.7 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 35.6 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 15.1 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 6.6 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 34.1 years (2025 est.)
male: 33.6 years
female: 35.1 years
Population growth rate: 0.38% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 11.35 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (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
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: 36 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 10.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.3 years (2024 est.)
male: 75.7 years
female: 79.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.77 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 93.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 97.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 6.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 2.8% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 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: urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 99% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 26.9% (2016)
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.)
Tobacco use: total: 19% (2025 est.)
male: 37.6% (2025 est.)
female: 1.4% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.6% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 52.5% (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: Education expenditure (% GDP): 6.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 17.3% national budget (2025 est.)
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: 14 years (2016 est.)
male: 14 years (2016 est.)
female: 15 years (2016 est.)

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

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 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
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
Legislative branch: legislative structure: bicameral
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
Political parties: Afek TounesAl Badil Al-Tounisi (The Tunisian Alternative)Al-Amal PartyCall for Tunisia Party (Nidaa Tounes)Current of Love (formerly the Popular Petition party)Democratic CurrentDemocratic Patriots' Unified PartyDignity Coalition or Al Karama CoalitionEnnahda Movement (The Renaissance)Ettakatol PartyFree Destourian Party or PDLGreen Tunisia PartyHarakat HakHeart of Tunisia (Qalb Tounes)July 25 MovementLabor and Achievement PartyLong Live Tunisia (Tahya Tounes)Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDSNational Coalition PartyNational Salvation FrontNew Carthage PartyParty of the Democratic Arab VanguardPeople's MovementRepublican Party (Al Joumhouri)The Movement Party (Hizb Harak)Third Republic PartyTunisian Ba'ath MovementVoice of the RepublicWorkers' Party
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Anis HAJRI (since 1 August 2025)
chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850
FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858
email address and website: AT.Washington@Tunisiaembassy.orghttps://www.tunisianembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bill BAZZI (since 21 November 2025)
embassy: Les Berges du Lac, 1053 Tunis
mailing address: 6360 Tunis Place, Washington DC 20521-6360
telephone: [216] 71-107-000
FAX: [216] 71-107-090
email address and website: tuniswebsitecontact@state.govhttps://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 that displays a red crescent around a five-pointed red starmeaning: red stands for martyrs' blood shed the fight against oppression, and white for peace; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islamhistory: resembles the Ottoman flag (red banner with white crescent and star), a reference to Tunisia's history as part of the Ottoman Empire
National symbol(s): red crescent moon and five-pointed star in a white circle
National color(s): red, white
National anthem(s): title: "Humat Al Hima" (Defenders of the Homeland)
lyrics/music: Mustafa Sadik AL-RAFII and Aboul-Qacem ECHEBBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB
history: adopted 1957, replaced 1958, restored 1987; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of the United Arab Emirates
National 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)

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): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $156.086 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $154.006 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $153.945 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $12,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $12,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $12,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $53.41 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 7.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 9.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 9.3% (2023 est.)
industry: 23.6% (2023 est.)
services: 62.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 76.2% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 18.6% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 13.4% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 48.4% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -56.6% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, tomatoes, olives, onions, chillies/peppers, watermelons, potatoes, wheat, dates, oranges (2023)
Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate, iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: -2.5% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 4.247 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 16.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 15.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 15.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 40.1% (2024 est.)
male: 41.1% (2024 est.)
female: 37.6% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 16.6% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 33.7 (2021 est.)
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.)
Remittances: Remittances 2023: 6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 6.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 6.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget: revenues: $10.866 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $12.375 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2016: 62.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2023: -$1.111 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$3.969 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$2.77 billion (2021 est.)
Exports: Exports 2023: $19.732 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $17.254 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $14.054 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: France 22%, Italy 17%, Germany 13%, USA 4%, Libya 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: garments, insulated wire, olive oil, refined petroleum, crude petroleum (2023)
Imports: Imports 2023: $21.953 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $22.453 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $18.178 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Italy 13%, France 12%, China 10%, Russia 8%, Germany 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, plastic products, cars, plastics (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $9.344 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $9.24 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $8.094 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external: Debt - external 2023: $21.212 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 3.107 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 3.106 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 3.104 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 2.794 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 2.812 (2020 est.)

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.)
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.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 33.754 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1.863 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 14.4 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2024 est.)
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.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TS
Airports: 14 (2025)
Heliports: 11 (2025)
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
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 forces: Tunisian Armed Forces (Forces Armées Tunisiennes, FAT): Tunisian Army (includes Air Defense Force), Tunisian Navy, Tunisia Air ForceMinistry of Interior (MoI): Internal Security Forces (National Police, National Guard) (2025)
Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024: 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 35,000 active-duty Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Tunisian military's inventory consists mostly of older or secondhand equipment from a variety of suppliers, including Austria, France, Italy, Türkiye, and the US (2025)
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)
Military deployments: 840 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)
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)

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 12,575 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons: tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Tunisia was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to:https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/tunisia

Tunisia