Tunisia statistics — population, economy, trade and telecom

As North Africa navigates a period of structural adjustment and geopolitical realignment, Tunisia’s statistical profile offers a revealing lens into the pressures facing middle-income African economies in 2026. Squeezed between fiscal consolidation demands, a fragile IMF programme, and persistent social tensions, Tunisia’s data points illuminate both the country’s underlying strengths — a diversified export base, a skilled labour force, and a strategic Mediterranean location — and the vulnerabilities that continue to test its long-term stability.

Population and demographics

Tunisia’s population stands at approximately 12.1 million as of 2025, according to UN population estimates, making it one of the smaller nations on the African continent by headcount but one of the more densely settled relative to its habitable land area. The urbanisation rate is estimated at roughly 70 percent, reflecting decades of rural-to-urban migration concentrated around the Greater Tunis metropolitan area, Sfax, and the coastal Sahel region. The median age is approximately 32 years, positioning Tunisia as a relatively mature demographic compared to sub-Saharan African peers, though still younger than European neighbours across the Mediterranean. Annual population growth is modest, estimated at around 1 percent, consistent with a fertility transition that has been underway since the 1980s. This demographic profile creates both opportunity — a working-age population that could drive productivity — and pressure, as youth unemployment remains a structural challenge the economy has not yet resolved.

Economic indicators

World Bank estimates put Tunisia’s GDP at roughly 46–48 billion USD in current prices for 2024, with GDP per capita in the range of approximately 3,800–4,000 USD. Real GDP growth has been subdued, with IMF projections for 2024–2025 suggesting expansion in the 1.5 to 2.5 percent range — insufficient to meaningfully reduce unemployment or rebuild fiscal buffers. Inflation, which surged sharply in 2022–2023, has shown signs of easing but remained elevated at roughly 7–9 percent through much of 2024, eroding household purchasing power and complicating monetary policy for the Banque Centrale de Tunisie. The official unemployment rate is reported at approximately 16 percent nationally, though youth unemployment is considerably higher — industry and labour market analysts suggest figures above 35 percent among those aged 15–24. Tunisia’s currency, the Tunisian dinar (TND), has faced sustained depreciation pressure. Public debt remains a significant concern: IMF and government data indicate a debt-to-GDP ratio in the vicinity of 80–85 percent, a level that has constrained fiscal space and kept Tunisia in protracted negotiations over external financing arrangements.

Trade and external accounts

Tunisia’s trade structure reflects its role as a manufacturing and processing hub oriented toward European markets. Top exports include mechanical and electrical equipment, textiles and clothing, olive oil, phosphate derivatives and fertilisers, and refined petroleum products. The European Union — particularly France, Italy, and Germany — absorbs the majority of Tunisian exports, accounting for roughly 70 percent of outbound trade by value. On the import side, Tunisia brings in energy products, capital goods, cereals, and raw materials, with significant sourcing from the EU, China, and Turkey. The current account deficit has been a persistent feature of Tunisia’s external position, estimated at roughly 6–8 percent of GDP in recent years, financed through a combination of remittances from the Tunisian diaspora in Europe (a critical buffer estimated at over 2 billion USD annually), tourism receipts, and external borrowing. The overall external accounts position remains fragile, and foreign exchange reserves have at times fallen to levels that cover only a few months of imports.

Key sectors

Tunisia’s economy is broadly services-led, with that sector accounting for approximately 60 percent of GDP. Agriculture contributes roughly 10–12 percent of GDP and employs a significant share of the rural workforce; olive oil production is a flagship sub-sector, with Tunisia consistently ranking among the world’s top exporters. Industry — including manufacturing, construction, and energy — accounts for around 25–28 percent of GDP. The textiles and garment sector, operating largely under offshore export-processing arrangements with European brands, remains a major employer. Phosphate mining is strategically important: Tunisia holds some of the world’s largest phosphate reserves, and the sector feeds into a downstream fertiliser and chemical industry, though production has been disrupted by social unrest in mining regions in recent years. Tourism is a vital foreign exchange earner; the sector recovered meaningfully post-pandemic, with arrivals approaching pre-2011 levels in 2023–2024, and industry reports suggest tourism receipts in the range of 2–3 billion USD annually. Energy production is declining as domestic oil and gas reserves mature, increasing import dependency and fiscal pressure.

Telecommunications and digital

Tunisia’s digital infrastructure is among the more developed on the African continent. Mobile penetration is estimated at over 130 percent of the population on a SIM-card basis, reflecting multi-SIM usage, according to ITU and GSMA data. Internet penetration stands at approximately 65–70 percent of the population, with mobile broadband the dominant access mode. The three principal mobile operators are Tunisie Telecom (state-owned), Ooredoo Tunisia, and Orange Tunisia, which together account for the entirety of the licensed mobile market. Fixed broadband penetration remains relatively low by regional standards, though fibre rollout has been progressing in urban centres. Mobile money adoption is less advanced in Tunisia than in sub-Saharan African markets; the country’s relatively banked population and regulatory environment have slowed the emergence of mobile wallet ecosystems comparable to those seen in East or West Africa, though digital payment services have been expanding incrementally. The government has positioned the digital economy as a priority sector for job creation and export diversification.

Sources and methodology

The data and estimates presented in this dashboard draw on a range of authoritative international and national sources. Primary references include the World Bank Open Data platform and World Development Indicators, the International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook database and Article IV consultation reports for Tunisia, the United Nations Population Division, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) statistics portal, and the GSMA Intelligence database for telecommunications metrics. National-level data is cross-referenced against publications from the Institut National de la Statistique (INS) de Tunisie and the Banque Centrale de Tunisie. Trade data draws on the International Trade Centre (ITC) TradeMap and UN Comtrade. Where precise figures could not be confirmed with certainty, this article uses qualifying language — “approximately”, “roughly”, “estimates suggest” — to reflect the degree of uncertainty. All figures reference the most recently available data as of 2024–2025. Readers requiring the most current official statistics are encouraged to consult primary source databases directly, as revisions are common.

For deeper qualitative and strategic analysis of Tunisia’s political economy, investment climate, and policy environment, visit the Tunisia expert briefing. To benchmark Tunisia against other African nations, explore our all African country statistics hub. For broader context on structural trends shaping the continent’s economies, see our African economy pillar.