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.

Area
Total: 163,610 km²
Land: 155,360 km²
Water: 8,250 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Georgia

Land boundaries
Total: 1,495 km
Border countries (2): (2) Algeria 1,034 km; Libya 461 km

Coastline: 1,148 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 12 nm

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

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

Elevation
Highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
Lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
Mean elevation: 246 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 62.4% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 18.2% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 13.6% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 30.6% (2023 est.)
Forest: 4.5% (2023 est.)
Other: 33.1% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 3,920 km² (2013)

Natural hazards: flooding; earthquakes; droughts

Geography
Note: strategic location in central Mediterranean

Population
Total: 12,048,847 (2024 est.)
Male: 5,972,242
Female: 6,076,605
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
Growth rate: 0.58% (2024 est.)

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%

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: 53.4 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 37.5 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 16 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 6.3 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 34.4 years (2024 est.)
Male: 33.6 years
Female: 35.1 years

Population growth rate: 0.58% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 13.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 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: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 9.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.3 years (2024 est.)
Male: 75.7 years
Female: 79.1 years

Total fertility rate: 1.93 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 6.6% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 2.8% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 1% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.6% (2018 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 16.3% (2024 est.); 15.2% (2023 est.); 15.3% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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

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

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
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: 2,029
Note: the president can dismiss any member of government on his own initiative or in consultation with the prime minister

Legislative branch
Legislative structure: bicameral
Note: in 2022, President SAIED issued a new electoral law that requires all legislative candidates to run as independents

Flag description: red with a white disk in the center that displays a red crescent around a five-pointed red star

National anthem
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:

Real gdp growth rate: 1.4% (2024 est.); 0% (2023 est.); 2.7% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 1.4% (2024 est.); 0% (2023 est.); 2.7% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 9.3% (2023 est.)
Industry: 23.6% (2023 est.)
Services: 62.1% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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

Industrial production growth rate: -2.5% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 4.247 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 16.3% (2024 est.); 15.2% (2023 est.); 15.3% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 16.3% (2024 est.); 15.2% (2023 est.); 15.3% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $10.866 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $12.375 billion (2019 est.)

Exports: $19.732 billion (2023 est.); $17.254 billion (2022 est.); $14.054 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: garments, insulated wire, olive oil, refined petroleum, crude petroleum (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $21.953 billion (2023 est.); $22.453 billion (2022 est.); $18.178 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, plastic products, cars, plastics (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 100%
Access electrification - rural areas: 99.7%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 96.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 2,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Exports: 28 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 3,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 35,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 104,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 425 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 1.313 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 5.131 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 3.887 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 65.129 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 24.645 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 4,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 14.249 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 10.392 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

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

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 1.863 million (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 16.4 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 72% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 1.73 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.); 2.5% of GDP (2023 est.); 2.7% of GDP (2022 est.); 3% of GDP (2021 est.); 3% of GDP (2020 est.)

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