Factbook dossier
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 (16 th to late-19 th 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…
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya
Area
total : 163,610 sq km land: 155,360 sq km water: 8,250 sq km
Natural resources
petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Natural hazards
flooding; earthquakes; droughts
Population
total: 11,962,995 (2025 est.) male: 5,926,741 female: 6,036,254
Ethnic groups
Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
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%
Environmental issues
toxic and hazardous waste disposal; water pollution from raw sewage; limited freshwater resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
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
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 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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$156.086 billion (2024 est.) $154.006 billion (2023 est.) $153.945 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita
$12,700 (2024 est.) $12,600 (2023 est.) $12,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
7.2% (2024 est.) 9.3% (2023 est.) 8.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
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
Military and security forces
Tunisian Armed Forces (Forces Arm es 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 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.)