Tunisia

Full name of country: Republic of Tunisia

Region: Africa

Official language: Arabic

Population: 12,048,847 (2024 est.)

Nationality: Tunisian(s) (noun), Tunisian (adjective)

Land area: 155,360 sq km (59,985 sq miles)

Water area: 8,250 sq km (3,185 sq miles)

Capital: Tunis

National anthem: "Humat Al Hima" (Defenders of the Homeland), by Mustafa Sadik Al-Rafii And Aboul-Qacem Echebbi/Mohamad Abdel Wahab

National holiday: Independence Day, March 20 (1956); Revolution and Youth Day, January 14 (2011)

Population growth: 0.58% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC +1

Flag: The Tunisian flag is bright red with a centered white circle containing a red crescent and star. The red symbolizes Islam, and the crescent and star are also Islamic symbols.

Independence: March 20, 1956 (from France)

Government type: parliamentary republic

Suffrage: voting is universal for citizens eighteen years of age except for active government security forces (including the police and the military), those with mental disabilities, those who have served more than three months in prison (criminal cases only), and those who have served a suspended sentence greater than six months

Legal system: mixed legal system of civil law, based on the French civil code, and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session

The Republic of Tunisia is a North African nation located on the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Along with its neighbors Algeria (to the west) and Libya (to the south and east), Tunisia is part of the Maghreb, the Arabic name for northwestern Africa.

The population of Tunisia lives mostly in the fertile coastal regions; to the south lie the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara. The land's cultural heritage stretches back to the time of ancient Carthage, whose ruins lie near the modern capital of Tunis. At various times, the country was governed by the Romans and the Ottomans. After gaining independence from France in 1956, Tunisia was under one-party rule until 1988. It is a member of the Arab League and the African Union and has established trade agreements with the European Union.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.

People and Culture

Population:Arabs are the dominant ethnic group in Tunisia, making up approximately 98 percent of the population, though many people are also of Berber background. There is also a very small Jewish minority, which has lived in Tunisia since ancient times. A strong French influence exists from days of French colonialism, and French remains widely spoken, though Arabic is the official language. Many Tunisians now live in France.

Tunisia has a very young population: 24.4 percent of Tunisians are under the age of fifteen, though this number has been decreasing during the twenty-first century due to lower fertility rates and other factors (2023 estimates). Most of the population is urban (70.5 percent in 2023) and lives near coastal areas. The largest city is Tunis, the capital, located on the Lake of Tunis (El Bhayra in Arabic) near the ruins of ancient Carthage. A canal connects Tunis to the Gulf of Tunis and thus to the Mediterranean Sea. The metro population of Tunis was an estimated 2.475 million in 2023.

Culturally, Tunisia is part of the Maghreb (Arabic for "the West"), the coastal region of North Africa that lies west of Egypt, between the Mediterranean coast and the Atlas Mountains. The term applies usually to Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, and Morocco; the peoples of these nations are primarily of Arab and Berber background. The Arab Maghreb Union was founded in the late 1980s to increase cooperation among these countries.

The overwhelming majority of Tunisians—99 percent—are Sunni Muslims. There is also a small community of Sufis. The remaining 1 percent includes Christians, Jews, Shia Muslims, Baha'is, and the religiously unaffiliated. Tunisia's constitution allows freedom of religion, but Islam is the official religion, and the president is required to be a Muslim. Prayer leaders receive government salaries, and the Grand Mufti of the Republic, the most senior Islamic official, is appointed by the president. Before 2011, there were many restrictions on the practice of religion, including bans on women wearing the hijab, or a type of veil, in public. Since the Tunisian Revolution in 2011, these restrictions have been eased, and growing social pressures have pushed in the opposite direction, causing women to feel compelled to wear the hijab in public regardless of personal preference.

Most of Tunisia's small Jewish population lives on the island of Djerba, where there has been a Jewish community for 2,500 years. Some Jews who live in and around Tunis are descended in part from southern Europeans who settled there during the Renaissance.

Arabic is the official language of Tunisia and is spoken by the large majority of the population. The local dialects of Arabic are similar to those spoken elsewhere in the Maghreb, but differ greatly from those spoken in the Middle East. Use of the various Berber languages has dwindled, but these are still spoken by a small portion of the population. French is widely spoken, as a result of the colonial era, and is a language of commerce.

Indigenous People: The modern population of Tunisia is largely Arab, but there is a large Berber element. The Berbers, from whose name comes the geographical term "Barbary Coast," were known to Europeans as Moors during the Middle Ages. Despite Arab predominance, Berber languages continue to be spoken, especially in rural areas.

Education: Tunisia has made great strides in literacy, particularly during the late twentieth century. By 2021, the literacy rate had risen from 59 percent among those educated under French rule to 82.7 percent of the total adult population. In 2018, attendance by age-eligible children was 96.9 percent in primary school, 82 percent in lower secondary school, and 59 percent in upper secondary school.

Health Care: Tunisia has a fairly modern health care system, and life expectancy at birth (77.3 years in 2024) is comparable to that of developed countries. The estimated infant mortality rate fell sharply between 2016 and 2024, from 21.6 deaths per 1,000 live births to 11.3 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Tunisia's HDI value for 2022 is 0.732— which put the country in the High human development category—positioning it at 101 out of 193 countries and territories.

Food: Tunisian cuisine, like that of the rest of the Maghreb, is largely Arab and Berber in origin, though with many influences from the French and Ottoman Turks. Hot spices are common. Lamb and beef are standard fare, and the proximity of the coast makes seafood readily available.

Couscous, a pasta dish made from semolina, is considered the national dish, and is often served with lamb or other meat. Brik à l'oeuf, in which filo pastry is wrapped around a lightly cooked egg and sometimes meat or fish, is another favorite. Popular drinks include wine, beer, and date and fig liqueurs.

Arts & Entertainment: Tunisia has a strong and ancient cultural tradition, dating back to Phoenician times and the days of Carthage. It is a major cultural center for Africa. The country sponsors many arts festivals, including music, film, and theater events. Among the best known are the Carthage Film Festival and the Tabarka Jazz Festival.

A popular native music form is malouf, which originated in medieval Spain but has many North African influences. Baron Rudolfe d'Erlanger, a European noble living in early twentieth century Tunisia, helped revitalize malouf by collecting and analyzing ancient works, commissioning new ones, and establishing a conservatory.

Modern Tunisian literature, like the literature of other parts of the Maghreb, is usually written in either Arab or French, and often reflects the country's colonial experience.

As in many other countries of the world, football (soccer) is one of the most popular sports in Tunisia. The country has served several times as host of the Africa Cup of Nations championship, in 1965, 1994, and 2004, and won for the first time in 2004.

The movie Star Wars (1977) was filmed partly in the Tunisian town of Matmata, which was used to represent the desert planet of Tatooine. Film crews have since returned to the area for the film's sequels.

Holidays: Tunisia's national holidays include Revolution and Youth Day on January 14, which marks the 2011 uprising, and Independence Day on March 20, which commemorates the country's independence from France in 1956. Martyrs Day is celebrated in early April, Labor Day on May 1, Republic Day on July 25, Women's Day in mid-August, and Evacuation Day on October 15. A number of movable Islamic holy days are also official holidays. These include Eid al-Kabir (also called Eid al-Adha), Ras el-Am el-Hejri (the Islamic new year), Mouled (celebrating the birth of the Prophet Muhammad), and Eid al-Fitr (celebrating the end of Ramadan).

Environment and Geography

Topography: Tunisia has several sharply defined geographical regions. The north is a fertile coastal zone, lying between the Mediterranean Sea to the east and the rugged but fairly low Atlas Mountains to the west. The Atlas Range's highest point in Tunisia is Jebel ech Chambi, at 1,544 meters (5,066 feet) above sea level.

The long coastline (1,148 kilometers/713 miles) forms part of the famous "Barbary Coast," taking its name from the Berber peoples. The Tunisian portion possesses many excellent harbors, including Bizerte (once the site of a French naval base). Tunisia is relatively close to Sicily, which lies only 130 kilometers (81 miles) away.

The central part of the country is a semi-arid plain, with many salt flats and the huge salt lake known as Chott Djerid. The southern region of Tunisia is covered by the Sahara, dotted with occasional oases.

Natural Resources: Tunisia has many mineral resources, including energy sources such as petroleum and natural gas, though not in the same quantities as in Middle Eastern countries. Other important minerals found in Tunisia include iron ore, lead, zinc, and salt.

The coastal regions have rich farmland. Much of the southern part of the country is covered by the Sahara. The desert is growing in part because of human influence, through activities such as overgrazing and deforestation. Pollution is another problem, due to insufficient sanitation.

Plants & Animals: Tunisia's coastal region is covered by rich plains as well as Mediterranean-style woodlands and steppe. Large mammals are rare. Smaller species common to the North African coast are Barbary sheep, gazelles, and the wild boar. Bou-Hedma National Park contains many wild animals, including endangered species such as the scimitar-horned oryx.

Heading southward, toward the Sahara, the country becomes increasingly dry. In this steppe region, one can find numerous small mammals such as gerbils and jerboa. The ostrich was once common, but became extinct in the twentieth century. Few species are found in the vast Sahara itself.

Climate: Tunisia has a temperate, Mediterranean climate in the northern, coastal region. The most pleasant times of year are spring and fall. The summers are hot and dry; winters are mild with plentiful rainfall. The average July temperature is 28.6 degrees Celsius (83.5 degrees Fahrenheit), while the average January temperature is 10.2 degrees Celsius (50.4 degrees Fahrenheit).

The interior has an African climate; southern Tunisia is arid, blending into the Sahara in the extreme south. The southern region receives little rain each year, with parts of the Sahara being essentially rain free.

Economy

Since gaining independence in the 1950s, Tunisia has transitioned from its mostly agricultural economy to one based heavily on manufacturing, energy production, and tourism. This was the direct result of the government's pro-growth economic policies, which encouraged foreign investment and infrastructure development.

Tunisia's gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated at US$153.152 billion in 2023, or US$12,600 per capita. Services made up the largest economic sector.

Despite economic growth and the increase in the size of the middle class, Tunisia continues to have high unemployment, estimated at 15.11 percent in 2023. The problem is made worse by the relative shortage of skilled labor. In 2023, 51.8 percent of the workforce was employed in the service sector, 34.2 percent in industry, and 13.9 percent in agriculture, according to the United Nations.

Industry: Tunisia's postcolonial leaders focused on developing the country's manufacturing, which is based mostly in Tunis. Major industries include petroleum, textiles, footwear, beverages, and minerals.

The country's trade is closely linked with North Africa and Europe. France, once the colonial ruler, is a major trading partner, though Tunisia trades extensively with other members of the European Union (EU), particularly Italy and Germany. The country has worked with the EU to establish free trade between their jurisdictions, a move that has promoted economic reforms such as greater privatization.

Agriculture: Though it accounts for a relatively small percentage of GDP—just 9.5 percent in 2023—agriculture is important in the fertile coastal regions, focusing on grains, fruits, and olives. Other important crops include beets and almonds. Some farmers also raise cattle for beef and dairy products.

Tourism: Tunisia has transformed itself into a major tourist destination, with more than 9.4 million visitors in 2019. A major boom came in the 1970s thanks to the release of the original Star Wars film, shot partly on location in Tunisia. Tourism has become one of the most important industries, contributing 13.9 percent of GDP in 2019.

The tourism industry has faced several challenges, however. It was severely impacted by two major terrorist attacks committed against the country in 2015; within months, shooters gunned down a total of sixty people and injured several others, first at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis and then at the popular tourist resort at Port El Kantaoui. Following these tragic events, Tunisia struggled to convince foreigners that it was still safe to travel to and vacation in the country. In 2015, the contribution of travel and tourism to GDP fell to 12.6 percent, but the industry soon rallied and ultimately contributed 13.7 percent the following year. Following the emergence of the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, tourism arrivals dropped again, amounting to just 2 million that year, but visitors to the country soon began to reach pre-pandemic levels. The Tunisian government estimated that 8.5 million tourists visited the country in 2023.

Tunisia has made major efforts to protect its cultural heritage, in part for the enjoyment of tourists. The ruins of Carthage lie close to the site of modern Tunis, and are a popular tourist destination. The Bardo Museum in Tunis has a major collection of items from the country's Greek and Roman past. The Roman ruins at Dougga are an important archaeological site.

The country is home to several historic mosques, including Kairouan, established in the seventh century. Tourists also visit Tunisia for the rich and cosmopolitan cultural offerings of Tunis, including arts festivals.

Government

Throughout its history, Tunisia has been part of many notable empires, including the Carthaginian, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires. In 1881, France established a protectorate over Tunisia. Under the leadership of reformer Habib Bourguiba, the Tunisians overthrew French rule in 1956 and established a republic the following year. Bourguiba became president and for the next thirty-one years exercised effective one-man rule within a one-party state, until he was forced out in a 1987 coup.

Widespread anti-government protests between December 2010 and January 2011 led to the resignation of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who had served as leader of Tunisia for nearly twenty-five years. An interim government took control by the end of January 2011, and a new constitution was written, taking effect in early 2014. The demonstrations in Tunisia, sometimes known as the Tunisian Uprising, served as a model for similar activity in Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, and Syria, though protests in each of these countries met with different results.

Tunisia's executive branch is headed by the president, who serves as chief of state and is directly elected by popular vote to a five-year term. The prime minister, who serves as head of government, is nominated by the majority party or majority coalition and appointed by the president. The cabinet is selected by the prime minister and approved by the legislature.

The unicameral legislature is known as the Assembly of the Representatives of the People (ARP; Majlis nuwwāb ash-sha‘b in Arabic, or Assemblée des représentants du peuple in French). There are 217 seats, and members are elected to five-year terms. The ARP was established by the 2014 constitution; before 2011, the legislature was the bicameral Parliament of Tunisia.

For the republic's first several decades, the Democratic Constitutional Rally (Rassemblement constitutionnel démocratique, or RCD), formerly known as the Socialist Destourian Party, was the only legal political party. Opposition parties were made legal in 1981 but wielded little power until the 2011 revolution, after which the RCD was suspended and then dissolved.

The highest court is the Court of Cassation (Cour de cassation). Sharia (Islamic law) can come into play in cases of family law, relating to inheritance and child custody issues. The first Tunisian constitution was established in June 1959 and amended in July 1988. A new constitution was written after the 2011 uprising and took effect in 2014; the constitution called for the establishment of a constitutional court that would consist of twelve members. A president, Beji Caid Essebsi, was elected in 2014, and another election was held following his death in 2019. The new president, Kais Saied, suspended the legislature and removed the prime minister from office in 2021 using powers allowed to him under the constitution. Saied then announced there would be a referendum for a new draft of a constitution, which was eventually held in July 2022.

Tunisia has twenty-four administrative divisions, called governorates (wilayat). The Tunis governorate is the smallest and includes the city of Tunis as well as surrounding urban and suburban areas. The governors are appointed by the central government. Municipalities elect their own councils and mayors.

In 2024, President Saied wins a second term in a landslide result, after five opposition parties call for a boycott, saying the vote would neither be free nor fair.

Interesting Facts

• Carthage means "New City" in the Phoenician language.
• During the early nineteenth century, the United States fought several wars to defend its shipping and sailors against attacks by the "Barbary pirates" of North Africa.
• The Métro léger de Tunis, or Tunis Métro, Tunis's rapid-transit system, became the first modern light-rail system in Africa upon its establishment in 1985.
• Tunisia's first democratically elected president, Beji Caid Essebsi, died in office in July 2019. At the age of ninety-two, Essebsi was among the world's oldest government leaders.

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