Tunisia: Introducció

Total Population: 12,277,109

Natural Increase: 0.6%

Density: 78 Inhabitants/km²

Urban Population: 70.9%

Population of main cities: Tunis (638,900); Sfax (272,800); Sousse (221,600); Ettadhamen (143,000); Kairouan (139,100); Bizerte (137,000); Gabès (131,000); Gafsa (129,700)

Ethnic Origins: There is no official data on ethnic groups in Tunisia. However, a vast majority of the population identifies itself as Arab (mainly Berbers). A very small proportion of Tunisians are of European or other origin.

Official Language: Standard Arabic is the official language, although the Tunisian Arabic dialect (Darija) is used in everyday communications.

Other Languages Spoken: The vast majority (98%) of the population speaks Arabic; about 1% speaks Berber. French is also widely spoken by Tunisians.

Business Language(s): Arabic and French are the most widely used languages in business. Some administrative texts are also in French. English is not very commonly used in business. A number of business persons in Tunisia also speak German and Italian.

Literacy Rate: 81.1%

Area: 163,610 km²

Type of State: After the fall of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, Tunisia ratified a new Constitution on 26 January 2014, establishing it as a free, sovereign, and independent state. It adopted a parliamentary republic model with a legal system based on the French civil code and Islamic law in personal status matters. Islam is the official religion, and power is grounded in the sovereignty of the people and the separation of powers.
In 2022, a referendum led to a new constitution that shifted Tunisia to a presidential system, granting the president greater executive powers and centralizing authority.

Type of Economy: Variable income, mixed economy based on resources and services..
Tunisia is facing major economic difficulties, with persistent inflation and heavy debt, which has forced the government to take measures to stabilize public finances.

HDI*: 0.746/1

HDI (World Rank): 104/192

Telephone Code:
To call from Tunisia, dial 00
To call Tunisia, dial +216

Internet Suffix: .tn

Households with a computer: 0.3 per 100 Inhabitants

Telephone Lines: 10.3 per 100 Inhabitants

Internet Users: 72.4 per 100 Inhabitants

Access to Electricity: 100% of the Population