Tunisia profile

Demography and Health

Tunisia’s population stands at about 12.28 million in 2024, making it a moderately large middle-income country with a steady, if gradual, demographic presence. The age structure and growth dynamics are shaped by fertility and mortality: the crude birth rate is 13.7 per 1,000 people (2023) and the crude death rate is 6.07 per 1,000, contributing to a relatively balanced natural change compared with many peers. Life expectancy at birth is 76.5 years (2023), indicating improvements in health outcomes but still short of higher-income benchmarks. The under-5 mortality rate is 12.9 per 1,000 live births, reflecting ongoing child-health challenges alongside progress in vaccination and maternal care. Population health is supported by a health system that allocates about 6.96% of GDP to current health expenditure (2022) and by domestic government health expenditure per capita at around 501 international dollars (PPP, 2022). The health workforce comprises roughly 1.29 physicians per 1,000 people (2021) and about 2.42 hospital beds per 1,000 people (2021), illustrating a capacity that is adequate for some services but strained for more intensive care. Poverty affects roughly 16.6% of the population at national poverty lines (2021), while undernourishment affects about 3.2% (2022), signaling regional disparities in living standards. Digital connectivity is notable, with 72.4% of individuals using the Internet in 2023, a foundation for telemedicine, education, and e-government. Public health outcomes are complemented by a relatively low suicide mortality rate (1.84 per 100,000 in 2021), though ongoing attention to mental health remains important. Overall, Tunisia shows a health system capable of delivering essential services to a broad population, while demographic and nutrition indicators point to a continued need for targeted social protection and primary care investments.

Economy, Trade and Investment

Tunisia’s economy sits between resilience and vulnerability. GDP per capita is about $4,350 in 2024 (current US$), with a GDP per capita at PPP around $14,451, signaling a lower-middle income status with substantial purchasing power disparities. The export intensity is relatively high, with exports of goods and services constituting 48.4% of GDP in 2024, while imports amount to 56.6% of GDP, indicating a sizable trade footprint and a tendency toward a trade deficit in goods. The inflation rate stands at 7.21% in 2024, reflecting price pressures that can affect household welfare and business costs. The country has a modest high-technology export sector, totaling about $1.2 billion in 2023, suggesting emerging capabilities in sophisticated products but a limited share in overall output. Foreign direct investment (net inflows) equals 1.51% of GDP in 2023, highlighting cautious investor sentiment amid macroeconomic and governance considerations. The current account balance is negative at about -2.3% of GDP in 2023, consistent with the import-led demand and energy/commodity dynamics typical of small open economies. Unemployment remains high at 15.1% (2023), underscoring labor-market challenges even as the economy remains open to trade and investment. Net migration is negative, with a small outflow of 15,221 people in 2024, indicating continued emigration pressures. Taken together, Tunisia’s economy benefits from openness, a young and educated workforce, and sectoral diversification, but it faces policy, governance, and external-risk challenges that require structural, investment-friendly reforms.

Governance and Institutions

Tunisia’s governance indicators reveal a mixed picture with both formal institutions and practical challenges. Political stability and absence of violence/terrorism is negative (-0.631) in 2023, with a relatively high ranking in some global assessments indicating vulnerability to domestic and external shocks that can affect policy continuity and investment sentiment. Regulatory quality is also negative (-0.619), suggesting difficulty in designing, implementing, and updating effective regulatory frameworks. Control of corruption, government effectiveness, and rule of law are all modestly negative, with values around -0.34, -0.30, and -0.14 respectively, indicating gaps in public sector performance, contract enforcement, and governance credibility. Taken together, these indicators point to a governance environment that supports formal democratic processes but struggles with consistency, efficiency, and enforcement. Policy implications include a need for reforms that strengthen the rule of law, improve regulatory quality, reduce corruption, and bolster public-service delivery to enhance confidence among citizens and investors. Strategic emphasis on institutions’ capacity, judiciary independence, and transparent governance could help stabilize growth and improve social outcomes.

Infrastructure and Technology

Tunisia combines decent connectivity with ongoing development of physical infrastructure. Individuals using the Internet reach 72.4% of the population in 2023, enabling digital services, e-government, e-commerce, and innovation in the private sector. The country maintains a modest portfolio of high-technology exports, totaling about $1.2 billion in 2023, signaling capabilities in advanced manufacturing and technology-driven industries that can be scaled with targeted policies and investment. Health infrastructure shows 2.42 hospital beds per 1,000 people and 1.29 physicians per 1,000, indicating adequate basic capacity but potential bottlenecks for tertiary care or surge demand. The energy mix includes renewable energy contributing 11.6% of final energy consumption in 2021, illustrating progress toward diversification and energy security, yet underscoring opportunities for expansion of solar, wind, and other renewables. The external sector’s openness, with imports exceeding exports and a current account deficit, emphasizes the importance of robust logistics, port infrastructure, and trade facilitation to sustain competitiveness. Public investment in infrastructure and human capital sits against macroeconomic constraints, suggesting a need for reforms that improve efficiency, attract private participation, and accelerate digital and transport upgrades.

Environment and Sustainability

Tunisia faces notable environmental and resource pressures that shape its development path. The level of water stress is extreme, with freshwater withdrawal at 98.1% of available resources in 2021, ranking 18th in terms of scarcity, signaling high vulnerability to drought, climate variability, and the need for water-efficient technologies, pricing reforms, and resilient supply management. Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita are 3.57 tCO2e in 2023, reflecting emissions intensity from energy, industry, and transportation sectors. Renewable energy supplied 11.6% of final energy consumption in 2021, indicating progress toward decarbonization but also ample room for growth to meet climate and energy-security goals. The prevalence of undernourishment stands at 3.2% (2022), contributing to a broader picture of nutritional security in a changing climate. These environmental and resource indicators highlight the imperative for robust climate adaptation, water-management reforms, and investments in renewable capacity and efficiency to build a more sustainable and resilient economy.