Economy of Tunisia

2025-10-23T07:12:46Z

2001:861:4288:7EC0:60D8:F7FE:3FBD:D0EC:

{{Short description|none}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Update|date=July 2022}}
{{Citation style|date=July 2022}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox economy
| country = Tunisia
| image = File:Tunisie Amen Banque.JPG
| image_size = 310px
| caption = Amen Bank, one of the biggest banks in the country
| currency = [[Tunisian dinar]] (TND, {{lang|aeb|د.ت}})
| fixed exchange =
| year = calendar year
| organs = [[African Union]], [[African Continental Free Trade Agreement|AfCFTA]] (signed), [[World Trade Organization|WTO]], [[Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa|COMESA]], [[Community of Sahel-Saharan States|CEN-SAD]], [[Arab Maghreb Union|AMU]]
| group = {{plainlist|
*[[Developing country|Developing/Emerging]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/01/weodata/weoselco.aspx?g=2200&sg=All+countries+%2f+Emerging+market+and+developing+economies|title=World Economic Outlook Database, April 2019|publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]]|website=IMF.org|access-date=29 September 2019}}</ref>
*Lower-middle income economy<ref>{{cite web|url=https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519-world-bank-country-and-lending-groups|title=World Bank Country and Lending Groups|publisher=[[World Bank]]|website=datahelpdesk.worldbank.org|access-date=29 September 2019}}</ref>}}
| population = {{increase}} 12,352,187 (2023)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/tunisia-population/ locations=TN&name_desc=false|title=Population, total - Tunisia|publisher=[[World Bank]]|website=data.worldbank.org|access-date=3 October 2019}}</ref>
| gdp = {{plainlist|
*{{increase}} $59.01 billion (nominal est, 2025)<ref name="IMFWEOTN">{{cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=35&pr.y=13&sy=2017&ey=2021&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=744&s=NGDPD%2CPPPGDP%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPPC%2CPCPIPCH&grp=0&a=|title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2019|website=IMF.org|access-date=16 November 2019}}</ref>
*{{increase}} $182.978 billion ([[Purchasing power parity|PPP]], 2025)<ref name="IMFWEOTN"/>}}
| gdp rank = {{plainlist|
*[[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|92nd (nominal, 2024)]]
*[[List of countries by GDP (PPP)|81st (PPP, 2024)]]}}
| growth = {{plainlist|
*4.2% (2021f)<ref>{{cite web|title=Middle East and North Africa Economic Update, April 2020 : How Transparency Can Help the Middle East and North Africa|url=https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/33475|website=openknowledge.worldbank.org|date=9 April 2020|publisher=[[World Bank]]|access-date=10 April 2020|page=10|last1=Rabah|first1=Arezki|last2=Daniel|first2=Lederman|last3=Amani|first3=Abou Harb|last4=Nelly|first4=El-Mallakh|last5=Yuting|first5=Fan|last6=Asif|first6=Islam|last7=Ha|first7=Nguyen|last8=Marwane|first8=Zouaidi|isbn=9781464815614 }}</ref>}}
| per capita = {{plainlist|
*{{increase}} $4,436 (nominal, est, 2025)<ref name="IMFWEOTN"/>
*{{increase}} $14,724 (PPP, 2025)<ref name="IMFWEOTN"/>}}
| per capita rank = {{plainlist|
*[[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|(nominal, 2024)]]
*[[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|(PPP, 2024)]]}}
| sectors = {{plainlist|
*[[Primary sector of the economy|agriculture]]: {{decrease}} 10.05%
*[[Secondary sector of the economy|industry]]: {{decrease}} 21.69%
*[[Tertiary sector of the economy|services]]: {{increase}} 68.26%
*(2020)<ref name="CIAWFTS">{{cite web|url= https://www.statista.com/statistics/524575/share-of-economic-sectors-in-the-gdp-in-tunisia/
|title=The World Factbook|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]|website=CIA.gov|access-date=12 May 2019}}</ref>}}
| components =
| inflation = {{increaseNegative}} 6.53% (2022 est.)<ref name="IMFWEOTN"/><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/524512/inflation-rate-in-tunisia/| title=Tunisia - inflation rate 1986-2022}}</ref>
| poverty = {{plainlist|
*15.2% (2015)<ref>{{cite web|title=Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) - Tunisia|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.NAHC?locations=TN|website=data.worldbank.org|publisher=World Bank|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref>
*17.5% on less than $5.50/day (2015)<ref>{{cite web|title=Poverty headcount ratio at $5.50 a day (2011 PPP) (% of population) - Tunisia|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.UMIC?locations=TN|website=data.worldbank.org|publisher=World Bank|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref>}}
| gini = 32.8 {{color|darkorange|medium}} (2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI?locations=TN|title=GINI index (World Bank estimate)|publisher=[[World Bank]]|website=data.worldbank.org|access-date=12 May 2019}}</ref>
| hdi = {{plainlist|
*{{increase}} 0.731 {{color|green|high}} (2021)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/Country-Profiles/TUN.pdf|title=Human Development Index (HDI)|publisher=[[Human Development Report|HDRO (Human Development Report Office)]] [[United Nations Development Programme]]|website=hdr.undp.org|access-date=22 November 2022}}</ref> ([[List of countries by Human Development Index|97th]])
*{{increase}} 0.588 {{color|darkorange|medium}} [[List of countries by inequality-adjusted HDI|IHDI]] (2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/table-3-inequality-adjusted-human-development-index-ihdi|title=Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI)|publisher=[[Human Development Report|HDRO (Human Development Report Office)]] [[United Nations Development Programme]]|website=hdr.undp.org|access-date=22 November 2022}}</ref>}}
| labor = {{plainlist|
*{{Increase}} 4,080,000 (Q2, 2022)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://take-profit.org/en/statistics/unemployment-rate/tunisia/|title=Labor force, total - Tunisia|publisher=[[World Bank]]|website=data.worldbank.org|access-date=27 November 2019}}</ref>
*{{Increase}} 46% employment rate (Q2, 2022)<ref>{{cite web|title=Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate) - Tunisia|publisher=[[World Bank]]|website=data.worldbank.org}}</ref>}}
| occupations = {{plainlist|
*[[Primary sector of the economy|agriculture]]: 14.8%
*[[Secondary sector of the economy|industry]]: 33.2%
*[[Tertiary sector of the economy|services]]: 51.7%
*(2014 est.)<ref name="CIAWFTS"/>}}
| unemployment = {{DecreasePositive}} 15.3% (Q2, 2022)
| average net salary = $360 monthly (2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_price_rankings?itemId=105&displayCurrency=USD|title=Rankings by Country of Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) (Salaries And Financing)|website=www.numbeo.com}}</ref>
| industries = [[petroleum]], [[mining]] (particularly [[phosphate]], [[iron ore]]), [[tourism]], [[textile]], [[footwear]], [[agriculture]], [[Drink|beverages]], [[olive oil]]
| exports = {{increase}} $19.06 billion USD (2019)<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/TUN/tunisia/exports| title=Tunisia Exports 1965-2022}}</ref>
| export-goods = clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons, electrical equipment
| export-partners = {{plainlist|
*{{flag|France}} 24.8%
*{{flag|Italy}} 17.2
*{{flag|Germany}} 13.8%
*{{flag|Spain}} 3.95%
*{{flag|Libya}} 3.43%
*{{flag|United States}} 3.43%
*{{flag|Netherlands}} 2.24%
*{{flag|Switzerland}} 2.08%
*{{flag|Turkey}} 1.59%
*{{flag|United Kingdom}} 1.51% (2021)<ref name="OEC">{{cite web|title=Foreign trade partners of Tunisia|url=https://oec.world/en/profile/country/tun?yearlyTradeFlowSelector=flow0|publisher=The Observatory of Economic Complexity|access-date=18 June 2021}}</ref>}}
| imports = {{increaseNegative}} $21.57 billion USD (2019)<ref>{{cite web| url=https://wits.worldbank.org/CountrySnapshot/en/TUN/textview#:~:text=Overall%20Exports%20and%20Imports%20for%20Tunisia%202019&text=The%20total%20value%20of%20imports,are%20imported%20from%20177%20countries| title=Tunisia Trade | WITS | Text}}</ref>
| import-goods = textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, foodstuffs
| import-partners = {{plainlist|
*{{flag|France}} 14.9%
*{{flag|Italy}} 13.2%
*{{flag|China}} 9.39%
*{{flag|Germany}} 7%
*{{flag|Turkey}} 6%
*{{flag|Greece}} 4.53%
*{{flag|Spain}} 4.07%
*{{flag|Algeria}} 3.3%
*{{flag|Azerbaijan}} 2.48%
*{{flag|United States}} 2.19 (2021)<ref name="OEC"/>}}
| current account = {{increase}} −$2.690 billion (2019)
| FDI = {{plainlist|
*{{increase}} $37.95 billion (31 December 2017 est.)<ref name="CIAWFTS"/>
*{{steady}} Abroad: $285 million (31 December 2017 est.)<ref name="CIAWFTS"/>}}
| gross external debt = {{increaseNegative}} $30.19 billion (31 December 2017 est.)<ref name="CIAWFTS"/>
| debt = {{increaseNegative}} 70.3% of GDP (2017 est.)<ref name="CIAWFTS"/>
| revenue = 10.957 billion (2022 est.)<ref name="CIAWFTS"/>
| expenses = 12.523 billion (2022 est.)<ref name="CIAWFTS"/>
| balance = −5.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)<ref name="CIAWFTS"/>
| aid =
| credit = {{plainlist|
*[[Standard & Poor's]]:<ref>{{cite web|title= Sovereigns rating list|publisher=Standard & Poor's|url=http://www.standardandpoors.com/ratings/sovereigns/ratings-list/en/eu/?subSectorCode=39|access-date=26 May 2011}}</ref><ref name=guardian>{{cite news|title=How Fitch, Moody's and S&P rate each country's credit rating|date=15 April 2011|first1=Simon|last1=Rogers|first2=Ami|last2=Sedghi|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/apr/30/credit-ratings-country-fitch-moodys-standard|access-date=28 May 2011}}</ref>
*BBB (Domestic)
*BBB- (Foreign)
*BBB (T&C Assessment)
*Outlook: Negative
*[[Moody's]]:<ref name=guardian/>
*Baa3
*Outlook: Negative
*[[Fitch Group|Fitch]]:<ref name=guardian/>
*BBB
*Outlook: Negative}}
| reserves = {{increase}} $8.5 billion (23 December 2023 est.)<ref name="CIAWFTS"/>
| spelling =
}}
The economy of [[Tunisia]] is in the process of being [[liberalization|liberalized]] after decades of heavy state direction and participation in the country's economy. Prudent economic and fiscal planning has resulted in moderate but sustained growth for over a decade. Tunisia's [[economic growth]] historically has depended on [[Petroleum|oil]], [[phosphate]]s, [[agriculture|agri-food products]], [[car parts manufacturing]], and [[Tourism in Tunisia|tourism]]. In the World Economic Forum [[Global Competitiveness Report]] for 2015–2016, Tunisia ranks in 92nd place.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://reports.weforum.org/global-competitiveness-report-2015-2016/competitiveness-rankings/|title=Competitiveness Rankings}}</ref>

The year 2015 was marked by terrorist attacks in Tunisia which are likely to affect economic growth, especially in tourism, one of the main sectors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://country.eiu.com/Tunisia|title=Tunisia Economy, Politics and GDP Growth Summary - The Economist Intelligence Unit|website=country.eiu.com}}</ref>

==Historical trend==
GDP per capita soared by more than 380% in the seventies (1970–1980: USD 280–1,369). But this proved unsustainable and it collapsed to a cumulative 10% growth in the turbulent eighties (1980–1990: USD 1,369–1,507), rising again to almost 50% cumulative growth in the nineties (1990–2000: USD 1,507–2,245), signifying the impact of successful diversification.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.indexmundi.com/facts/tunisia/gdp-per-capita| title=Tunisia: GDP per capita| work=Index Mundi| access-date=2012-07-02}}</ref>

[[Image:Sfax oliviers.jpg|thumb|240px|Olive grove in [[Sfax]], Tunisia]] Growing [[foreign debt]] and the [[Foreign exchange market|foreign exchange]] crisis in the mid-1980s led the government to launch a [[structural adjustment]] program to liberalize prices, reduce [[tariff]]s, and reorient Tunisia toward a [[market economy]] in 1986. Tunisia's economic reform program was lauded as a model by [[international financial institutions]]. The government liberalized prices, reduced tariffs, lowered debt-service-to-exports and debt-to-[[Gross domestic product|GDP]] ratios, and extended the average maturity of its $10 billion foreign debt. Structural adjustment brought additional lending from the [[World Bank]] and other Western creditors. In 1990, Tunisia acceded to the [[General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade]] (GATT) and is a member of the [[World Trade Organization]] (WTO).

In 1996 Tunisia entered into an "Association Agreement" with the [[European Union]] (EU) which removed tariffs and other [[trade barrier]]s on most goods by 2008. In conjunction with the Association Agreement, the EU is assisting the Tunisian government's ''Mise A Niveau'' (upgrading) program to enhance the productivity of Tunisian businesses and prepare for competition in the global marketplace.

The government totally or partially privatized around 160 [[state-owned enterprise]]s after the [[privatization]] program was launched in 1987. Although the program is supported by the GATT, the government had to move carefully to avoid mass firings. [[Unemployment]] continued to plague Tunisia's economy and was aggravated by a rapidly growing workforce. An estimated 55% of the population is under the age of 25. Officially, 15.2% of the Tunisian workforce is unemployed.

In 2011, after the [[Arab Spring]], the economy slumped but then recovered with 2.81% GDP growth in 2014. However, unemployment is still one of the major issues with 15.2% of the labor force unemployed as of the first quarter of 2014. Tunisia's political transition gained new momentum in early 2014, with the resolution of a political deadlock, the adoption of a new Constitution and the appointment of a new government. The [[Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet|national dialogue platform]], brokered by key civil society organizations, played a crucial role in gathering all major political parties. This consensus will allow for further reform in the economy and public sector.

In 2015, the [[Bardo National Museum attack]] led to the collapse of the third largest sector of Tunisia's economy;<ref>{{cite web|title=CIA World Factbook|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/tunisia/|website=cia.gov|publisher=CIA|access-date=16 July 2015|df=dmy}}</ref> [[Tourism in Tunisia|tourism]]. Tunisian tourist workers in Tunis have said that "tourism is dead, it is completely dead", expressing the severe drop in tourism after the attack.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tunisia's tourism grappling with job losses|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02x60jc?ocid=socialflow_twitter|access-date=16 July 2015|work=BBC World|date=15 July 2015}}</ref>

The number of [[Rag-and-bone man|ragpickers]] in Tunisia is increasing due to the continuing high level of unemployment, the loss of purchasing power of the most disadvantaged families, and the explosion of plastic waste due to new consumption habits. Ragpickers do not benefit from [[social protection]], granted to professions with a legal status and may be subject to the exploitation of the [[Recycling]] industry.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2019/05/28/a-tunis-les-chiffonniers-sortent-de-l-ombre_5468739_3212.html|title=A Tunis, les chiffonniers sortent de l'ombre|newspaper=[[Le Monde]]|date=28 May 2019|access-date=2022-04-11}}</ref>

In January 2023, Marouane Abassi, governor of the Central Bank of Tunisia, warned that without an agreement with the IMF, his country would not be able to withstand the surge in prices and would not be able to maintain its growth rates.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1406055/economie-entreprises/le-gouverneur-de-la-banque-centrale-de-tunisie-sinquiete-pour-2023/|title=Le gouverneur de la Banque centrale de Tunisie s’inquiète pour 2023|newspaper=[[Jeune Afrique]]|date=5 January 2025|access-date=2025-10-12}}</ref>

The following table shows the main economic indicators in 1980–2017. Inflation under 5% is in green.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2018/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=96&pr.y=0&sy=1980&ey=2023&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=744&s=NGDP_RPCH,PPPGDP,PPPPC,PCPIPCH,LUR,GGXWDG_NGDP&grp=0&a=|title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects|website=www.imf.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-07}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Year
!GDP (in Bil. US$ PPP)
!GDP per capita (in US$ PPP)
!GDP
(in bil. US$ nominal)
!GDP growth (real)
!Inflation rate (in Percent)
!Unemployment (in Percent)
!Government debt (in % of GDP)
|-
|1980
|13.6
|2,127
|9.6
|{{Increase}}7.4%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}10.1%
|n/a
|n/a
|-
|1981
|{{increase}}15.8
|{{increase}}2,387
|{{decrease}}9.2
|{{increase}}5.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}8.9%
|n/a
|n/a
|-
|1982
|{{Increase}}16.6
|{{Increase}}2,463
|{{decrease}}8.9
|{{decrease}}−0.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}13.7%
|n/a
|n/a
|-
|1983
|{{Increase}}18.0
|{{Increase}}2,618
|{{increase}}9.2
|{{increase}}4.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}9.0%
|n/a
|n/a
|-
|1984
|{{Increase}}19.7
|{{Increase}}2,833
|{{decrease}}9.1
|{{increase}}5.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}8.6%
|n/a
|n/a
|-
|1985
|{{Increase}}21.5
|{{Increase}}2,991
|{{increase}}9.2
|{{Increase}}5.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}7.6%
|n/a
|n/a
|-
|1986
|{{Increase}}21.6
|{{decrease}}2,894
|{{increase}}9.9
|{{decrease}}−1.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}6.2%
|n/a
|n/a
|-
|1987
|{{Increase}}23.7
|{{Increase}}3,101
|{{increase}}10.7
|{{Increase}}6.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}8.2%
|n/a
|n/a
|-
|1988
|{{Increase}}24.5
|{{Increase}}3,158
|{{increase}}11.1
|{{Increase}}0.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}7.2%
|n/a
|n/a
|-
|1989
|{{Increase}}26.1
|{{Increase}}3,306
|{{increase}}11.1
|{{Increase}}2.6%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}7.7%
|n/a
|n/a
|-
|1990
|{{Increase}}29.0
|{{Increase}}3,560
|{{increase}}14.1
|{{Increase}}7.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}6.5%
|16.2%
|n/a
|-
|1991
|{{increase}}31.2
|{{Increase}}3,756
|{{increase}}14.9
|{{Increase}}4.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}7.7%
|{{Steady}}16.2%
|66.4%
|-
|1992
|{{increase}}34.5
|{{increase}}4,065
|{{increase}}17.8
|{{Increase}}8.0%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}5.5%
|{{Steady}}16.2%
|{{decreasePositive}}65.2%
|-
|1993
|{{Increase}}36.2
|{{Increase}}4,224
|{{decrease}}16.7
|{{Increase}}2.5%
|{{Increase}}4.0%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}16.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}66.9%
|-
|1994
|{{Increase}}38.3
|{{Increase}}4,362
|{{increase}}17.9
|{{Increase}}3.6%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}5.4%
|{{Steady}}16.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}67.0%
|-
|1995
|{{Increase}}40.2
|{{Increase}}4,484
|{{increase}}20.6
|{{Increase}}2.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}6.2%
|{{decreasePositive}}16.2%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}68.8%
|-
|1996
|{{Increase}}43.7
|{{Increase}}4,808
|{{increase}}22.3
|{{Increase}}6.9%
|{{Increase}}3.7%
|{{decreasePositive}}16.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}70.1%
|-
|1997
|{{Increase}}47.0
|{{Increase}}5,100
|{{decrease}}21.8
|{{Increase}}5.7%
|{{Increase}}3.6%
|{{decreasePositive}}15.9%
|{{decreasePositive}}69.9%
|-
|1998
|{{increase}}49.9
|{{increase}}5,342
|{{increase}}22.9
|{{increase}}5.0%
|{{Increase}}3.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}16.1%
|{{decreasePositive}}61.0%
|-
|1999
|{{increase}}53.7
|{{increase}}5,676
|{{increase}}24.1
|{{increase}}6.0%
|{{Increase}}2.8%
|{{decreasePositive}}16.0%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}65.0%
|-
|2000
|{{Increase}}57.3
|{{Increase}}5,993
|22.5
|{{increase}}4.3%
|{{Increase}}2.8%
|{{decreasePositive}}15.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}65.9%
|-
|2001
|{{Increase}}61.4
|{{Increase}}6,362
|{{increase}}23.1
|{{Increase}}4.9%
|{{Increase}}1.9%
|{{decreasePositive}}15.1%
|{{decreasePositive}}54.7%
|-
|2002
|{{Increase}}63.4
|{{Increase}}6,503
|{{increase}}24.3
|{{Increase}}1.7%
|{{Increase}}1.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}15.3%
|{{decreasePositive}}54.2%
|-
|2003
|{{Increase}}68.2
|{{Increase}}6,931
|{{increase}}28.8
|{{Increase}}5.5%
|{{Increase}}2.1%
|{{decreasePositive}}14.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}55.1%
|-
|2004
|{{Increase}}74.3
|{{Increase}}7,476
|{{increase}}32.7
|{{Increase}}6.0%
|{{Increase}}2.5%
|{{decreasePositive}}14.2%
|{{decreasePositive}}54.1%
|-
|2005
|{{Increase}}79.7
|{{Increase}}7,947
|{{increase}}33.9
|{{Increase}}4.0%
|{{Increase}}2.4%
|{{decreasePositive}}12.8%
|{{decreasePositive}}52.4%
|-
|2006
|{{Increase}}86.8
|{{Increase}}8,570
|{{increase}}36.1
|{{Increase}}5.7%
|{{Increase}}3.2%
|{{decreasePositive}}12.5%
|{{decreasePositive}}47.8%
|-
|2007
|{{Increase}}94.7
|{{Increase}}9,260
|{{increase}}40.8
|{{Increase}}6.3%
|{{Increase}}3.0%
|{{decreasePositive}}12.4%
|{{decreasePositive}}44.8%
|-
|2008
|{{Increase}}100.8
|{{Increase}}9,763
|{{increase}}47.0
|{{increase}}4.5%
|{{Increase}}4.3%
|{{Steady}}12.4%
|{{decreasePositive}}42.0%
|-
|2009
|{{Increase}}104.8
|{{Increase}}10,036
|{{decrease}}45.6
|{{increase}}3.1%
|{{Increase}}3.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}13.3%
|{{decreasePositive}}40.5%
|-
|2010
|{{Increase}}108.8
|{{Increase}}10,315
|{{increase}}46.2
|{{increase}}2.6%
|{{Increase}}3.3%
|{{decreasePositive}}13.0%
|{{decreasePositive}}39.2%
|-
|2011
|{{Increase}}108.9
|{{decrease}}10,204
|{{increase}}48.1
|{{decrease}}−1.9%
|{{Increase}}3.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}18.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}43.1%
|-
|2012
|{{Increase}}115.2
|{{Increase}}10,694
|{{decrease}}47.3
|{{increase}}3.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}5.1%
|{{decreasePositive}}16.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}47.7%
|-
|2013
|{{Increase}}120.0
|{{Increase}}11,020
|{{increase}}48.7
|{{Increase}}2.4%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}5.8%
|{{decreasePositive}}15.3%
|{{decreasePositive}}46.8%
|-
|2014
|{{Increase}}124.9
|{{Increase}}11,355
|{{increase}}50.3
|{{Increase}}2.3%
|{{Increase}}4.9%
|{{Steady}}15.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}51.6%
|-
|2015
|{{Increase}}127.6
|{{Increase}}11,487
|{{decrease}}45.8
|{{Increase}}1.1%
|{{Increase}}4.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}15.4%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}54.8%
|-
|2016
|{{Increase}}130.5
|{{Increase}}11,448
|{{decrease}}44.4
|{{Increase}}1.0%
|{{Increase}}3.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}15.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}61.2%
|-
|2017
|{{Increase}}135.4
|{{Increase}}11,755
|{{decrease}}42.2
|{{Increase}}1.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}5.3%
|{{decreasePositive}}15.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}71.3%
|}

==External trade and investment==
[[Image:2006Tunisian exports.PNG|thumb|240px|left|Tunisian exports in 2006]]
In 1992, Tunisia re-entered the private international capital market for the first time in 6 years, securing a $10-million line of credit for [[balance-of-payments]] support. In January 2003 [[Standard & Poor's]] affirmed its investment grade credit ratings for Tunisia. The [[World Economic Forum]] 2002-03 ranked Tunisia 34th in the Global Competitiveness Index Ratings (two places behind [[South Africa]], the continent's leader). In April 2002, Tunisia's first [[United States dollar|US dollar]]-denominated [[sovereign bond]] issue since 1997 raised $458 million, with maturity in 2012.

The [[Bourse de Tunis]] is under the control of the state-run Financial Market Council and lists over 50 companies. The government offers substantial tax incentives to encourage companies to join the exchange, and expansion is occurring.

The Tunisian government adopted a unified investment code in 1993 to attract foreign capital. More than 1,600 export-oriented [[joint venture]] firms operate in Tunisia to take advantage of relatively low labor costs and preferential access to nearby European markets. Economic links are closest with European countries, which dominate Tunisia's trade. Tunisia's [[currency]], the dinar, is not traded outside Tunisia. However, partial convertibility exists for bona fide commercial and investment transaction. Certain restrictions still limit operations carried out by Tunisian residents.

The stock [[market capitalisation]] of listed companies in Tunisia was valued at $5.3 Billion in 2007, 15% of 2007 GDP, by the [[World Bank]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DATASTATISTICS/0,,contentMDK:20394793~menuPK:1192714~pagePK:64133150~piPK:64133175~theSitePK:239419,00.html|title=Data - Finance|access-date=2009-12-31|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061205235151/http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DATASTATISTICS/0%2C%2CcontentMDK%3A20394793~menuPK%3A1192714~pagePK%3A64133150~piPK%3A64133175~theSitePK%3A239419%2C00.html|archive-date=5 December 2006|df=dmy}}</ref>

For 2007, foreign direct investment totaled TN Dinar 2 billion in 2007, or 5.18% of the total volume of investment in the country. This figure is up 35.7% from 2006 and includes 271 new foreign enterprises and the expansion of 222 others already based in the country.

The economic growth rate seen for 2007, at 6.3% is the highest achieved in a decade.

On 29 and 30 November, Tunisia held an investment conference with country chiefs from all around the world with pledges that have reached $30 billion to finance new public projects.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/hoping-to-salvage-democracy-tunisia-woos-foreign-investors/2016/11/29/edb106e0-b626-11e6-939c-91749443c5e5_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130155006/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/hoping-to-salvage-democracy-tunisia-woos-foreign-investors/2016/11/29/edb106e0-b626-11e6-939c-91749443c5e5_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-11-30|title=Hoping to preserve democracy, Tunisia woos foreign investors}}</ref>

As of 2022, Tunisia's government is in need of international help as the economy grapples with a crisis in public finances that has raised fears it may default on debt and has contributed to shortages of food and fuel, according to government critics. As a result, the government announced in December 2022 that they expect to reduce its fiscal deficit to 5.5% in 2023 from a forecast 7.7% this year, driven by austerity measures that could pave the way for a final deal with the International Monetary Fund on a rescue package.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Amara|first=Tarek|date=2022-12-23|title=Tunisia seeks to cut fiscal deficit to 5.5% in 2023, led by economic reforms|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/tunisia-expects-economic-growth-18-2023-economy-ministry-2022-12-23/|access-date=2022-12-28}}</ref> In 2025, Tunisia severed ties with the IMF.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-04 |title=Defiant in Debt: Breaking Free from Global Purse in Tunisia - Daily Euro Times |url=https://dailyeurotimes.com/defiant-in-debt-breaking-free-from-global-purse-in-tunisia/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=dailyeurotimes.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Tunisia's exports to Libya, exceeding 18% growth between 2020 and 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.libyanexpress.com/tunisia-reports-marked-growth-in-exports-to-libya/ |title=Tunisia reports marked growth in exports to Libya |work=Libyan Express |date=24 April 2025|access-date=24 April 2025}}</ref>

===Loan guarantee===
Source:<ref>{{cite web|title=Treasury Secretary Geithner and Tunisian Finance Minister Dimassi Sign Declaration to Work Toward U.S. Loan Guarantee for Tunisia|url=http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg1542.aspx|publisher=U.S. Department of the Treasury|access-date=2012-06-13}}</ref>

On 20 April 2012, U.S. Treasury Secretary<ref>[[Timothy Geithner]]</ref> and Tunisian Finance Minister [[Houcine Dimassi]] signed a declaration of intent<ref>{{cite web|title=FAQs: U.S. Loan Guarantee for Tunisia|url=http://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/USTREAS/2012/04/20/file_attachments/107830/Tunisia%2BFAQ.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727043012/http://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/USTREAS/2012/04/20/file_attachments/107830/Tunisia%2BFAQ.pdf|url-status=live|archive-date=2014-07-27|publisher=U.S. Department of the Treasury|access-date=2012-09-13}}</ref> to move forward on a U.S. loan guarantee for Tunisia. The U.S. Government would provide this loan guarantee to enable the Tunisian government to access significant market financing at affordable rates and favorable maturities with the backing of a U.S. guarantee of principal and interest (up to 100 percent).

The support would consist of the U.S. guarantee of Tunisian government-issued debt (or of bank loans made to the Government of Tunisia). This guarantee will significantly reduce the Tunisian government's borrowing costs at a time when market access has become more expensive for many emerging market countries. In the weeks ahead, both governments intend to make progress on a loan guarantee agreement that would allow Tunisia to move forward with a debt issuance.

The ceremony took place at the World Bank immediately following the meeting of Finance Ministers of the [[Deauville Partnership with Arab Countries in Transition]].

Microfinance institutions, such as Enda Tamweel, exist to assist those who are unable to access the regular banking system. This comprises those living in rural or impoverished regions where the informal sector thrives, accounting for 34% of Tunisia's GDP.<ref name=":37">{{cite web|title=A helping hand for young entrepreneurs in Tunisia|url=https://www.eib.org/en/stories/young-entrepreneurs-tunisia-microfinance|access-date=2021-07-15|website=European Investment Bank|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":38">{{cite web|title=EBRD, Enda Tamweel and Attijari Bank supporting microfinance in Tunisia|url=https://www.ebrd.com/news/2021/ebrd-enda-tamweel-and-attijari-bank-supporting-microfinance-in-tunisia-.html|access-date=2021-07-15|website=www.ebrd.com|language=en}}</ref>

Enda Tamweel has made over 3 million microloans to over 900,000 people in the 30 years since its inception, infusing more than €1.6 billion into the local economy.<ref name=":37" /><ref name=":38" />

==Energy==
{{Main|Energy in Tunisia}}
Tunisia's natural resources are modest when compared to those of its neighbors: Algeria and Libya. This modesty in natural resources forced the country to import oil, which contributed to the rise in the cost of gasoline: on 26 April 2006, the liter crossed the bar of one dinar to sell for 1.50 Tunisian dinars. (a price equivalent to European prices from the point of view of purchasing power parity).<ref>{{cite web|title=Tunisia Energy Situation - energypedia|url=https://energypedia.info/wiki/Tunisia_Energy_Situation|access-date=2021-10-14|website=energypedia.info|language=en}}</ref>

===Electricity===
* '''Production:''' 16.13 Billion kWh (2011)<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/profiles/Tunisia/Energy/All-stats|title = Nation Master}}</ref>
* '''Production by source:'''
** ''fossil fuel:'' 96.8% (2010)
** ''hydro:'' 1.7% (2010)
** ''other:'' 1.5% (2010)
* '''Consumption:''' 13.29 billion kWh (2010)
* '''Exports:''' None (2010)
* '''Imports:''' 19 million kWh (2010)

==Economic structure==
In 2017, the breakdown by economic sector is as follows:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Economy sector
!contribution to GDP
|-
|'''Agriculture'''
|10,1 %
|-
|'''Industry'''
|26,2 %
|-
|'''Services'''
|63,8 %
|}

===Agriculture===
'''Agriculture - products:''' [[olive]]s, [[cereal|grain]], [[tomato]]es, [[citrus fruit]], [[sugar beet]]s, [[date (fruit)|dates]], [[almond]]s.

In 2018, Tunisia produced:

* 1.5 million tons of [[wheat]];
* 1.3 million tons of [[tomato]] (16th largest producer in the world);
* 825 thousand tons of [[olives]] (7th largest producer in the world);
* 700 thousand tons of [[barley]];
* 548 thousand tons of [[watermelon]];
* 450 thousand tons of [[onion]];
* 426 thousand tons of [[Bell pepper|pepper]];
* 423 thousand tons of [[potato]];
* 241 thousand tons of [[Date palm|date]] (10th largest producer in the world);
* 217 thousand tons of [[carrots]];
* 146 thousand tons of [[grape]];
* 144 thousand tons of [[Orange (fruit)|orange]];
* 118 thousand tons of [[peach]];
* 114 thousand tons of [[apple]];
* 104 thousand tons of [[grapefruit]];
* 102 thousand tons of [[melon]].

In addition to smaller productions of other agricultural products, like [[almond]] (66 thousand tons) and [[sugar beet]] (76 thousand tons).<ref>[http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC/ Tunisia production in 2018, by FAO]</ref>

==See also==
*[[Economy of Africa]]
* [[List of companies based in Tunisia]]
* United Nations Economic Commission for: [[United Nations Economic Commission for Africa|Africa]] & [[United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia|Western Asia]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.nawaat.org/portail/2009/04/10/historic-growth-trend-of-tunisias-economy-1962-2007/ Historic Growth Trend of Tunisia's Economy, 1962 – 2007]
* [http://lebanese-economy-forum.com/world-facts/show/ts-economy/ Economy of Tunisia] extracted from the CIA factbook public data

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[[Category:African Union member economies|Tunisia]]
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[[Category:World Trade Organization member economies|Tunisia]]

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Economy of Tunisia