Explore Tunisia: Geography, Economy & Culture

The African continent derives its name from what Tunisia was called during Roman times—“Afrika,” which is believed to mean “without cold.” Tunisia is one of the five countries in the Maghreb region, along with Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and Libya.

This North African country is complex to characterize due to its diverse cultural heritage; the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Arabs, Amazigh, Berber Kingdoms, Ottomans, and French all left bits and pieces of themselves, shaping what is today's modern Tunisia.

Our comprehensive overview explores Tunisia's geography, economy, culture, and citizens' day-to-day lives.

Tunisia is located in the Northernmost part of Africa, bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. It covers an area of approximately 163,610 square miles, making it the smallest country in North Africa.

Geographically, Northern Tunisia is characterized by vegetation. At the same time, the South is dominated by the Sahara desert and experiences dramatic dunes, oases, and salt lakes that dry up, refill, and become firm enough to drive over.

[Britannica]

Tunisia’s population is estimated at nearly 12.43 million, predominantly of Arab and Amazigh (Berber) ancestry. The Capital city, Tunis, is home to:

1. The Tunis Carthage International Airport, which ranks as the 9th busiest Airport in Africa.
2. The seven-mile-long La Goulette Shipping Port which serves as the country's main commercial port.
   
   Arabic is the official language, while French is widely used in business, education, and daily life. Islam is the predominant religion, but Tunisia upholds freedom of religion and cultural respect. Notably, Tunisia is considered the freest country in the Arab world and is known to be the most open to progressive values. These values are demonstrated in social reforms:

• Tunisia was the first country in the Arab world to abolish slavery.
• First in the Arab world, empowering women to receive inheritance, pass on nationality to their children, and marry non-Islamic people.
• Women can wear anything from hijabs and bikinis.
• Since 2011, Women have made up 31% of their parliamentary seats.
• The Tunisian film directed by Moufida Tlati, Silences of the Palace(1994), depicted the gender, class, and social exploitation of women.

These aspects highlight Tunisia as a country embracing tradition and progressive concerns.

Tunisia's economy is driven by important sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. Let's take a closer look at these vital sectors and their impact on the country's economy:

Mordor Intelligence research estimates Tunisia's agricultural market to expand from $2.62 billion in 2025 to $3.09 billion by 2030, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.3% during this period.

Agriculture is a vital sector, accounting for about one in six jobs (roughly 16.7%) and contributing 9.47% to the country's GDP in 2023, according to the World Bank Data.
Tunisia’s key crops include olives, wheat, barley, tomatoes, almonds, dates, broad beans, and apples, with olive oil being the largest export product.

Its proximity to Europe has positively influenced the growth of organic farming, as most organic products are exported to European markets.

Tunisia stands out as the 4th most industrialized economy in Africa, with the manufacturing sector contributing roughly one-sixth (about 15%) of the country’s GDP and employing a similar proportion of the population, according to African Policy Research Institute (APRI).

Major manufacturing sub-sectors include:

1. Automotive Parts: Tunisia ranks 2nd largest producer of automotive parts in Africa, after Morocco, with over 260 companies. This sector exports to European markets, especially France and Germany.
2. Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronic Industries (MEEI): Accounting for 45% of industrial exports as of 2016. This sector produces automotive and aeronautical parts, cables, and household appliances mainly for the European market.
3. Plastics: Driven by demand for packaging, the plastics industry is growing.

In addition, Tunisia’s Head of Government, Najla Bouden Ramadan, launched a new strategy for industrialization to help create 840,000 industrial jobs and increase the value of exports to $11 billion by 2035.

Tunisia welcomed approximately 9.4 million international visitors in 2024, making it the 3rd most visited country in Africa, following Morocco and Egypt. This demonstrates Tunisia’s numerous attractions, wildlife game reserves, beautiful beaches, ski resorts, and ancient ruins.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) projected tourism’s contribution to Tunisia’s GDP to be around 14% in 2024, supporting nearly 418,000 jobs (one in nine jobs). Tourism revenues have shown steady growth, owing to increased visitor numbers and enhanced infrastructure

Notable sites
Some notable sites you'd love to see in Tunisia are:

1. Bardo museum, which is the 2nd largest in Africa
2. Matmata: Famous as the filming location of Tatooine in the Star Wars series.
3. El Jem(UNESCO): Largest Roman Colosseum in Africa
4. Zaghouan water temple and Hanaya aqueducts: Ancient Roman Hydraulic engineering system.
5. Thick salt crusts of the seasonal lakes.
6. Lake Ichkeul is a UNESCO heritage site famous for being a migratory bird hotspot. Several Duck, goose, and waterfowl species can be found here.
7. Medina of Tunis: The oldest part of the capital city, with over 700 monuments dating back to the 12th century, including the Zitouna Mosque and the Qarawiyyin University, considered one of the oldest universities in the world.

The government aims to attract up to 10 million tourists annually by 2030, with strategic efforts to boost revenues.

Or the “Black tax” obtained from Tunisians working abroad is another crucial source of income, growing by more than 11% in 2024. These funds support families and stabilize the economy.

The blend of Arab and European colonial influence is visible in their architecture, languages, music, cuisine, and daily life.

Tunisian buildings typically have doors arched at the top and adorned with symmetrical patterns or carvings.

Many homes feature blue doors and windows decorated with the hamsa. The hamsa is a palm with a human eye in the middle, intended to ward off evil spirits.

Some of the most popular sports in Tunisia include football, volleyball, swimming, rugby, and tennis.

• Swimming, in particular, is a major sport, with athletes having access to top-notch facilities and producing world-class competitors. Tunisian swimming athlete, Oussama Mellouli, is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, is among Tunisia's most celebrated athletes, and holds the record for the fastest time ever by a swimmer representing an African country.
• The men’s national volleyball team, known as The Eagles of Carthage, has won 11 times in the African Championship.
• Tennis is also prominent, with Ons Jabeur making history as the highest-ranked African and Arab woman in the sport, reaching a career-high world No. 2 and appearing in three Grand Slam finals.

These achievements reflect Tunisia’s strong presence in international sports.

During Ramadan, Tunisians gather to watch TV shows and classics in the Roman Amphitheatre. This is their version of the Super Bowl.

Since 1995, Tunisia has submitted 11 films for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Among these is "The Man Who Sold His Skin," which is the only Tunisian film to receive an Oscar nomination to date.

Another notable film is Dachra (2018), Tunisia's first Horror movie and the country's highest-grossing film with approximately $69,000 worldwide according to IMDb data.

Tunisians are passionate about films and cinema and host the Annual Carthage Film Festival to honour and promote African and Arab cinema.

Women
The traditional dress for Tunisian women is the Sefsari. It is a long flowing, brightly patterned dress.

Men
Jebba is the traditional outfit worn by the men. It's a loose, ankle-length tunic made of felt fabric worn with the Chechia, a hat made of red felt fabric and a tassel on the top.

Tunisians enjoy dishes like Brik (a crispy pastry filled with egg and tuna) and Fricassee (savoury doughnut).

Mint tea with pine nuts, salads greased in olive oil, and spicy foods are part of the menu. Also, Seafoods like mackerel, octopus, sea bream, and squid are a staple.

Severe climate changes have caused Tunisia to experience drought and a sharp decline in water levels in transboundary rivers flowing from Algeria into Tunisia.

This is primarily because Algeria has accelerated dam construction on shared rivers, increasing the number from 65 to 81 dams, with a goal of 139 by 2030. These dams, particularly on rivers like the Oued Medjerda, have caused a decline in flow, leading to poor irrigation and crop failure in Tunisia. Notably, this river supplies water to half the population.

Also, Algeria has intensified its exploitation of the shared underground water aquifer with Tunisia and Libya by 70%. Tunisia, now politically weakened, has shifted its focus to managing water scarcity.

Drought accompanies food insecurity. Not just that, the President of Tunisia, Kais Saied, is anti-Western and rejected an International Monetary Fund program, thus heightening the risk of a financial collapse. Tunisia is also compelled to cut down imports, including basic foodstuffs, resulting in Tunisians being overly dependent on financial support from Algeria, granting Algeria greater political leverage.

Tunisia is facing a severe economic crisis. The country's relationships with international institutions are strained, and it is struggling with drought and food insecurity. To get back on track, Tunisia must take a multifaceted approach.

It should abandon its isolationist stance and seek external financial support. A formal agreement with Algeria on shared water resources and formal trade agreements could also help stabilize the country's economy and improve its relationship with its neighbor.

[1] AFDB: Tunisia's New Industrialization and Innovation [Accessed 13th May,2025]

[2] Afripoli: Industrialization in Africa- Leading Countries and reasons for their success. [Accessed 13th May,2025]

[3] Britannica: Tunisia Government and Society

[4] European Forum: Women and Minority Rights in Tunisia. [Accessed 13th May,2025]

[5] Le Monde: Fresh Water Reserves of Tunisia [Accessed 13th May,2025]

[6] Mordor Intelligence: Industry reports- Agriculture in Tunisia [Accessed 13th May, 2025]

[7] Statista: Total population of Tunisia [Accessed 13th May,2025]

[8] World Bank Data: Tourism sector of Tunisia. [Accessed 13th May, 2025]