All figures are from National Institute of Statistics and the United Nations Demographic Yearbooks, unless otherwise indicated.
Tunisia's population was estimated to be around 11.96 million in 2025. In the generally youthful African continent, Tunisia's population is among the most mature. This is because the government has supported a successful family planning program that has reduced the population growth rate to just over 1% per annum, contributing to Tunisia's economic and social stability.
The population of Tunisia is made up of Arabs (98%), Berbers (1%), and others (1%). Around 98 percent of the population are Muslim. There is a Jewish population on the southern island of Djerba and in Tunis. There also exists a small autochthonous group of Christian adherents.International Religious Freedom Report 2007: Tunisia. United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (14 September 2007). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
Population History
Source: National Institute of Statistics and United Nations Statistics Division
Vital statistics
Average population (July 1)Live birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate (per 1,000)Crude death rate (per 1,000)Natural change (per 1,000)Crude migration rate (per 1,000)Population growth (annual %)Fertility rates 1948 3,425,100 111,084 49,917 61,167 32.4 14.6 17.8 1949 3,489,400 92,439 35,409 57,030 26.5 10.1 16.4 2.0 1.877 1950 3,530,000 106,235 33,648 72,587 30.1 9.5 20.6 -9.1 1.164 1951 3,596,000 119,981 33,935 86,046 33.4 9.4 24.0 -5.6 1.870 1952 3,662,000 105,469 30,676 74,793 28.8 8.4 20.4 -2.4 1.835 1953 3,727,000 116,638 31,116 85,522 31.3 8.3 23.0 -5.6 1.775 6.90 1954 3,793,000 119,774 31,249 88,525 31.6 8.2 23.4 -6.0 1.771 1955 3,860,000 134,489 28,942 105,547 34.8 7.5 27.3 -9.9 1.766 1956 3,929,000 140,505 33,367 107,138 35.8 8.5 27.3 -9.7 1.788 1957 3,999,000 157,741 36,964 120,777 39.4 9.2 30.2 -12.7 1.782 1958 4,072,000 181,144 37,018 144,126 44.5 9.1 35.4 -17.5 1.825 7.00 1959 4,145,000 184,209 41,737 142,472 44.4 10.1 34.3 -16.7 1.793 1960 4,220,701 182,221 42,064 140,157 43.2 10.0 33.2 -15.3 1.826 1961 4,297,000 184,396 45,437 138,959 42.9 10.6 32.3 -14.5 1.808 1962 4,376,000 181,861 49,200 132,661 41.6 11.2 30.4 -12.3 1.838 1963 4,457,000 187,395 45,415 141,980 42.0 10.2 31.8 -13.6 1.851 7.21 1964 4,541,000 206,046 43,656 162,390 45.4 9.6 35.8 -17.3 1.885 1965 4,630,000 193,220 51,700 141,520 41.7 11.2 30.2 -11.0 1.960 1966 4,716,000 206,717 48,307 158,410 43.8 10.2 33.6 -15.4 1.857 7.22 1967 4,819,000 187,320 49,387 137,933 38.9 10.2 28.7 -7.3 2.184 1968 4,920,000 188,190 46,712 141,478 38.3 9.5 28.8 -8.3 2.096 6.86 1969 5,027,500 194,940 52,872 142,068 38.8 10.5 28.3 -6.9 2.185 1970 5,126,500 186,360 45,560 140,800 36.4 8.9 27.5 -8.2 1.969 6.09 1971 5,228,400 183,311 48,625 134,686 35.1 9.3 25.8 -7.3 1.988 6.00 1972 5,331,800 199,121 39,488 159,633 37.3 7.4 29.9 -10.5 1.978 1973 5,333,400 194,810 60,800 134,010 36.5 11.4 25.1 -24.8 0.030 6.18 1974 5,463,700 194,600 54,700 139,900 35.6 10.0 25.6 -1.8 2.443 1975 5,611,400 205,390 41,172 164,218 36.6 7.3 29.3 -3.0 2.703 1976 5,774,900 208,040 37,028 171,012 36.0 6.4 29.6 -1.3 2.914 1977 5,928,300 220,546 36,272 184,274 37.2 6.1 31.1 -5.2 2.656 1978 6,067,100 207,342 34,885 172,457 34.2 5.7 28.5 -5.6 2.341 5.14 1979 6,219,800 218,161 37,201 180,960 35.1 6.0 29.1 -4.5 2.517 4.92 1980 6,392,300 225,165 36,445 188,720 35.2 5.7 29.5 -2.5 2.773 4.51 1981 6,565,500 226,425 36,989 189,436 34.5 5.6 28.9 -2.5 2.710 1982 6,703,600 219,393 36,069 183,324 32.7 5.4 27.3 -6.7 2.103 1983 6,839,500 216,365 35,054 181,311 31.6 5.1 26.5 -6.6 2.027 4.88 1984 7,033,900 227,052 33,740 193,312 32.3 4.8 27.5 0.1 2.842 4.66 1985 7,261,100 227,188 35,963 191,225 31.3 5.0 26.3 5.0 3.230 4.42 1986 7,464,900 234,736 35,467 199,269 31.4 4.8 26.6 0.7 2.807 4.39 1987 7,639,000 224,169 35,632 188,537 29.3 4.7 24.6 -1.8 2.332 4.07 1988 7,769,900 215,069 34,984 180,085 27.7 4.5 23.2 -6.4 1.714 3.78 1989 7,909,600 199,459 34,921 164,538 25.2 4.4 20.8 -3.1 1.798 3.36 1990 8,154,400 205,315 45,700 159,615 25.2 5.6 19.6 -10.4 3.095 3.35 1991 8,318,200 207,455 46,500 160,955 24.9 5.6 19.3 0.4 2.009 3.28 1992 8,489,900 211,649 46,300 165,349 24.9 5.5 19.5 0.7 2.064 3.25 1993 8,657,400 207,786 49,400 158,386 24.0 5.7 18.3 1.0 1.973 3.12 1994 8,815,300 200,223 50,300 149,923 22.7 5.7 17.0 0.9 1.824 2.90 1995 8,957,500 186,416 52,000 134,416 20.8 5.8 15.0 0.9 1.613 2.67 1996 9,089,300 178,801 49,800 129,001 19.7 5.5 14.2 0.3 1.471 2.51 1997 9,214,900 173,757 51,700 122,057 18.9 5.6 13.2 0.4 1.382 2.38 1998 9,333,300 166,718 52,300 114,418 17.9 5.6 12.3 0.4 1.285 2.23 1999 9,455,900 160,169 54,400 105,769 16.9 5.8 11.2 1.8 1.314 2.09 2000 9,552,500 163,089 53,700 109,389 17.1 5.6 11.5 -1.3 1.022 2.08 2001 9,650,600 163,919 53,210 110,709 17.0 5.5 11.5 -1.2 1.027 2.05 2002 9,748,900 163,011 57,048 105,963 16.7 5.9 10.9 -0.7 1.019 2.00 2003 9,839,841 168,022 59,779 108,243 17.1 6.1 11.0 -1.8 0.933 2.06 2004 9,932,431 166,551 59,234 107,317 16.8 6.0 10.8 -1.5 0.941 2.02 2005 10,038,508 170,999 58,673 112,326 17.0 5.8 11.2 -1.6 0.973 2.04 2006 10,141,800 173,390 56,998 116,392 17.1 5.6 11.5 -1.7 0.985 2.03 2007 10,225,200 177,503 56,743 120,760 17.4 5.5 11.8 -2.3 0.961 2.04 2008 10,328,700 182,990 59,975 123,015 17.7 5.8 11.9 -1.9 1.012 2.06 2009 10,458,095 198,010 59,499 138,511 18.9 5.7 13.2 -1.9 1.253 2.05 2010 10,477,321 204,288 53,780 150,508 19.5 5.1 14.4 -2.7 1.029 2.13 2011 10,610,629 206,403 59,930 146,473 19.5 5.6 13.8 -2.7 1.029 2.29 2012 10,748,166 217,738 63,260 154,478 20.3 5.9 14.4 -4.1 1.029 2.39 2013 10,880,853 222,962 61,730 161,232 20.5 5.7 14.8 -4.6 1.029 2.43 2014 11,017,049 225,887 62,790 163,097 20.5 5.7 14.8 -4.2 1.076 2.46 2015 11,158,628 222,534 69,644152,890 19.96.2 13.7 -0.2 1.364 2.42 2016 11,292,778 219,441 66,298153,143 19.4 5.9 13.6 -1.0 1.270 2.40 2017 11,418,218 209,474 74,002135,472 18.3 6.5 11.9 -0.3 1.155 2.29 2018 11,532,078 202,693 72,716129,977 17.6 6.3 11.3 -2.8 0.849 2.23 2019 11,638,066 195,823 76,091119,732 16.8 6.5 10.3 -1.2 0.919 2.17 2020 11,726,178 174,116 79,89194,225 14.8 6.8 8.0 -0.5 0.757 1.96 2021 11,783,723 160,268 107,006 53,262 13.6 9.1 4.5 0.4 0.491 1.82 2022 11,826,910 147,978 81,334 66,644 12.5 6.9 5.6 -2.2 0.366 1.70 2023 11,868,822 135,148 77,967 57,181 11.4 6.6 4.8 -1.3 0.354 1.58 2024 11,958,938 126,401 70,707 55,694 10.4 5.9 4.5 -3.1 0.759 1.48 2025 11,962,696(e) 118,173 73,823 44,350 9.8 6.1 3.7 1.40(e)
Current vital statistics
+ Period Live births Deaths Natural increaseJanuary—December 2024 124,850 70,707 +54,143January—December 2025 118,173 73,823 +44,350Difference -6,677 (-5.34%) 3,116 (4.40%) -9,793Source:
Regional data
+Demographic of different governorates Rank Governorate Population (1994) Population (2004) Population (2014) Population (2024) Variation 1994–2024 (%)1Tunis+21.1%2Sfax+42.8%3Nabeul+49.2%4Sousse+75.8%5Ben Arous+94.4%6Ariana+129.9%7Bizerte+25.7%8Kairouan+12.8%9Monastir+64.8%10Médenine+39.1%11Kasserine+27.3%12Sidi Bouzid+29.9%13Mahdia+34.0%14Manouba+50.1%15Gabès+31.8%16Jendouba-0.1%17Gafsa+26.4%18Béja+2.5%19Kef-12.7%20Siliana-11.7%21Zaghouan+40.6%22Kébili+38.9%23Tataouine+19.9%24Tozeur+34.8% Source : Institut national de la statistiqueInstitut national de la statistique
Structure of the population
Age Group Male Female Total Percent Total 5 472 333 5 510 420 10 982 753 100 0–4 505 509 466 662 972 171 8.85 5–9 440 644 408 362 849 006 7.73 10–14 407 938 381 684 789 622 7.19 15–19 421 716 405 792 827 508 7.53 20–24 459 814 465 595 925 409 8.43 25–29 449 932 484 685 934 617 8.51 30–34 477 322 506 459 983 781 8.96 35–39 397 594 419 392 816 986 7.44 40–44 357 353 370 495 727 848 6.63 45–49 331 283 351 673 682 956 6.22 50–54 324 423 326 185 650 608 5.92 55–59 268 380 266 788 535 168 4.87 60–64 212 900 212 524 425 424 3.87 65–69 127 168 135 135 262 303 2.39 70–74 107 097 113 584 220 681 2.01 75–79 81 732 85 164 166 896 1.52 80+ 101 528 110 241 211 769 1.93 Age group Male Female Total Percent 0–14 1 354 091 1 256 708 2 610 799 23.77 15–64 3 700 717 3 809 588 7 510 305 68.38 65+ 417 525 444 124 861 649 7.85
Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% Total 5 845 771 5 937 951 11 783 722 100 0–4 926 069 7.86 5–9 1 070 239 9.08 10–14 944 533 8.02 15–19 805 973 6.84 20–24 769 307 6.53 25–29 845 867 7.18 30–34 862 847 7.32 35–39 900 584 7.64 40–44 858 461 7.29 45–49 780 961 6.63 50–54 680 158 5.77 55–59 665 392 5.65 60–64 544 471 4.62 65-69 461 708 3.92 70-74 286 317 2.43 75-79 181 675 1.54 80+ 199 161 1.69Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent 0–14 2 940 841 24.96 15–64 7 714 020 65.46 65+ 1 128 861 9.58
Life expectancy
total population: 76.82 years. Country comparison to the world: 99th male: 75.14 years female: 78.6 years (2022 est.)
PeriodLife expectancy inYearsPeriodLife expectancy inYears1950–195538.81985–199067.11955–196040.71990–199570.31960–196543.71995–200072.41965–197048.32000–200573.71970–197554.12005–201074.61975–198059.42010–201575.01980–198564.3 Source: UN World Population Prospects
Ethnic groups
The majority of the population of Tunisia is made up of Arabs (98% of the population). The first people known to history in what is now Tunisia were the Berbers, who currently make up 1% of the population, and were ultimately conquered by the Arabs in the 7th century. There was a continuing inflow of nomadic Arab tribes to the Maghreb from the Arabian Peninsula since the 7th century with a major wave in the 11th century.
Whilst the Ottoman influence has been particularly significant in forming the Turco-Tunisian community, other peoples have also migrated to Tunisia during different periods of time, including Sub-Saharan Africans, Greeks, Romans, Phoenicians (Punics), Jews, and French settlers. The Tunisian, by 1870 the distinction between the Arabic-speaking mass and the Turkish elite had blurred. There is also a small Berber (1% at most) population located in the Dahar mountains and on the island of Djerba in the south-east and in the Khroumire mountainous region in the north-west.
From the late 19th century to after World War II, Tunisia was home to large populations of French and Italians (255,000 Europeans in 1956), although nearly all of them, along with the Jewish population, left after Tunisia became independent. The history of the Jews in Tunisia goes back some 2,000 years. In 1948 the Jewish population was an estimated 105,000, but by 2013 only about 900 remained.
After the Reconquista and expulsion of non-Christians and Moriscos from Spain, many Spanish Muslims and Jews also arrived. According to Matthew Carr, "As many as eighty thousand Moriscos settled in Tunisia, most of them in and around the capital, Tunis, which still contains a quarter known as Zuqaq al-Andalus, or Andalusia Alley."
Genetics
Tunisians mainly carry haplogroup J1 (34.2%) and haplogroup E (55%).
"In fact, the Tunisian genetic distances to European samples are smaller than those to North African groups. (...) This could be explained by the history of the Tunisian population, reflecting the influence of the ancient Punic settlers of Carthage followed, among others, by Roman, Byzantine, Arab and French occupations, according to historical records. Notwithstanding, other explanations cannot be discarded, such as the relative heterogeneity within current Tunisian populations, and/or the limited sub-Saharan genetic influence in this region as compared with other North African areas, without excluding the possibility of the genetic drift, whose effect might be particularly amplified on the X chromosome.",The X chromosome Alu insertions as a tool for human population genetics: data from European and African human groups, Athanasiadis et al. 2007