World Factbook
Tunisia
Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: red with a white disk in the center that displays a red crescent around a five-pointed red star meaning: red stands for martyrs' blood shed the fight against oppression, and white for peace; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam history: resembles the Ottoman flag (red banner with white crescent and star), a reference to Tunisia's history as part of the Ottoman Empire
Capital
name
Tunis
etymology
the origin of the ancient name is unclear; it is sometimes associated with the name of the Phoenician goddess Tanith
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
36 48 N, 10 11 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal except for active government security forces (including the police and the military), people with mental disabilities, people who have served more than three months in prison (criminal cases only), and people given a suspended sentence of more than six months
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Tunisia
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest draft published by the president 30 June 2022, approved by referendum 25 July 2022, and adopted 27 July 2022
amendment process
proposed by the president of the republic or one third of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People membership; following Constitutional Court review, approval to proceed requires an absolute majority vote in the Assembly, and final passage requires a two-thirds Assembly majority vote; the president can opt to submit an amendment to a referendum, which requires an absolute majority of votes cast for passage
Country name
etymology
the country name derives from the capital city of Tunis
local long form
Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
local short form
Tunis
conventional long form
Republic of Tunisia
conventional short form
Tunisia
Independence
20 March 1956 (from France)
Legal system
mixed system of civil law, based on the French civil code and Islamic (sharia) law; Supreme Court reviews some legislative acts in joint session
Government type
parliamentary republic
Judicial branch
note
note: the Tunisian constitution of January 2014 called for the establishment of a constitutional court by the end of 2015, but the court was never formed; the new constitution of July 2022 calls for the establishment of a constitutional court consisting of 9 members appointed by presidential decree; members to include former senior judges of other courts
highest court(s)
Court of Cassation (consists of the first president, chamber presidents, and magistrates; organized into 27 civil and 11 criminal chambers)
subordinate courts
Courts of Appeal; administrative courts; Court of Audit; Housing Court; courts of first instance; lower district courts; military courts
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges nominated by the Supreme Judicial Council, an independent 4-part body consisting mainly of elected judges and the remainder legal specialists; judge tenure based on terms of appointment; Constitutional Court (established in the 2014 and 2022 constitutions, but never implemented)
Executive branch
note
note: the president can dismiss any member of government on his own initiative or in consultation with the prime minister
cabinet
prime minister appointed by the president; cabinet members appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister
chief of state
President Kais SAIED (since 23 October 2019)
election results
2024: Kais SAIED reelected president in first round - Kais SAIED (independent) 90.7%, Ayachi ZAMMEL (Long Live Tunisia) 7.3%, Zouhair MAGHZAOUI (People's Movement) 2% 2019: Kais SAIED elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Kais SAIED (independent) 18.4%, Nabil KAROUI (Heart of Tunisia) 15.6%, Abdelfattah MOUROU (Nahda Movement) 12.9%, Abdelkrim ZBIDI (independent) 10.7%, Youssef CHAHED (Long Live Tunisia) 7.4%, Safi SAID (independent) 7.1%, Lotfi MRAIHI (Republican People's Union) 6.6%, other 21.3%; percent of vote in second round - Kais SAIED 72.7%, Nabil KAROUI 27.3%
head of government
Prime Minister Sarra ZAAFRANI Zenzri (since 21 March 2025)
most recent election date
6 October 2024
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
expected date of next election
2029
National holiday
Independence Day, 20 March (1956); Revolution and Youth Day, 14 January (2011)
National color(s)
red, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
9 (8 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Amphitheatre of El Jem (c); Archaeological Site of Carthage (c); Medina of Tunis (c); Ichkeul National Park (n); Punic Town of Kerkuane (c); Kairouan (c); Medina of Sousse (c); Dougga / Thugga (c); Djerba: Testimony to a settlement pattern in an island territory (c)
Political parties
Afek Tounes Al Badil Al-Tounisi (The Tunisian Alternative) Al-Amal Party Call for Tunisia Party (Nidaa Tounes) Current of Love (formerly the Popular Petition party) Democratic Current Democratic Patriots' Unified Party Dignity Coalition or Al Karama Coalition Ennahda Movement (The Renaissance) Ettakatol Party Free Destourian Party or PDL Green Tunisia Party Harakat Hak Heart of Tunisia (Qalb Tounes) July 25 Movement Labor and Achievement Party Long Live Tunisia (Tahya Tounes) Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS National Coalition Party National Salvation Front New Carthage Party Party of the Democratic Arab Vanguard People's Movement Republican Party (Al Joumhouri) The Movement Party (Hizb Harak) Third Republic Party Tunisian Ba'ath Movement Voice of the Republic Workers' Party
note: President SAIED in 2022 issued a decree that forbids political parties' participation in legislative elections; although parties remain a facet of Tunisian political life, they have lost significant influence
Legislative branch
note
note: in 2022, President SAIED issued a new electoral law that requires all legislative candidates to run as independents
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Humat Al Hima" (Defenders of the Homeland)
history
adopted 1957, replaced 1958, restored 1987; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of the United Arab Emirates
lyrics/music
Mustafa Sadik AL-RAFII and Aboul-Qacem ECHEBBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB
National symbol(s)
red crescent moon and five-pointed star in a white circle
Administrative divisions
24 governorates ( wilayat , singular - wilayah ); Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin 'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba (Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili (Qibili), Kef (Al Kaf), L'Ariana (Aryanah), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah), Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax (Safaqis), Sidi Bouzid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse (Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan (Zaghwan)
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
Assembly of People's Representatives (Majlis Nawwab ash-Sha'ab)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
161 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
12/17/2022 to 1/29/2023
expected date of next election
December 2027
percentage of women in chamber
15.8%
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
National Council of Regions and Districts
term in office
5 years
number of seats
77 (all indirectly elected)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
4/19/2024
expected date of next election
April 2029
percentage of women in chamber
13%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 862-1858
chancery
1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone
[1] (202) 862-1850
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Anis HAJRI (since 1 August 2025)
email address and website
AT.Washington@Tunisiaembassy.org https://www.tunisianembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[216] 71-107-090
embassy
Les Berges du Lac, 1053 Tunis
telephone
[216] 71-107-000
mailing address
6360 Tunis Place, Washington DC 20521-6360
chief of mission
Ambassador Bill BAZZI (since 21 November 2025)
email address and website
tuniswebsitecontact@state.gov https://tn.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AIIB, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction