Factbook
Histoire de Tunisie — Chronologie
Dates clés de l'histoire de Tunisie, d'après le Factbook Magna et l'Encyclopédie universelle.
1881Rivalry between French and Italian interests in Tunisia culminated in a French invasion in 1881 and the creation of a protectorate.
1956Agitation for independence in the decades after World War I finally convinced the French to recognize Tunisia as an independent state in 1956.
1956Independence: 20 March 1956 (from France).
1987In 1987, Zine el Abidine BEN ALI replaced BOURGUIBA in a bloodless coup.
2010Street protests that began in Tunis in 2010 over high unemployment, corruption, widespread poverty, and high food prices escalated in 2011, culminating in rioting that led to hundreds of deaths and later became known as the start of the regional Arab Spring uprising.
2012The Assembly began drafting a new constitution in 2012 and, after several iterations and a months-long political crisis that stalled the transition, ratified the document in 2014.
2014Parliamentary and presidential elections for a permanent government were held at the end of 2014.
2019After ESSEBSI’s death in office in 2019, Kais SAIED was elected.
2021However, in 2021, SAIED used the exceptional powers allowed under Tunisia's constitution to dismiss the prime minister and suspend the legislature.
2022Tunisians approved a new constitution through public referendum in 2022, expanding presidential powers and creating a new bicameral legislature.
2023Generation mix — fossil fuels: 96.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); wind: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) Energy use: 33.754 million Btu/person (2023 est.).
2023Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate, iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages Agriculture: milk, tomatoes, olives, onions, chillies/peppers, watermelons, potatoes, wheat, dates, oranges (2023) Electricity access: 100% (2022 est.).
2023Languages: Arabic (official, one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce), Tamazight Religions: Muslim (official; Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Shia Muslim, and Baha'i) <1% Urban population: 70.5% of total population (2023).
2023Major urban areas: 2.475 million TUNIS (capital) (2023) lower middle-income North African economy; drafting reforms for foreign lenders; high unemployment, especially for youth and women; hit hard by COVID-19; high public sector wages; high public debt; protectionist austerity measures; key EU trade partner Inflation: 7.2% (2024 est.).
2024Military spending: 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.).
2024SAIED's term, as well as that of Tunisia's 217-member parliament, was set to expire in 2024.
2025Population: 12.0 million (2025 estimate).
