Tunisia
Africa Β· Capital: Tunis
How it is run: Tunisia is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Tunisia is home to 12.3 million people in Northern Africa, where people speak Arabic.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
12.3 million people
That is 0.2% of everybody alive (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
163,610 kmΒ²
Roughly the size of Italy or the state of Arizona.
ποΈ How crowded
About 75 people per square kilometre β a comfortable mix of cities and open land.
π Size in its region
31st most people in Africa
36th largest by land in Africa.
π£οΈ Official languages
Arabic
π° Money
Tunisian dinar (Ψ―.Ψͺ)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
76.7 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$4,657
A lower-middle-income country: incomes are rising, but many families still farm or work informally.
π’ Living in cities
70.7% of people
Mostly a city country β think buses, trains and apartment blocks.
π Kids under 15
23.6% of the population
A fairly balanced mix of young and old.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+216
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.tn
π§ People here are called
Tunisian
π·οΈ Name at home
ΨͺΩΩΨ³
Also written: Republic of Tunisia, al-JumhΕ«riyyah at-TΕ«nisiyyah.
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
African Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Tunisia touches 2 neighbours by land. Neighbours share rivers, roads and usually a lot of trade.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
TΓΊnez
French
Tunisie
Arabic
ΨͺΩΩΨ³
Chinese
ηͺε°Όζ―
Japanese
γγ₯γγΈγ’
Russian
Π’ΡΠ½ΠΈΡ
Portuguese
TunΓsia
German
Tunesien
Put it in perspective π
- Nigeria β the most populated country in Africa β has about 19.2Γ as many people as Tunisia.
- Tunisia covers roughly 1,558 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Tunisia lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 6,174 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: Tunisia is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
π·οΈ Official name
Tunisian Republic
ποΈ Capital
Tunis
π Region
Africa Β· Northern Africa
π€ Country code
TN
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Tunisia π
π§ Where on the map
34.0Β° N, 9.0Β° E
π Half of the world
Northern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+1 β when it is noon in London it is about 13:00 in Tunis.
- The capital of Tunisia is Tunis β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
- Tunisia is close to the line of 0Β° longitude, so its clocks are near the world's reference time (UTC).
- Tunisia is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
- Tunisia sits in Northern Africa, in the northern and eastern half of the globe.
- Tunisia sits in the temperate zone, the belt where most of the world's farms and big cities are.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Tunisia has 1 official language. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Tunisia can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Tunisia spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Tunisia?
Tunis
Which money do people spend in Tunisia?
Tunisian dinar (Ψ―.Ψͺ)
How many countries share a land border with Tunisia?
2 β Algeria, Libya.
Roughly how many people live in Tunisia?
12.3 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.