Tunisia economy grows 2.3% in Q2 2026 amid labor market shifts

Tunisia's economy grew by 2.3% in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, according to preliminary data from the National Institute of Statistics. On a quarterly basis, the GDP rose by 1.4% compared to the first quarter of 2026. Growth was primarily driven by the agricultural sector, which saw a 5.5% increase in value added, and the services sector, which grew by 1.9%, bolstered by hospitality, communications, and transport.

However, the labor market shows complex trends. While the overall unemployment rate saw a slight decrease from 15% to 14.9%, experts note this is largely due to a contraction in the active population, which fell by 77,500 people. The number of employed persons also declined by 58,200. Notably, while youth unemployment decreased, unemployment among university graduates rose by 2.4 points to reach 26.6%.

In the corporate sector, the pharmaceutical company Siphat reported increased pharmacy revenue but faces significant financial pressure, with total debt rising 22% year-on-year to 164.218 MDT, largely owed by the state and public enterprises. Meanwhile, Ennakl Automobiles reported a 2.18% increase in revenue for the first half of 2026.