Tunisia study reveals low financial inclusion for women and youth

A study conducted by the UNDP, the Observatory of Financial Inclusion, and the Tunisian Ministry of Economy and Planning has revealed significant barriers to financial inclusion for women and youth in seven Tunisian governorates: Kairouan, Gabès, Médenine, Tataouine, Gafsa, Tozeur, and Kébili.

The research indicates that only 41% of women and youth in these regions possess a formal financial account. Among women, 18% hold bank accounts while 27% use postal accounts. For youth, 27% utilize postal services, but only 8% have digital wallets. A striking 98% of the surveyed groups prefer cash transactions, driven by economic precariousness, a lack of trust in traditional banking institutions, and the high cost of access.

Economic factors play a major role, as 45% of women surveyed are either unemployed or homemakers, and 58% of working women earn less than 500 dinars monthly. The study suggests that addressing these disparities requires moving beyond traditional banking infrastructure toward microfinance, digital payment solutions, and community-based models to integrate the informal economy into the formal sector.