The Central Bank of Tunisia reported that card payments in the country continued to grow, with 135.7 million transactions recorded in the first nine months of 2026, totaling 24.4 billion dinars. This represents a 10.5% increase in transactions and an 11.1% increase in value compared to the same period in 2025. The growth in card payments is a positive trend, but it is still largely driven by cash withdrawals.
Despite the growth in card payments, cash withdrawals remain the majority of transactions, accounting for 56% of the total, while payments made up 44%. This indicates that cash still plays a significant role in Tunisian payment habits, despite the development of electronic solutions. The Central Bank's bulletin, "Les paiements en chiffres en Tunisie," highlights the ongoing importance of cash in the country's payment landscape.
Electronic payments, however, are showing significant growth, with a 27% increase in online payments. The Central Bank reported 18 million online payment transactions in the first nine months of 2026, valued at nearly 1.23 billion dinars, up 24.1% from the same period last year. This growth suggests that electronic payment solutions are becoming increasingly popular in Tunisia.
The e-commerce network in Tunisia is also expanding, with 1552 active merchant sites, a 27.6% increase from September 2025. Additionally, proximity payments, such as those made through mobile devices or at points of sale, have reached 41.3 million transactions, up 18.6%, with a value of 5.14 billion dinars, up 16%. These trends indicate a shift towards more digital payment solutions.
Mobile payments are also on the rise, with 7.1 million transactions recorded in the first nine months of 2026, up 20% from the same period last year. The value of mobile payments reached 1.354 billion dinars, up 6.6%. This growth highlights the increasing adoption of mobile payment solutions in Tunisia.
In contrast to the growth in electronic payments, the use of checks has declined. The Central Bank reported a 7.6% decrease in check transactions, to 5.5 million, with a value of 37.28 billion dinars, down 7.3%. On the other hand, transactions made by letters of change have increased by 8.7%, to 3.6 million, with a value of 43.1 billion dinars, up 8.3%.
The Central Bank's data also shows that rejection rates for letters of change and checks vary. The rejection rate for letters of change was 9% by value and 9.4% by number, while for checks, it was 1.7% by value and 0.9% by number. Overall, the data suggests that while electronic payments are growing, there is still a long way to go before they replace cash and traditional payment methods.
Key points
- Card payments in Tunisia grew to 24.4 billion dinars in nine months, with 135.7 million transactions recorded.
- Cash withdrawals remain dominant, accounting for 56% of transactions.
- Electronic payments, including online and mobile payments, are showing significant growth, with increases of 27% and 20%, respectively.
