Tunisia's economy achieved a growth rate of 1.9% during the third quarter of 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, according to preliminary estimates from the National Institute of Statistics. This growth rate is based on the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), adjusted for seasonal variations. The economy had grown by 2.2% during the first nine months of 2026.
The services sector was the main driver of growth, contributing 1.75 percentage points to the overall growth rate. This sector saw a 2.8% increase in value-added during the third quarter of 2026, compared to the same period in 2025. Within the services sector, the hotel, restaurant, and cafe industry grew by 4.6%, while the information and communication sector grew by 3.4%, and the transportation sector grew by 2.3%.
The agricultural sector also saw growth, with a 1.9% increase in value-added during the third quarter of 2026, compared to the same period in 2025. This contributed 0.17 percentage points to the overall growth rate. In the industrial sector, the manufacturing industry grew by 0.8%, driven by a 5.5% increase in the mechanical and electrical industries, and a 2.2% increase in the food industry.
However, not all sectors saw growth. The chemical industry declined by 4.2%, while the production of other metal products decreased by 1.1%. The energy, mining, water, and waste management sector also declined by 0.5%, mainly due to a 34.6% decrease in mining activity, caused by a decline in phosphate extraction.
On the demand side, the internal demand grew by 0.1% during the third quarter of 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, contributing 0.09 percentage points to the growth rate. The external trade also made a positive contribution, with a 1.5% increase in exports, and a 2% decrease in imports.
The National Institute of Statistics also reported that the investment sector grew by 0.5% during the third quarter of 2026, while the construction sector declined by 3.7%. The growth rate of 1.9% during the third quarter of 2026 brings the overall growth rate for the first nine months of 2026 to 2.2%.
The Tunisian economy has been recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and other external shocks. The government has been implementing various measures to boost economic growth, including investment incentives and infrastructure development projects. The country's economic growth prospects for 2026 and beyond will depend on various factors, including the global economic outlook and the implementation of structural reforms.
Key points
- The services sector drove growth with a 2.8% increase in value-added.
- The agricultural sector grew by 1.9%, contributing 0.17 percentage points to the overall growth rate.
- The external trade made a positive contribution to growth, with a 1.5% increase in exports and a 2% decrease in imports.
