Tunisia's economy recorded a growth of 1.9% in the third quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year, according to preliminary estimates from the National Institute of Statistics (INS). This growth is accompanied by a slight decline of 0.1% compared to the second quarter of 2026, after adjusting for seasonal variations. The growth rate for the first nine months of the year stands at 2.2%.
The services sector was the main contributor to this growth, with a 2.8% increase in its value-added compared to the same period last year. This sector's contribution to the overall growth was 1.75 percentage points. The growth in services was driven by a 4.6% increase in the hotel, restaurant, and cafe industries. The information and communication and transportation sectors also recorded increases of 3.4% and 2.3%, respectively.
The agricultural sector grew by 1.9%, contributing 0.17 points to the overall growth. In the manufacturing industries, the value-added increased by 0.8%, driven by a 5.5% growth in the mechanical and electrical industries and a 2.2% increase in the food industries. However, the chemical industry declined by 4.2%, and the production of other non-metallic mineral products fell by 1.1%.
The energy, mining, water, sanitation, and waste treatment sector experienced a 0.5% decline, mainly due to a 34.6% drop in mining activity caused by a contraction in phosphate extraction. The industrial sector as a whole grew by 0.5% in the third quarter. In contrast, the construction and public works sector recorded a 3.7% decline compared to the same period last year.
On the demand side, household spending and gross capital formation, which includes investments, increased slightly by 0.1% compared to the same period last year. Their contribution to economic growth was estimated at 0.09 points. However, the balance of external trade made a positive contribution of 1.77 points to the growth in the third quarter, driven by a 1.5% increase in the volume of exports of goods and services and a 2% decline in imports.
The INS data highlights the significant contribution of the services sector and external trade to the growth in the third quarter. However, the decline in mining and construction activities continues to weigh on the performance of certain sectors. The growth in the services sector and exports has helped offset the weakness in domestic demand.
The Tunisian economy is expected to continue growing, driven by the services sector and external trade. However, the country still faces challenges related to the decline in certain sectors, such as mining and construction. The government will need to implement policies to support these sectors and promote sustainable economic growth.
Key points
- The services sector was the main contributor to the growth in the third quarter, with a 2.8% increase in its value-added.
- The mining sector experienced a 34.6% decline in activity due to a contraction in phosphate extraction.
- The external trade sector made a positive contribution of 1.77 points to the growth in the third quarter.
