Tunisia (Tunisian Republic)

https://www.humantruth.info/tunisia.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

Tunisia Tunisian Republic
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	61st best
Capital	Tunis
Land Area	155 360km²₁
Location	Africa, The Mediterranean
Population	11.6m₂
Life Expectancy	73.77yrs (2017)₃
GNI	$10 258 (2017)₄
ISO3166-1 Codes	TN, TUN, 788₅
Internet Domain	.tn₆
Currency	Dinar (TND)₇
Telephone	+216₈

1. Overview

“Rivalry between French and Italian interests in Tunisia culminated in a French invasion in 1881 and the creation of a protectorate. Agitation for independence in the decades following World War I was finally successful in getting the French to recognize Tunisia as an independent state in 1956. The country's first president, Habib BOURGUIBA, established a strict one-party state. He dominated the country for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism and establishing rights for women unmatched by any other Arab nation. In November 1987, BOURGUIBA was removed from office and replaced by Zine el Abidine BEN ALI in a bloodless coup. Street protests that began in Tunis in December 2010 over high unemployment, corruption, widespread poverty, and high food prices escalated in January 2011, culminating in rioting that led to hundreds of deaths. On 14 January 2011, the same day BEN ALI dismissed the government, he fled the country, and by late January 2011, a "national unity government" was formed. Elections for the new Constituent Assembly were held in late October 2011, and in December, it elected human rights activist Moncef MARZOUKI as interim president. The Assembly began drafting a new constitution in February 2012, and released a second working draft in December 2012. The interim government has proposed presidential and parliamentary elections be held in 2013.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“From the sands of the Sahara to golden-hued beaches, tangled Tunis alleys to scattered Roman ruins, Tunisia is a country that intrigues and charms at every turn. It´s but a slim wedge of North Africa´s vast expanse, but Tunisia has enough history, cultural diversity and extremes of landscape to fill a country many times its size. With a sand-fringed, jasmine-scented coast, it´s a destination usually equated with Mediterranean sun holidays. But get beyond the beaches and you´ll find stunning Roman sites, forested hinterland, Saharan dunes and mountain oases, all of which can be experienced in a few days.
The country´s tourist sector has struggled mightily since the historic Jasmine Revolution of 2011. Isolated incidents of instability grab international headlines, but it´s essentially business as usual. Tunis, the capital, continues to offer an enthralling mix of tradition and modernity, Islamic serenity and seaside hedonism. Surprisingly, while much of the tourist industry founders, there´s a number of new guesthouses and small hotels popping up throughout the country. Now, more than ever, Tunisians will welcome you with open arms.”
"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Tunisia National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better Value₁₁
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
95	Ecuador	0.740
96	Mongolia	0.739
97=	Egypt	0.731
97=	Tunisia	0.731
99=	Fiji	0.730
99=	Suriname	0.730
101	Uzbekistan	0.727
102=	Dominica	0.720
	Africa Avg	0.56
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $₁₁
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
105	Algeria	$10 800
106	Mongolia	$10 588
107	Ecuador	$10 312
108	Tunisia	$10 258
109	Fiji	$9 980
110	Iraq	$9 977
111	Jordan	$9 924
112	Lebanon	$9 526
	Africa Avg	$5 339
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index₁₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₂
1	Denmark	26.9
2	Norway	29.1
3	Sweden	29.9
	...
58	Cuba	77.1
59	Mexico	77.1
60	Peru	78.1
61	Tunisia	78.4
62	Moldova	78.5
63	Ukraine	78.5
64	Barbados	78.8
65	Seychelles	78.9
	Africa Avg	119.0
	World Avg	89.0
q=200.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Tunisia's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Tunisia's population is predicted to rise to 12.21 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 2.06. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

Population₂
Pos.		2018 Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
73	Zimbabwe	14.4m
74	Guinea	12.4m
75	Rwanda	12.3m
76	Tunisia	11.6m
77	Benin	11.5m
78	Belgium	11.5m
79	Bolivia	11.4m
80	Cuba	11.3m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
71	Iran	73.9
72	Macedonia	73.8
73	Nicaragua	73.8
74	Tunisia	73.8
75	Lithuania	73.7
76	Cuba	73.7
77	Ecuador	73.7
78	Vietnam	73.6
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
10	Bangladesh	1.95
11	Vietnam	1.94
12	Georgia	2.06
13	Tunisia	2.06
14	Lebanon	2.08
15	Kuwait	2.09
16	Turkey	1.88
17	Cape Verde	1.88
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better₁₆
Pos.		2016 Per 100₁₆
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
110	N. Korea	17.8
111	Turkey	18.0
112	Vietnam	18.3
113	Tunisia	18.6
114	Azerbaijan	18.7
115	Colombia	18.8
116	Antigua & Barbuda	19.0
117	St Vincent & Grenadines	19.7
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants₁₇
Pos.		2017 %₁₇
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
167	Nigeria	0.6%
168	Algeria	0.6%
169	Mongolia	0.6%
170	Tunisia	0.5%
171	Egypt	0.5%
172	Guatemala	0.5%
173	Cambodia	0.5%
174	Honduras	0.4%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants₁₈
Pos.		2010 %₁₈
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
90	Slovenia	6.5%
91	Kiribati	6.5%
92	Bhutan	6.3%
93	Tunisia	6.3%
94	Finland	6.2%
95	Singapore	6.1%
96	Guatemala	6.1%
97	Brunei	6.0%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #slavery #tolerance #tunisia #tunisia_slavery

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₉
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
121	India	104.4
122	Mozambique	104.8
123	Russia	104.9
124	Tunisia	105.6
125	Sri Lanka	105.7
126	Cuba	106.0
	Africa Avg	110.04
	World Avg	89.80
q=199.

Tunisia is very poor at ensuring human rights and freedom compared to the rest of the world, and it has cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Tunisia does better than average in combatting modern slavery₂₀, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₁ (amongst the highest in Africa), opposing gender inequality₂₂ (the best in Africa) and in its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₃. Tunisia doesn't do so well in other areas. Tunisia does worse than average for the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₂₄ (yet still one of the lowest in Africa), supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₅, supporting press freedom₂₆, its average Freedom in the World rating, freethought₂₇ and in LGBT equality in the 2020s₂₈. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₂₉ (amongst the worst in Africa). Some recent changes are worrying; granting amnesty for state officials previously accused of corruption₃₀ can only ever cause further corruption in the future, leading to degradation of national life. The needless discriminatory law that criminalizes sodomy continues to result in prison spaces being filled by people who have done nothing other than conduct private and consensual sexual relations₃₀.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

Human Rights and Freedom in Tunisia

5. Tunisia's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #tunisia #vaccines

Compared to Africa (2025)₃₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₁
1	Mauritius	71.1
2	Tunisia	75.3
3	Seychelles	77.4
4	Morocco	86.8
5	Cape Verde	95.9
6	Algeria	98.9
7	Libya	102.1
8	Botswana	108.2
9	Sao Tome & Principe	111.4
10	Egypt	116.2
11	Rwanda	117.7
12	Ghana	119.3
13	Eritrea	120.2
	Africa Avg	111.13
q=54.

Health (2025)₃₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₁
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	37.3
	...
55	Greenland	72.3
56	Croatia	73.8
57	Turks & Caicos Islands	74.9
58	Tunisia	75.3
59	Costa Rica	76.3
60	Qatar	76.6
61	Seychelles	77.4
62	UAE	77.5
	World Avg	97.57
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₂. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₂.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₂, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia₃₂.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #smoking #tunisia

Tunisia does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Tunisia comes in the best 20 in its fertility rate₁₅ (the lowest in Africa). It does better than average in terms of its adolescent birth rate₃₃ (the lowest in Africa), its alcohol consumption rate₃₄, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₅, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₆, its average life expectancy₁₁ and in childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₇. Tunisia doesn't do so well in other areas. Tunisia does worse than average when it comes to its smoking rate₃₈, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₉ (still good for Africa) and in the prevalence of overweight adults₄₀ (amongst the worst in Africa). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Tunisia improved by +5.9yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Tunisia is amongst only 41 countries who have seen their fertility rate drop by more than 4 since the 1960s. Its peak fertility rate was 7.1 in 1965.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
71	Iran	73.9
72	Macedonia	73.8
73	Nicaragua	73.8
74	Tunisia	73.8
75	Lithuania	73.7
76	Cuba	73.7
77	Ecuador	73.7
78	Vietnam	73.6
	Africa Avg	62.79
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		2016 Per Capita₃₄
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
37	Chad	1.6
38	Tuvalu	1.7
39=	Madagascar	1.9
39=	Tunisia	1.9
39=	Bahrain	1.9
42=	Qatar	2.0
42=	Nepal	2.0
42=	Singapore	2.0
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
10	Bangladesh	1.95
11	Vietnam	1.94
12	Georgia	2.06
13	Tunisia	2.06
14	Lebanon	2.08
15	Kuwait	2.09
16	Turkey	1.88
17	Cape Verde	1.88
	Africa Avg	3.97
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better₃₈
Pos.		Total %₃₈
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
88	Israel	20.4%
89	Philippines	20.5%
90	Uruguay	20.5%
91	Tunisia	20.6%
92	S. Africa	20.7%
93	Mauritius	21.0%
94	Algeria	21.2%
95=	Netherlands	21.3%
	Africa Avg	12.4%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₉
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
89	Azerbaijan	89
90	Uganda	90
91	Chile	91
92	Tunisia	92
93	Bahrain	93
94	Philippines	94
95	Bosnia & Herzegovina	95
96	Namibia	96
	Africa Avg	117.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better₄₀
Pos.		1976 %₄₀
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
115	Belize	32.4
116	Bosnia & Herzegovina	32.6
117	Colombia	32.7
118	Tunisia	32.8
119	Cyprus	33.0
120	Moldova	33.4
121	Peru	33.5
122	Netherlands	33.7
	Africa Avg	13.4
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better₄₁
Pos.		2022 %₄₁
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
120	Guyana	28.0%
121	Russia	28.0%
122	Greenland	28.2%
123	Tunisia	28.3%
124	Uzbekistan	28.5%
125	Honduras	28.5%
126	UK	28.7%
127	Brazil	28.8%
	Africa Avg	13.7%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₃₃
Pos.		2022 Per 1000₃₃
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
23	Andorra	5.9
24	Spain	6.3
25	Canada	6.6
26	Tunisia	6.6
27	Maldives	6.8
28	Cyprus	6.8
29	Qatar	6.9
30	Monaco	6.9
	Africa Avg	84.6
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better₃₅
Pos.		Total Avg %₃₅
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
47=	Ghana	97.1
47=	St Kitts & Nevis	97.1
49=	Russia	97.0
49=	Tunisia	97.0
51=	Kazakhstan	96.9
51=	Antigua & Barbuda	96.9
51=	Saudi Arabia	96.9
54=	Chile	96.8
	Africa Avg	82.9
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better₃₆
Pos.		2015 Avg %₃₆
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
50	Malaysia	96.0
51	Croatia	95.9
52	Nicaragua	95.9
53	Tunisia	95.7
54	Japan	95.7
55	Portugal	95.7
56=	Qatar	95.6
56=	Armenia	95.6
	Africa Avg	81.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		Total Per 1000₃₇
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
93	Panama	17.26
94	St Vincent & Grenadines	17.32
95	St Lucia	17.37
96	Tunisia	18.08
97	Peru	18.09
98	Jamaica	18.79
99	Samoa	18.81
100	Nauru	18.87
	Africa Avg	71.63
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

6. Tunisia's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Africa (2025)₄₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₂
1	Morocco	46.5
2	Burundi	47.8
3	Mali	51.0
	...
8	Kenya	57.9
9	Mauritius	58.1
10	Ghana	58.6
11	Tunisia	60.1
12	Niger	61.3
13	Tanzania	61.6
14	Ethiopia	61.7
15	Cameroon	62.6
16	Burkina Faso	63.1
	Africa Avg	80.07
q=53.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)₄₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₂
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
26	Thailand	59.5
27	Spain	59.5
28	Austria	59.6
29	Tunisia	60.1
30	Vietnam	60.6
31	Niger	61.3
32	Greece	61.4
33	Tanzania	61.6
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₃. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Tunisia ranks 29th in the world when it comes to its responsibility towards the environment. This is derived from 21 data sets. Tunisia does better than average in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₄, reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₅ (but bad for Africa), its environmental performance₄₆ (amongst the highest in Africa) and in energy to GDP efficiency₄₇ (but high for Africa). Tunisia does not succeed in everything, however. Tunisia falls into the worst-performing 20 in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₈ (amongst the lowest in Africa).

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better₄₄
Pos.		Total₄₄
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
46	Switzerland	6.0%
47	Belarus	5.9%
48	Latvia	5.2%
49	Tunisia	5.2%
50	Swaziland	5.1%
51	Thailand	4.7%
52	Poland	4.6%
53	Macedonia	4.6%
	Africa Avg	-8.7%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better₄₆
Pos.		2018₄₆
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
55	Cuba	63.4
56	Panama	62.7
57	Tonga	62.5
58	Tunisia	62.4
59	Azerbaijan	62.3
60	S. Korea	62.3
61	Kuwait	62.3
62	Jordan	62.2
	Africa Avg	46.4
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better₄₇
Pos.		2022 Avg₄₇
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
60	Germany	0.91
61	Palestine	0.91
62	Cyprus	0.92
63	Tunisia	0.93
64	Israel	0.94
65	Djibouti	0.94
66	France	0.95
67	Portugal	0.95
	Africa Avg	0.83
	World Avg	1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
27	Cyprus	71%
28	Japan	70%
29	UK	70%
30	Tunisia	70%
31	Austria	70%
32	Venezuela	70%
33	Kazakhstan	70%
34	Jordan	69%
	Africa Avg	56.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Tunisia was one of the 30 who signed the Convention on Biological Diversity on its first day and one of 18 countries who enacted Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in its first year (1975).

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better₄₈
Pos.		2011 %₄₈
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
131	Kuwait	19.6%
132	Zimbabwe	19.6%
133	Latvia	19.5%
134	Tunisia	19.3%
135	Czechia	16.0%
136	Estonia	15.9%
137	China	15.1%
138	Denmark	14.9%
	Africa Avg	38.3%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better₄₅
Pos.		2021 kg₄₅
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
48	Thailand	26.0
49	Swaziland	27.1
50	Malawi	27.4
51	Tunisia	27.8
52	Sao Tome & Principe	28.3
53	Maldives	28.8
54	Egypt	29.1
55	Laos	29.8
	Africa Avg	24.9
	World Avg	52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

7. Tunisia's Modernity and Learning

#education #english #intelligence #maths #metric #modernity #politics #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2025)₄₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₉
1	S. Africa	58.2
2	Tunisia	63.4
3	Seychelles	64.9
4	Mauritius	67.2
5	Egypt	69.1
6	Morocco	79.5
7	Algeria	81.9
8	Gabon	83.0
9	Cape Verde	84.0
10	Libya	88.6
11	Kenya	97.0
12	Djibouti	102.5
13	Botswana	104.9
	Africa Avg	119.28
q=54.

Modernity & Learning (2025)₄₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₉
1	Vatican City	1.0
2	Finland	4.8
3	Belgium	8.5
	...
72	Azerbaijan	60.6
73	Colombia	61.0
74	Tonga	62.0
75	Tunisia	63.4
76	Macedonia	63.8
77	China	64.1
78	UK	64.5
79	Seychelles	64.9
	World Avg	80.33
q=194.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are The Vatican City, Finland and Belgium₅₀. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₅₀. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₁.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)₅₂

23 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₅₀, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₅₀.

For more, see:

" Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.29₅₃
2	Israel	4.11₅₃
3	Japan	3.58₅₃
	...
45=	S. Africa	0.73₅₄
45=	Serbia	0.73₅₅
45=	Hong Kong	0.73₅₄
48=	Tunisia	0.68₅₄
48=	Egypt	0.68₅₅
50	Belarus	0.67₅₅
51	Mali	0.66₅₆
52	Bulgaria	0.65₅₅
	Africa Avg	0.36
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₉
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
69	Senegal	69
70	China	70
71	Burundi	71
72	Tunisia	72
73	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	73
74	Chile	74
75	Argentina	75
76	Costa Rica	76
	Africa Avg	106.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better₅₇
Pos.		2025 %₅₇
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
94=	Japan	95
94=	Suriname	95
94=	Turkey	95
94=	Tunisia	95
94=	Thailand	95
94=	Kazakhstan	95
94=	Israel	95
101=	Iraq	90
	Africa Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Tunisia officially adopted metric in 1893₅₈. Progression:

1960 (70%): Metric established; traditional units in markets.
1970 (80%): Commerce/education standardized metric.
1980 (90%): Metric dominant; informal legacy persists.
2000 (95%).
2025 (95%).

Religiosity Lower is better₅₉
Pos.		2018 %₅₉
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
70=	Colombia	77
71=	Dominican Rep.	78
71=	Iran	78
71=	Tunisia	78
74=	Bangladesh	80
74=	India	80
76	Iraq	82
77=	El Salvador	85
	Africa Avg	87.0
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better₆₀
Pos.		2006₆₀
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
86=	Saudi Arabia	84
87=	Algeria	83
87=	Libya	83
87=	Tunisia	83
87=	Oman	83
87=	Syria	83
92=	India	82
92=	Bangladesh	82
	Africa Avg	70.6
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

7.2. Education Datasets

#education #english #maths #science

Secondary Education Higher is better₆₁
Pos.		2018₆₁
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
105	Costa Rica	52.9%
106	Colombia	52.0%
107	Ecuador	51.9%
108	Tunisia	51.8%
109	India	51.6%
110	Kuwait	51.5%
111	Congo, DR	50.7%
112	Macedonia	49.8%
	Africa Avg	34.4%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better₆₂
Pos.		2021 Years₆₂
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
49	Brazil	15.6
50	Georgia	15.6
51	St Kitts & Nevis	15.4
52	Tunisia	15.4
53	Peru	15.4
54	Kuwait	15.3
55	Japan	15.2
56	Liechtenstein	15.2
	Africa Avg	11.0
	World Avg	13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Maths, Science & Reading Higher is better₆₃
Pos.		2015 Score₆₃
1	Singapore	1655
2	Hong Kong	1598
3	Japan	1586
	...
63	Brazil	1185
64	Peru	1182
65	Lebanon	1129
66	Tunisia	1114
67	Macedonia	1107
68	Kosovo	1087
69	Algeria	1086
70	Dominican Rep.	1018
	Africa Avg	1100
	World Avg	1389
q=70.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#modernity #politics #technology #the_internet

Internet Users Higher is better₆₄
Pos.		2016₆₄
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
98	Uzbekistan	51%
99	Armenia	50%
100	Iran	49%
101	Tunisia	48%
102	Moldova	48%
103=	Paraguay	47%
103=	Fiji	47%
105	Tonga	47%
	Africa Avg	18.4%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

Freedom On The Internet Lower is better₆₅
Pos.		2012₆₅
1	Estonia	10
2	USA	12
3	Germany	15
	...
23=	Malaysia	43
24	Jordan	45
25=	Turkey	46
25=	Tunisia	46
27	Venezuela	48
28	Azerbaijan	50
29	Rwanda	51
30	Russia	52
	Africa Avg	45.0
	World Avg	46.7
q=47.

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better₆₆
Pos.		2017 Ratio₆₆
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
115=	Kazakhstan	0.0
115=	New Caledonia	0.0
115=	Maldives	0.0
118=	Tunisia	0.0
118=	Tuvalu	0.0
118=	Marshall Islands	0.0
118=	Georgia	0.0
118=	Swaziland	0.0
	Africa Avg	0.04
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better₆₇
Pos.		2024₆₇
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
	...
79	Egypt	42.5%
80	Panama	41.6%
81	Paraguay	41.2%
82	Tunisia	40.4%
83	Bangladesh	40.3%
84	Kyrgyzstan	39.5%
85	Jamaica	38.9%
86	Bosnia & Herzegovina	38.8%
	Africa Avg	32.3%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

8. Tunisia's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charity #corruption #economics #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #internationalism #life_expectancy #morals #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#charity #corruption #happiness #internationalism #morals #politics

World Giving Index Higher is better₆₈
Pos.		2022 %₆₈
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
113=	Latvia	29.0
113=	Italy	29.0
113=	Armenia	29.0
116	Tunisia	28.0
117	Laos	27.0
118	Portugal	26.0
119	Lebanon	24.0
120	Egypt	23.0
	Africa Avg	38.2
	World Avg	39.6
q=125. Also scored for 2010s.

Corruption Higher is better₆₉
Pos.		2022 Points₆₉
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
82=	Kuwait	42.0
82=	Hungary	42.0
84	Kosovo	41.0
85=	Tunisia	40.0
85=	Suriname	40.0
85=	Macedonia	40.0
85=	Maldives	40.0
85=	India	40.0
	Africa Avg	32.31
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Happiness Higher is better₇₀
Pos.		2024 Score₇₀
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
110	Niger	4.7
111	Ukraine	4.7
112	Morocco	4.6
113	Tunisia	4.6
114	Mauritania	4.5
115	Kenya	4.5
116	Uganda	4.5
117	Gambia	4.4
	Africa Avg	4.42
	World Avg	5.58
q=147. Also scored for 2010s.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₉
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
90	Peru	90
91	Jordan	91
92	Haiti	92
93	Tunisia	93
94	Papua New Guinea	94
95	Belarus	95
96	Mongolia	96
97	Madagascar	97
	Africa Avg	117.8
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better₇₁
Pos.		Total Q₇₁
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
121	Tanzania	71.8
122=	Dominican Rep.	70.5
122=	Zambia	70.5
124	Tunisia	70.2
125	Azerbaijan	69.3
126	Gambia	69.0
127	Uganda	67.8
128	Cape Verde	66.7
	Africa Avg	62.9
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₉
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
67	Lesotho	67
68	Panama	68
69	New Zealand	69
70	Tunisia	70
71	Montenegro	71
72	Ukraine	72
73	Chile	73
74	Macedonia	74
	Africa Avg	96.7
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index Lower is better₇₂
Pos.		2023 Score₇₂
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
78	Bolivia	2.00
79	Nepal	2.01
80	China	2.01
81	Tunisia	2.01
82	Equatorial Guinea	2.01
83	Dominican Rep.	2.02
84=	Morocco	2.02
84=	Angola	2.02
	Africa Avg	2.29
	World Avg	2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₉
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
4	Egypt	4
5	Nigeria	5
6	Uruguay	6
7	Indonesia	7
8	Brunei	8
9	Moldova	9
10	Morocco	10
11	Oman	11
12	Tanzania	12
	Africa Avg	83.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₉
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
104	Armenia	104
105	Suriname	105
106	Namibia	106
107	Tunisia	107
108	Cape Verde	108
109	China	109
110	Kazakhstan	110
111	Jordan	111
	Africa Avg	104.5
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better₇₃
Pos.		2019 Score₇₃
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
97	Canada	3.59
98	Belgium	3.64
99	Angola	3.78
100	Tunisia	3.94
101	Tajikistan	3.95
102	Uganda	3.96
103	Mexico	4.08
104	Venezuela	4.10
	Africa Avg	3.41
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Poverty (2020s) Lower is better₇₄
Pos.		Total %₇₄
1	Malaysia	0.01%
2	Bhutan	0.01%
3	Cyprus	0.02%
	...
33	UK	0.50%
34	Iraq	0.55%
35	Austria	0.60%
36	Tunisia	0.65%
37	Lithuania	0.67%
38	Israel	0.73%
39	Greece	0.75%
40	Sweden	0.80%
	Africa Avg	41.51%
	World Avg	11.40%
q=106. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better₇₅
Pos.		2019₇₅
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
69	Argentina	8.60
70=	Barbados	8.70
70=	Armenia	8.70
72=	Tunisia	9.00
72=	Turkey	9.00
74	Libya	9.10
75	Iran	9.20
76	Mauritius	9.40
	Africa Avg	26.10
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better₇₆
Pos.		2023 %₇₆
1	Slovakia	24.1%₇₇
2	Slovenia	24.3%₇₇
3	Belarus	24.4%₇₈
	...
65=	Macedonia	33.5%₇₉
65=	Georgia	33.5%₈₀
67	Palestine	33.7%₈₁
68=	Tunisia	33.7%₇₇
68=	Jordan	33.7%₈₂
68=	Switzerland	33.7%₇₈
71=	Spain	33.9%₇₇
71=	Romania	33.9%₇₇
	Africa Avg	40.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Tunisia - only for 7 years between 1980 and 2019.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better₈₃
Pos.		2018 Severity₈₃
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
11	Thailand	.003
12	Moldova	.004
13	Palestine	.004
14	Tunisia	.005
15	St Lucia	.007
16	Libya	.007
17	Algeria	.008
18	Kyrgyzstan	.008
	Africa Avg	.264
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religion_in_tunisia #religiosity #secularisation #tunisia

Religiosity (2018)₅₉
Pos.		Lower is better %₅₉
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
70=	Colombia	77
71=	Dominican Rep.	78
71=	Iran	78
71=	Tunisia	78
74=	Bangladesh	80
74=	India	80
76	Iraq	82
77=	El Salvador	85
77=	Jordan	85
79=	Palestine	86
79=	Uganda	86
79=	Chad	86
79=	Niger	86
83=	Kenya	87
83=	Mozambique	87
85=	Congo, DR	88
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₈₄:

	2010	2020
Muslim	99.4%	99.3%
Unaffiliated	0.37%	0.441%
Christian	0.229%	0.247%
Jewish	<0.1%	<0.1%
Other	None	None
Hindu	None	None
Buddhist	None	None

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 99.6% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 78% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

"Institutionalized Religions Have Their Numbers Inflated by National Polls" by Vexen Crabtree (2009)

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Muslim (Islam - official) 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%₈₅.

Freedom of Religion and Belief:

Links: