Tunisia Rate of Natural Increase

Tunisia’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between birth and death rates—has steadily declined in recent decades, reflecting broader demographic transitions in North Africa. As of the early 2020s, Tunisia’s RNI hovers around 0.9% per year, indicating moderate population growth driven by a falling but still positive gap between births and deaths. This is lower than neighboring Algeria, whose RNI is approximately 1.5%, and significantly below Libya’s RNI, which is about 1.8%. Tunisia’s lower RNI is largely due to its earlier and more pronounced fertility decline, influenced by effective family planning policies and higher female education rates. In contrast, both Algeria and Libya maintain higher fertility rates and younger populations, resulting in faster natural population growth. Thus, while all three countries are experiencing demographic transition, Tunisia is further along this path, with slower natural population growth compared to its neighbors.

Data from US Census International Database