History of Tunisia in Timeline
Tunisia, located in North Africa's Maghreb region, is officially the Republic of Tunisia. It is bordered by Algeria and Libya, and shares maritime borders with Italy and Malta. Its terrain encompasses the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara Desert, and arable land. Tunisia's 1,300 km coastline includes Cape Angela, Africa's northernmost point. Tunis is the capital and largest city. With an area of 163,610 km2 and a population of 12.1 million, Tunisia is known for its ancient architecture, including Carthage and the Great Mosque of Kairouan. Modern Standard Arabic is the official language, while Tunisian Arabic is the most spoken. French is used in administration and education. The majority of the population is Arab and Muslim.
1906: French Colonist Population Growth
In 1906, the number of French colonists in Tunisia grew to 34,000.
1910: Italian Population in Tunisia
In 1910, there were also 105,000 Italians in Tunisia.
1930: The Rachidia Founded
In 1930, The Rachidia was founded, becoming well known for its artists from the Jewish community.
1931: Boxing World Champion
In 1931, Victor "Young" Perez became world champion in the flyweight weight class.
1932: Boxing World Champion
In 1932, Victor "Young" Perez was world champion in the flyweight weight class.
1934: Founding of a musical school
In 1934, a musical school was founded in Tunisia to revive Arab Andalusian music.
1938: Creation of Radio Tunis
In 1938, Radio Tunis was created, providing Tunisian musicians with a greater opportunity to disseminate their works.
1940: Implementation of Statute on Jews
In 1940, the antisemitic Statute on Jews enacted by the Vichy government was implemented in Vichy-controlled Northwest Africa and other overseas French territories including Tunisia.
November 1942: German Occupation
In November 1942, Vichy-controlled Tunisia was occupied by Germany.
May 1943: Axis Surrender
On 13 May 1943, the Axis forces surrendered in Tunisia due to the Allied forces superiority, signaling the end of the war in Africa.
1943: Persecution and Murder of Jews
From 1940 to 1943, the persecution and murder of the Jews was part of the Holocaust in France.
1945: Bourguiba Arrives in Cairo
In 1945, Tunisian nationalist Habib Bourguiba arrived in Cairo after escaping French surveillance and contacted the Arab League.
1945: French Colonist Population Growth
In 1945, the number of French colonists in Tunisia grew to 144,000.
1946: Bourguiba Travels to the United States
In 1946, Habib Bourguiba traveled to the United States to speak to the United Nations and U.S. State Department officials, advocating for Tunisian nationalists.
1948: Jewish Population Estimate
In 1948, the Jewish population in Tunisia was estimated at 105,000.
September 1949: Bourguiba in the United States
On 13 September 1949, Habib Bourguiba arrived in the United States and attended the American Federation of Labor meeting in San Francisco, California.
1949: Establishment of the School of Tunis
In 1949, the School of Tunis was established, uniting artists with the desire to incorporate native themes and reject Orientalist colonial painting.
November 1951: Bourguiba Travels to Italy
On 6 November 1951, Habib Bourguiba traveled to Italy and contacted Alberto Mellini Ponce De León, Mario Toscano, and Licinio Vestri in an effort to gain support for Tunisian independence.
August 1953: Jean de Hautecloque Leaves Tunis
On 25 August 1953, the French Resident General in Tunisia, Jean de Hautecloque left Tunis to go to Paris.
September 1953: Voizard Replaced Jean de Hautecloque
On 26 September 1953, Pierre Voizard replaced Jean de Hautecloque as the French Resident General in Tunisia.
January 1954: Voizard Announces Reforms
On 26 January 1954, Voizard announced that there would soon be new reforms in favor of granting more sovereignty to Tunisians while insuring the interests of the French and French citizens in Tunisia.
March 1956: Tunisia Gains Independence
On 20 March 1956, Tunisia achieved independence from France with Habib Bourguiba as Prime Minister. 20 March is celebrated annually as Tunisian Independence Day.
1956: Tunisian Census Population
According to the 1956 Tunisian census, Tunisia had a population of 3,783,000 residents, consisting mainly of Arabs and Berbers, along with Europeans and Jews.
1956: Post-Independence Art Movement
After independence in 1956, the art movement in Tunisia was propelled by the dynamics of nation building and by artists serving the state.
1956: Tunisia Gained Independence
In 1956, Tunisia gained independence as the Tunisian Republic.
1956: Adoption of Code of Personal Status
In 1956, the Code of Personal Status was adopted, granting women full legal status and outlawing polygamy and repudiation.
1956: Abolishment of Sharia Courts
Sharia courts were abolished in 1956 in Tunisia.
1957: End of the Hussein Dynasty
In 1957, the Hussein dynasty of beys, established in 1705, came to an end in Tunisia.
1957: Establishment of Tunisian Radio and Television
In 1957, the Tunisian Radio and Television, the predecessor of the Establishment of the Broadcasting Authority Tunisia (ERTT), was founded.
May 1964: Nationalization of Foreign Farmlands
On 12 May 1964, Tunisia nationalized foreign farmlands, leading to France canceling financial assistance.
1965: Hosted Africa's top basketball event
In 1965, Tunisia hosted Africa's top basketball event.
1966: Carthage Film Festival Created
In 1966, the Carthage Film Festival was created by the Tunisian Minister of Culture to showcase films from the Maghreb, Africa, and the Middle East.
1974: Establishment of ONAS
In 1974, ONAS was established to manage the sanitation sector in Tunisia.
1977: Star Wars filming
From 1977 until 2005, Tunisia was a shooting location for five films of the Star Wars film franchise.
1982: PLO headquarters
In 1982, Tunisia became the center of the Palestine Liberation Organization, based in the capital Tunis.
November 1987: Ben Ali Assumes Presidency
In November 1987, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali assumed the presidency in Tunisia after doctors declared Bourguiba unfit to rule.
1987: Hosted Africa's top basketball event
In 1987, Tunisia hosted Africa's top basketball event.
1987: Media Ownership
In 1987, there were only 91 newspapers and magazines in Tunisia.
1991: Compulsory Education
Since 1991, basic education has been compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 16 in Tunisia.
1993: Reforms to Code of Personal Status
Further reforms in 1993 to the Code of Personal Status included a provision to allow Tunisian women to transmit citizenship even if they are married to a foreigner and living abroad.
1993: ONAS Status Upgrade
Since 1993, ONAS has had the status of a main operator for the protection of the water environment and combating pollution.
July 1995: Association Agreement with the EU
In July 1995, Tunisia was the first Mediterranean country to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union.
1995: Increase in Higher Education Students
Around 1995, the number of students in higher education in Tunisia was approximately 102,000.
2002: Number of Non-School Books Published
In 2002, 1249 non-school books were published in Tunisia.
2004: African Cup of Nations Win
In 2004, the Tunisia national football team won the African Cup of Nations (ACN) as hosts.
2005: Increase in Higher Education Students
Around 2005, the number of students in higher education in Tunisia had risen to approximately 365,000.
2005: Star Wars filming
From 1977 until 2005, Tunisia was a shooting location for five films of the Star Wars film franchise.
2005: Handball World Championship
In 2005, Tunisia's men's national handball team came fourth at the Handball World Championship.
November 2006: Demerger Announcement
In November 2006, President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali announced the demerger of the Establishment of the Broadcasting Authority Tunisia (ERTT) into two separate companies.
2006: Tunisia's Military Spending
As of 2006, Tunisia's military spending was 1.6% of GDP.
2006: Book Publication Increase
By 2006, the number of non-school books published in Tunisia had increased to 1,500.
August 2007: Demerger Effective
In August 2007, the demerger of the Establishment of the Broadcasting Authority Tunisia (ERTT) into two separate companies became effective.
2007: Religious Freedom Report
In 2007, the International Religious Freedom Report estimated that thousands of Tunisian Muslims had converted to Christianity.
2007: Tertiary Level Enrollment
In 2007, the gross enrollment rate at the tertiary level in Tunisia was 31 percent.
2007: Book Publication Increase
In 2007, the number of non-school books published in Tunisia was 1,700.
2007: Newspapers and Magazines
In 2007, there were approximately 245 newspapers and magazines in Tunisia.
2008: Tunisian Military Size and Equipment
As of 2008, Tunisia had an army of 27,000 personnel equipped with 84 main battle tanks and 48 light tanks.
2008: Tunisia's Economy in 2008
In 2008, Tunisia had an economy of US$41 billion in nominal terms, and $82 billion in PPP.
2008: Press Freedom Ranking
In 2008, Tunisia was ranked 143rd out of 173 in terms of press freedom.
2008: Electricity Production
In 2008, a total of 13,747 GWh of electricity was produced in Tunisia.
2008: Adult literacy rate
In 2008, the total adult literacy rate in Tunisia was 78%, rising to 97.3% for people aged 15 to 24. Tunisia ranked highly in educational quality according to the World Economic Forum.
2008: Summer Olympics Gold Medal
In the 2008 Summer Olympics, Tunisian Oussama Mellouli won a gold medal in the 1500 meter freestyle.
2008: Tariffs Dismantling Finalized
Tunisia finalized the tariffs dismantling for industrial products in 2008 and therefore was the first non-EU Mediterranean country to enter in a free trade area with the EU.
October 2009: Ben Ali Re-elected
On 25 October 2009, Ben Ali was re-elected as president of Tunisia with a large majority.
2009: Most Competitive Economy in Africa
In 2009, Tunisia was ranked the most competitive economy in Africa by the World Economic Forum, with tourism accounting for 7% of the total GDP and 370,000 jobs.
2009: Physicians and Nurses per Capita
In 2009, there were 12.02 physicians and 33.12 nurses per 10,000 inhabitants in Tunisia.
December 2010: Mohamed Bouazizi Sets Himself Afire
On 17 December 2010, Mohamed Bouazizi set himself afire in protest in Tunisia, sparking a wave of protests.
2010: Healthcare Spending
In 2010, spending on healthcare accounted for 3.37% of Tunisia's GDP.
2010: French Speakers in Tunisia
In 2010, there were 6,639,000 French-speakers in Tunisia, or about 64% of the population.
January 2011: Ben Ali Flees Tunisia
In January 2011, amidst popular unrest, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali resigned and fled Tunisia.
January 2011: Ben Ali Resigns and Flees
On 14 January 2011, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali resigned and fled Tunisia after 23 years in power.
January 2011: Military's Increased Role in Domestic Security
Since January 2011, the Tunisian military has taken on increasing responsibility for domestic security and humanitarian crisis response.
March 2011: Interim President Announces Elections
On 3 March 2011, the interim president announced that elections to a Constituent Assembly would be held.
June 2011: Election Date Postponed
On 9 June 2011, the prime minister announced the election would be postponed until 23 October 2011.
July 2011: Election Date Announced
On 3 March 2011, the interim president announced that elections to a Constituent Assembly would be held on 24 July 2011. On 9 June 2011, the prime minister announced the election would be postponed until 23 October 2011.
October 2011: Constituent Assembly Elections Held
On 23 October 2011, Tunisia held elections for a Constituent Assembly.
December 2011: Marzouki Elected President
On 12 December 2011, Moncef Marzouki was elected president of Tunisia.
2011: Access to Water Supply and Sanitation
As of 2011, access to safe drinking water in Tunisia became close to universal, approaching 100% in urban areas and 90% in rural areas.
2011: Opening of Enfidha-Hammamet International Airport
Enfidha – Hammamet International Airport opened in 2011, located north of Sousse at Enfidha.
2011: Tunisian Revolution
From independence in 1956 until the 2011 revolution, the government and the Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD), formerly Neo Destour and the Socialist Destourian Party, were effectively one.
2011: Afrobasket Win
In 2011, Tunisia's national basketball team won the Afrobasket.
2011: Women in Constituent Assembly
In 2011, women held between 24% and 31% of all seats in the constituent assembly.
February 2012: Growth of Legalized Political Parties
As of February 2012, the number of legalized political parties in Tunisia had grown considerably since the revolution to over 100 legal parties.
March 2012: Ennahda Declares Stance on Sharia
In March 2012, Ennahda declared it would not support making sharia the main source of legislation in the new constitution.
2012: Summer Paralympic Games
In 2012, Tunisia participated in the Summer Paralympic Games and won 19 medals.
2012: Low Non-Revenue Water Rate
In 2012, the rate of non-revenue water in Tunisia was the lowest in the region at 21%.
February 2013: Chokri Belaid Assassinated
On 6 February 2013, Chokri Belaid, a leftist opposition leader and critic of Ennahda, was assassinated in Tunisia.
2013: Jewish Population Remained
By 2013, only about 1000 Jews remained in Tunisia.
2013: Increase of Non-Religious Identity
In 2013, around 12% of Tunisians identified as non-religious.
January 2014: Adoption of the Constitution of Tunisia
On 26 January 2014, the Constitution of Tunisia was adopted, guaranteeing rights for women and stating that the President's religion "shall be Islam".
October 2014: Parliamentary Elections
In October 2014, Tunisia held free multiparty parliamentary elections.
October 2014: First Elections Under New Constitution
In October 2014, Tunisia held its first elections under the new constitution following the Arab Spring.
November 2014: Presidential Elections
In November 2014, Tunisia held presidential elections.
November 2014: First Presidential Election After Arab Spring
On 23 November 2014, Tunisia held its first presidential election following the Arab Spring in 2011.
2014: Truth and Dignity Commission Established
In 2014, President Moncef Marzouki established Tunisia's Truth and Dignity Commission.
October 2015: Tunisian Solar Plan Archived
The National Agency for Energy Conservation archived the Tunisian Solar Plan (Renewable Energy Strategy) on 21 October 2015.
2015: Abandonment of Nuclear Power Plans
As of 2015, Tunisia abandoned its plans for nuclear power stations.
2015: Hosted Africa's top basketball event
In 2015, Tunisia hosted Africa's top basketball event.
2015: Terror Attacks and Nobel Prize
In 2015, Tunisia was hit by two terror attacks and the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet won the Nobel Peace Prize.
2016: Least Corrupt North African Country
According to the Corruption Perceptions Index, Tunisia was ranked the least corrupt North African country in 2016.
2016: Life Expectancy and Infant Mortality
In 2016, the life expectancy at birth in Tunisia was 75.73 years, while the infant mortality rate was 11.7 per 1,000.
2018: Non-Religious Population
According to a 2018 survey conducted by the Arab Barometer, more than one third of Tunisians identify as non-religious.
2018: African Cup Victory
In 2018, the Tunisian national handball team won the African Cup in Gabon, defeating Egypt.
July 2019: Death of President Essebsi
In July 2019, Tunisia's first democratically elected president Beji Caid Essebsi died.
October 2019: Saied Becomes President
In October 2019, Kais Saied became Tunisia's president after a landslide victory in the 2019 Tunisian presidential elections.
2020: Start of Drop in Electoral Democracy Index
Between 2020 and 2022 the V-Dem Democracy indices score for electoral democracy dropped from 0.727 to 0.307.
2020: Democratic Backsliding
From 2014 to 2020, Tunisia was considered the only democratic state in the Arab world, however, after 2020, Tunisia experienced a democratic backsliding and is rated a hybrid regime.
2020: Planned Nuclear Power Stations
Tunisia had plans for two nuclear power stations, to be operational by 2020, each projected to produce 900–1000 MW.
July 2021: Saied Suspends Parliament
On 25 July 2021, Kais Saied unilaterally suspended parliament, dismissed the prime minister, and withdrew immunity of parliament members amid demonstrations.
September 2021: New Constitutional Amendments
In September 2021, President Saied announced that he would appoint a committee to draft new constitutional amendments.
2021: Tunisia's Population
According to the CIA, as of 2021, Tunisia has a population of 11,811,335 inhabitants.
2021: Religious Identity Survey
The most recent 2021 Arab Barometer survey reported that 44% of Tunisians consider themselves religious, 37% somewhat religious, and 19% non-religious.
2021: End of sole Democracy Status in North Africa
Until 2021, Tunisia was the only democracy in North Africa. After a democratic backsliding, the country now classifies as "hybrid regime" in the Democracy Index.
February 2022: Negotiations with IMF
In February 2022, Tunisia and the International Monetary Fund held preliminary negotiations to secure a multibillion-dollar bailout.
February 2022: Tunisia voted to the African Union's (AU) Peace and Security Council
On 3 February 2022, Tunisia was voted to the African Union's (AU) Peace and Security Council for the term 2022–2024, according to the Tunisian Foreign Ministry.
May 2022: President Saied Issues Decree for Constitutional Change
On 25 May 2022, President Kais Saied issued a decree for change of constitution by 25 July, with a referendum held that day.
July 2022: Survey indicating reversal in Non-Religious Identity
As of July 2022, new surveys by the Arab Barometer indicate that the previously noted wave of those saying they were not religious has been reversed in Tunisia.
September 2022: Decree Law 54
In September 2022, Tunisian president Kais Saied signed Decree Law 54, which purported to combat "false information and rumours" on the Internet.
2022: Constitutional Referendum leading to Unitary Presidential Republic
After the 2022 constitutional referendum, Tunisia became a unitary presidential republic.
April 2023: Ennahda Party Headquarters Closed
In April 2023, the Tunisian government closed the headquarters of the Ennahda party and arrested its leader Rached Ghannouchi.
June 2023: World Bank Loan for ELMED Project
In June 2023, the World Bank Group lent Tunisia $268.4 million to finance ELMED, an electrical interconnection project with Italy.
September 2023: Saied Postpones EU Visit
In September 2023, President Saied requested a postponement of the EU commission's visit to discuss migration, as revealed by Interior Minister Kamel Feki. Human rights organizations also criticized the July migration agreement during September 2023.
October 2023: Abir Moussi Detained
In October 2023, Abir Moussi, head of the Free Destourian Party (FDL), became the latest prominent opponent of President Saied to be detained or imprisoned.
October 2023: Saied Turns Down EU Aid
In early October 2023, President Saied rejected 127 million in EU aid, deeming the amount insufficient compared to a previously signed deal, causing surprise in Brussels during October 2023.
2023: Ons Jabeur's Popularity
Around 2023, tennis saw a spike of popularity in Tunisia and other Arabic countries due to tennis player Ons Jabeur.
October 2024: President Saied Wins Second Term
On 6 October 2024, President Kais Saied secured a second term with over 90% of the vote in a presidential election that saw a turnout of 28.8%. Five political parties had called for a boycott of the elections in October 2024.
2024: Global Peace Index Ranking
In 2024, Tunisia was ranked as the 73rd most peaceful country in the world, according to the Global Peace Index.
2024: Tunisia voted to the African Union's (AU) Peace and Security Council
On 3 February 2022, Tunisia was voted to the African Union's (AU) Peace and Security Council for the term 2022–2024, according to the Tunisian Foreign Ministry.
2030: Renewable Energy Target
Tunisia's objective is to reach a share of 30% of renewable energies in the electricity mix by 2030.
