Outstanding non-professional bank loans to individuals in Tunisia stood at 30.464 billion dinars at the end of December 2019, compared with 30.022 billion dinars at the end of December 2024, up 442 million dinars, according to data published by the Central Bank of Tunisia.
Commenting on these overall indicators, financial analyst Bassam Enneifer told TAP news agency that the volume of bank loans granted to individuals remained stable at the end of December 2025.
He highlighted the importance of housing loans, which account for a significant share of total non-professional loans, amounting to 13.325 billion dinars at the end of December 2019, compared with 13.523 billion dinars at the end of December 2024.
Enneifer noted that, compared with the net growth in loan volumes (repayments and new loans), housing loans recorded negative growth for the first time since 2011, declining by 197.6 million dinars.
He attributed this decline to “the crisis affecting Tunisia’s housing sector,” explaining that “a large proportion of Tunisians are no longer able to obtain bank financing to purchase a home, due on the one hand to a reduced borrowing capacity, and on the other hand to a shift in priorities toward essential needs such as daily living, education, and healthcare, while awaiting further interest rate cuts.”
He added: “Social housing in Tunisia has become a crucial necessity and now lies at the heart of the State’s social policies.”
Enneifer also raised the issue of a significant number of Tunisians who apply for loans intended for renovation works but end up using them for other purposes, particularly consumption.
Regarding outstanding consumer loans, they reached 5.4 billion dinars at the end of last year, an increase of 297.6 million dinars compared with December 2024, even though the pace of growth has slowed.
He stressed that despite the policy rate cut decided by the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) during the year, bank interest rates remain, in his view, “high.”
He added: “We have not yet reached interest rates that encourage Tunisians to borrow. Therefore, if monetary policy becomes less restrictive in 2026, this could significantly stimulate consumption.”
As for outstanding bank loans intended for car purchases, the financial analyst noted that they reached 443.3 million dinars at the end of December last year, marking an increase of 29.6 million dinars compared with the end of December 2024.
