Tunisia’s economy grew by 2.6% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, according to the latest quarterly national accounts estimates released by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
The figures point to a generally positive economic momentum, though a slight quarter-on-quarter contraction suggests some short-term softening.
Compared to the final quarter of 2025, economic activity edged down by 0.3%, signaling a temporary deceleration beneath the surface of the annual growth figure.
Agriculture and services lead the way
The annual GDP growth was largely fueled by three key sectors. Agriculture and fisheries posted a notable recovery, with value added rising 6.8% from a year earlier, contributing 0.61 percentage points to overall growth.
Services, a critical engine of the economy, maintained a positive pace, growing by 2.2%. The performance was driven by accommodation and food services (+4%), information and communication (+4.1%), and transport (+1.7%).
Manufacturing value added climbed 3.1%, lifted by agro-food industries (+15.1%) and mechanical and electrical industries (+4.3%). In contrast, the textile, clothing, and footwear sector continued to struggle, falling 5.8%.
The broader industrial sector grew by 2.6%. While mining advanced 3.7%, oil and natural gas extraction declined 4.8%. Construction and civil engineering suffered a sharp drop of 7.1% year-on-year.
Strong domestic demand, but trade weighs
On the demand side, domestic demand, comprising consumption and investment, accelerated sharply, jumping 5.2% and contributing 5.64 percentage points to GDP growth.
However, foreign trade exerted a moderating effect, with net exports subtracting 3.08 points. Although exports of goods and services increased by 4.2%, imports surged much faster, rising 9.3% over the same period.
