This is a historic threshold that the money supply in Tunisia has just crossed. As of May 26, 2026, the value of banknotes and coins in circulation(BCC) reached a record level of 29.7 billion dinars, according to monetary and financial indicators published by the Central Bank of Tunisia.
This spectacular surge marks a dizzying increase of 5.7 billion dinars compared to the same date in 2025, reflecting a massive injection of liquidity into the real economy over the past twelve months.
While the rise in the volume of banknotes in circulation is a strong trend observed in recent years, the proximity of the Eid al-Adha holiday has acted as a powerful accelerator in recent weeks.
This period of high consumption traditionally leads to an explosion in massive cash withdrawals. Between purchasing the sacrificial animal and festive preparations, Tunisian households heavily favor cash.
To meet this exceptional demand, banks and ATMs have been heavily solicited, draining bank liquidity in favor of physical currency.
Behind the scenes of a cash-hungry economy
Beyond the seasonal factor of Eid, this absolute record brings major structural challenges for the Tunisian economy back to the forefront. Indeed, a considerable portion of this cash circulates outside the official banking system, feeding the informal sector where transactions are conducted exclusively hand-to-hand.
Despite efforts to digitize payments and develop mobile banking, the cash culture remains deeply rooted among Tunisian consumers and merchants. Moreover, the continuous rise in consumer prices naturally pushes citizens to withdraw larger amounts to make the same everyday purchases.
Additional pressure on the BCT
With the symbolic threshold of 30 billion dinars now within reach, this situation places additional pressure on the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT).
Regulating this money supply and reintegrating these flows into the formal circuit will remain one of the country’s priority economic projects.
