Tunis

Tunis is the capital and largest city of Tunisia. Situated on the Mediterranean Sea, this city is the beating core of Tunisian life, deftly combining old customs with modern ambitions. Often referred to as “Grand Tunis,” the city boasts a population of almost 2,700,000 people in its larger metropolitan area, so establishing itself as a major urban center in the region. Following Casablanca and Algiers, Tunis boldly ranks as the third-largest city in the Maghreb region as of 2020, ranking eleventh among all the Arab cities.

Tunis’s geographical location is simply quite interesting. Perched on the Gulf of Tunis, the city stretches behind the Lake of Tunis and the port of La Goulette, sometimes referred to as Ḥalq il-Wād. Its urban scene embraces the nearby hills and stretches along the coastal plain, so forming a varied topography that has molded the growth of the city over ages. The Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site functioning as a living museum of Islamic architecture and urban design, sits at the center of Tunis. Offering both residents and visitors a glimpse of Tunisia’s rich cultural legacy, this ancient heart of the city connects past and present.

Starting east from the Medina, one passes across the famous Sea Gate—also known as Bab el Bhar or Porte de France—into the modern section of the city, appropriately called “Ville Nouvelle,” or New City. With its broad boulevards and buildings from the colonial era, this area stands out sharply from the old Medina. Often compared to the Champs-Élysées in Paris, the great Avenue Habib Bourguiba slices across this area and acts as the main modern Tunisian artery. The urban fabric of the city defines itself in part by this juxtaposition of old and new, traditional and modern.

Along the coast, further east, are the chic suburbs of Carthage, La Marsa, and Sidi Bou Said. Along with some of the most elite residential districts and tourist attractions in the region, these places provide amazing views of the Mediterranean. Just north of Tunis, the ancient city of Carthage links the modern capital to its Phoenician and Roman past, so adding still another level of historical importance to the region.

Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, obviously forms the center of political and administrative life for the nation. Concentrated among the city, government institutions, foreign embassies, and main administrative offices form the core of national decision-making. Furthermore, Tunis is clearly the hub of Tunisia’s commercial and cultural life. Its significance in forming Tunisia’s social and economic environment is highlighted by its sole nationally ranked city status.

The particular topography of the city has been quite important for its historical development and still shapes its present architecture. Constructed on a hill sloping down to the Lake of Tunis, the topography of the city features noteworthy altitudes just above 50 meters: Notre-Dame de Tunis, Ras Tabia, La Rabta, La Kasbah, Montfleury, and La Manoubia. Apart from influencing the urban growth of the city, this mountainous terrain has helped to define its strategic significance over past years.

Forming what geologists call the “Tunis dome,” Tunis occupies a small area between Lake Tunis and Séjoumi. Comprising limestone hills and sediments, this geological characteristic has been a natural bridge from ancient times. It has been the meeting point for main routes connecting Tunisia to Egypt and other areas of North Africa, so confirming Tunis’s importance as a vital crossroads for trade and cultural interchange. The closeness to Carthage highlights even more the historical relevance of the city in the Mediterranean area.

Comprising a large area of 300,000 hectares, the Greater Tunis area presents a varied scene. Just 10% of this area is urbanized; the rest is split between agricultural or natural areas and water bodies including 20,000 hectares of lakes and lagoons. Still, the city is growing rapidly—500 hectares annually—which is progressively changing the surroundings and causing urban sprawl.

Economically, Tunis is the shining star of Tunisia. A third of all Tunisian companies are found in the city, including practically all head offices of companies with more than fifty employees. With Tunis generating a third of the national GDP, this concentration of economic activity greatly adds to the national gross domestic product. The city boasts a varied economy with businesses ranging from olive oil production to textiles and carpet manufacture. The local economy depends much on tourism as well since it attracts guests from all over the world to enjoy its special fusion of Mediterranean appeal, history, and culture.

Tunis’s economic scene presents certain difficulties. The city struggles with urban unemployment, especially among recent graduates, and ongoing rates of illiteracy among elderly generations. Although national poverty rates have dropped, cities like Tunis still suffer more economically even if poverty rates have dropped there. With one in three young people aged 18 to 24 unemployed in Greater Tunis, compared to one in six nationally, youth unemployment is still a major concern.