Key statistics from the National Business Register concerning company entries and exits between 2015 and 2023, recently published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS), reveal that 67% of businesses founded in 2015 were still operating as of 2023. While the INS report does not highlight the specific factors behind business closures, it offers insights into survival rates based on region, nationality, legal status, business model, core activity, and employee size.
The data also show a gradual year-on-year decline in business survival rates. Between 2015 and 2016, the rate dropped from 100% to 94%. By 2022, it had fallen to 70%, and in 2023, it stood at 67%.
In terms of nationality, Tunisian-owned companies posted a survival rate of 67% between 2015 and 2023. This means that nearly one-third of the 54,622 Tunisian businesses created in 2015 failed to sustain their operations over the period.
Foreign companies operating in Tunisia demonstrated a higher resilience. Of the 1,092 foreign enterprises established in 2015, 944 remained active in 2023—an 86% survival rate.
Looking at business models, Onshore companies showed a survival rate of 67%, while Offshore firms fared significantly better, with 86% still in operation by 2023.
Regional disparities were also evident. Businesses launched in the East-Central and North-Eastern regions enjoyed greater longevity compared to those in other areas. Between 2015 and 2023, survival rates stood at 72% in the North-East, 73% in the East-Central region, 58.2% in the North-West, 58% in the Central-West, 56% in the South-East, and 54% in the South-West.
Legal status also played a notable role. Among companies founded in 2015, 62% of sole proprietorships remained operational in 2023. In contrast, businesses registered as legal entities (“personnes morales”) posted a much higher survival rate of 87%.
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