Tunisia – We are less and less likely to want to have children

Between 2017 and 2021, Tunisia witnessed a notable decline in the number of new births across different regions, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS). The data revealed a decrease of over 23%, with the number of new births dropping from over 209,000 in 2017 to more than 160,000 in 2021.

The governorates of Sfax and Tunis reported the highest number of births during this period, each recording more than 13,000 new births in 2021. Despite this, the overall trend points toward an aging population, particularly after the completion of the demographic transition in 2010.

In contrast, the number of marriage contracts in Tunisia saw a notable increase in 2021 compared to 2020, with a growth rate of 9%. The total number of marriages exceeded 71,000 in 2021, up from 65,000 in 2020. However, the general trend indicates a decline in the number of marriages, decreasing by approximately 25% over the five-year period from 2017 to 2021, dropping from 95,000 in 2017 to 71,000 in 2021.

Additionally, the figures revealed a significant rise in the number of deaths in 2021, surpassing 107,000 compared to around 80,000 in 2020. This increase, estimated at more than 33%, is largely attributed to the rise in deaths due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has claimed the lives of approximately 29,500 people since its onset in 2020.