Population Distribution
| Total population |
11,721,177 |
| Population growth rate |
0.85% |
| Birth rate |
18.20 births per 1,000 residents |
| Life expectancy |
|
| Overall life expectancy |
75.46 years |
| Men life expectancy |
73.40 years |
| Women life expectancy |
77.66 years |
| Age structure |
|
| 0-14 years |
25.25% |
| 15-64 years |
66.53% |
| 65 years and above |
8.22% |
| Median age |
31.90 years |
| Gender ratio |
0.99 M / F |
| Population density |
71.64 residents per km² |
| Urbanization |
63.70% |
| Cities |
|
| Tunis (Tunis) 638,845 (A 2.4 million),
safaqs (Sfax) 272,801, Susa (Sousse) 221,530, At-Tadaman 142,953,
Al-Qayrawan (Kairouan) 139,070, Banzart (Biserta) 136,917, Qabis (Gabès)
130,984, Sukrah 129,693, Al-Arianah (Ariana) 114,486, Sidi Hasine (Sidi
Hassine) 109,672, Muhammadiyat Fushanah 106,167, Al-Muruj 104,586 |
| Ethnicities |
|
| approx. 98% Arabs, 1.2% Berbers; French, Italian and
Maltese |
| Religions |
|
| Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jews and others 1% |
| Human Development Index (HDI) |
0.739 |
| HDI ranking |
91 |
People in Tunisia
Originally the Berbers settled in Tunisia. The
Berbers lived all over the north of Africa. Little is
known about the exact origin of the Berbers. But they
are among the original peoples of Africa.
Arabs came here in the 7th and 8th centuries. In
addition to Islam, they also brought their language and
culture with them. Many Berbers were Arabized in this
way and now consider themselves Arabs. They speak a
dialect of Arabic, Tunisian Arabic. 98 out of 100
Tunisians are Arabs.
About eleven million people live in Tunisia, which is
about twice the size of Austria and half the size of
Germany. But the European influence can also be felt in
Tunisia. This is due to tourism on the one hand and
Tunisia's history on the other. Because the country was
once a French colony and the French influences shaped
the country and still shape it today.
Big differences between town and country
As everywhere, there are differences between town and
country. Many people are more open, especially in the
tourist areas, because tourism contributes to their
prosperity. Due to the large number of foreign tourists
who mostly spend their holidays in the beach hotels by
the sea, money flows into the country. Because many
people are dependent on tourists, they are often unable
to defend themselves against customs and traditions that
are alien to them; even if they don't like some of the
things the tourists do.
Many devout Tunisians in the countryside do not
particularly like the clothes that tourists wear. This
often leads to misunderstandings and conflicts between
tourists and locals. A Tunisian woman would not travel
without a man with her. And that is exactly what many
tourists from Europe do. But in the big cities of the
country you will hardly be able to tell young Tunisians
from tourists by their clothes. In the country it looks
very different again.
But even today you can see more and more veiled women
in the old town of Tunis or other large cities. In the
past - in the time before the revolution - wearing a
headscarf or veil was forbidden and now it has become a
form of freedom for many women to wear a headscarf. What
we see as backward, others see as a sign of freedom.
There are now many different ways to live in Tunisia.
Languages in Tunisia
Religions in Tunisia
98 out of 100 Tunisians are followers of Islam. Very
few Christians practice their faith in Tunisia. Some
Jews still live on the island of Djerba. Even if most
Tunisians are Muslims and live their faith, a lot in
Tunisia is not handled as strictly as in Egypt or even
in Saudi Arabia, Yemen or Pakistan. On the other hand,
there are also more so-called "strict believers" who are
committed to ensuring that women fully veil themselves.
So they despise people of other faiths too. Both
currents of Islam - the modern and the strictly
religious - coexist and you will find very modern,
open-minded people in Tunisia, but also some who live
backwards and very traditionally.
|
