Tunisia’s natural resources include phosphates, oil, natural gas and minerals, in a territory that stretches from the Mediterranean to the Sahara. What are Tunisia’s most important natural resources? Phosphates and oil top the list, with crude production of about 29,863 barrels a day, reserves of 425 million barrels and iron ore mined mainly at Djerissa, in the northwest.
Tunisia, in North Africa, has a wide variety of natural resources that play an important role in its economy and biodiversity. From the Mediterranean coast to the Sahara Desert, the country offers a wealth of natural resources, including minerals, oil, phosphates and natural gas.
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In addition, its diverse geography and Mediterranean climate make it possible to grow a wide range of crops and foods and to conserve a large number of animal and plant species. Tunisia’s natural resources are a valuable treasure that must be managed sustainably to ensure their long-term preservation.
What are Tunisia’s most notable natural resources? What natural wealth does the country have? Which minerals are found there, and how does it rank globally? How is its land used, and how much of its biodiversity is protected?
Natural resources
Natural resources are materials or energy sources provided by or found on Earth that are useful to humans. Every product we manufacture is made up of natural resources.
- Renewable resources: these can be restored by natural processes faster than the rate at which they are consumed. Examples include solar radiation, wind, hydroelectric power, water when used properly, and plant and animal life.
- Non-renewable resources: once extracted, these are depleted and cannot regenerate. Examples include hydrocarbons, metals and minerals.
Examples of Tunisia’s main natural resources
Tunisia’s conservation profile
How much of the territory is protected and which species are at risk.
| Protected land area | 7.9% of land area2025 |
|---|---|
| Marine protected areas | 1.1% of its waters2025 |
| Threatened species | 99 mammals, birds, fish and plants2022 |
| Forest cover | 4.6% of land area2023 |
| Annual change in forest area | +15 km² per year (2018–2023) |
| Agricultural land | 62.4% of land area2023 |
Oil and gas resources in Tunisia
According to Worldometer (2024), Tunisia produces around 29,863 barrels of oil per day, a figure that has been declining in recent years. As of 2022, Tunisia’s oil reserves were estimated at 425,000,000 barrels, which places it 49th in the world ranking of oil reserves.
Tunisia also has some natural gas resources, with production of around 1,800 million cubic meters of natural gas (2024), a figure that has been volatile in recent years. Most of its output comes from small fields.
Examples of Tunisia’s mineral resources
Tunisia’s iron production is around 140,000 tonnes (2022), a modest figure globally. It comes mainly from the underground Djerissa mine, in the Kef region of northwestern Tunisia, and from the open-pit mines of Tamera and Douaria.
Water resources of Tunisia
Tunisia has 4.6 km³ of renewable freshwater resources, which places it 131st in the world for water reserves. This North African country has important water resources, the most important being the Medjerda, the country’s longest river, and Lake Ichkeul, its best-known lake, protected as a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Average rainfall and soils of Tunisia
Tunisia has an average annual rainfall of 207 mm, which places it 145th in the world ranking for average annual rainfall. Because of the country’s low actual moisture levels, its soils are mostly arid and semi-arid, with sparse vegetation adapted to extreme climatic conditions.
Renewable electricity and hydropower production in Tunisia
In 2025, Tunisia generated 900 GWh of electricity from renewable sources — 4% of its total generation of 22.3 TWh — while hydropower supplied only about 10 GWh (Ember, 2025). The Sidi Salem dam on the Medjerda River, the largest embankment dam in Tunisia, supports a 12 MW hydroelectric plant.
Forest resources of Tunisia
According to the World Bank (2023), Tunisia has forest area covering 4.6% of its territory, equivalent to about 7,150 km². Although it is not near the top of the world ranking for forest area, this resource is very important for the country’s economy and environment.
Tunisia’s main forest region is the Kroumirie forest, in the north of the country.
Environmental performance and protection of Tunisia’s natural resources
Tunisia’s score on the Environmental Performance Index (EPI 2024) is 45.3, placing it 91st. Protected areas cover 7.9% of its land area and 1.1% of its marine waters (5.2% of its total territory, World Bank 2025), which demonstrates the country’s commitment to protecting the environment.
Natural parks of Tunisia: the hidden wealth of natural resources
Biodiversity: animal and plant resources of Tunisia
Birds of Tunisia
Tunisia has an impressive diversity of birds, with a total of 309 species recorded in 2018.
However, 11 of these species are endangered.
Fish and amphibians of Tunisia
Tunisia has rich biodiversity, including 5 amphibian species and a total of 364 fish species; notable among them are the green frog and, among fish, the grouper. The country also faces the threat of extinction for 39 fish species.
Tunisia ranks 92nd in the world for number of amphibian species and 141st for number of fish species.
Reptiles of Tunisia
Tunisia has 74 reptile species, ranking 87th in the world. This natural resource is very important for the country; a standout is the common chameleon, found throughout Tunisia.
Plants of Tunisia
Tunisia has a rich diversity of vascular plants, with a total of 2,100 species recorded in 2020, which places it 89th in the world. Among the most notable species is the olive, the country’s main crop plant and the source of its famous olive oil.
Organizations that protect or study Tunisia’s natural resources
- Ministry of the Environment of Tunisia (Ministère de l'Environnement): Tunisian ministry that leads environmental policy and the protection of natural resources.
- National Environmental Protection Agency (Agence Nationale de Protection de l'Environnement, ANPE): National agency that prevents pollution and protects Tunisia’s environment.
- Coastal Protection and Planning Agency (Agence de Protection et d'Aménagement du Littoral, APAL): Government agency that protects and manages Tunisia’s coastline and maritime public domain.
- Association Les Amis des Oiseaux (AAO/BirdLife Tunisia): NGO that studies and protects Tunisia’s birds and wetlands.
- IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN-Med): IUCN center that works to conserve nature and biodiversity in the Mediterranean.
- WWF North Africa (WWF Afrique du Nord): WWF office that conserves marine ecosystems, wetlands and forests in Tunisia.
Tunisia is one of the five major historical phosphate producers and holds the world’s fourth-largest phosphate rock reserves, estimated at 2.5 billion tonnes, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, reported by Investing News Network, 2026). This mineral, not hydrocarbons, is the pillar of Tunisia’s extractive sector.
Phosphates: the mineral that sustains exports
The Gafsa basin, in west-central Tunisia, accounts for the production managed by the state-owned Compagnie des Phosphates de Gafsa. Tunisian output was 2.8 million tonnes in 2024 and rose to 3.3 million in 2025, according to USGS data (Investing News Network, 2026). Phosphate supplies the fertilizer and phosphoric acid industry, the country’s main mining value chain.
Olive oil: the world’s second-largest exporter
In the 2024-2025 season, Tunisia was the world’s second-largest olive oil exporter, behind Spain and ahead of Italy, with 226,472 tonnes and 27.9% of global exports, according to the International Olive Council (IOC, via News Tunisia, 2025). Its production also rose sharply that season, by more than 40% over the previous one, to close to 10% of world supply (Selina Wamucii, 2026).
Oil and gas: modest, declining resources
Unlike phosphate, Tunisia’s hydrocarbons are small and shrinking. Crude production fell to 1.5 million tonnes in 2024, down 11% year on year, and natural gas production to 1,800 million m³, half the 2010 level (Enerdata, 2024). The country is a net energy importer and depends on gas bought from Algeria.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Tunisia’s phosphate come from? Almost all of it comes from the Gafsa mining basin, operated by the state-owned Compagnie des Phosphates de Gafsa; national production was 3.3 million tonnes in 2025 (USGS, via Investing News Network, 2026).
Why does Tunisia import energy if it produces oil? Because its production is small and falling fast: 1.5 million tonnes of crude and 1,800 million m³ of gas in 2024, not enough for domestic consumption, which forces it to import gas from Algeria (Enerdata, 2024).
Sources used
- Lists of countries by mineral production – Wikipedia
- Economic data by country – The Global Economy
- Forest area (km²) – World Bank
- Forest area (% of land area) – World Bank
- Oil reserves – The Global Economy
- Water and agriculture statistics – FAO
- Precipitation (mm) – World Bank
- Environmental Performance Index – Environmental Performance Index
- Bird species – Mongabay
- Amphibian species by country – Mongabay
- Plant species – Mongabay
- Reptile species by country – Mongabay
- Endemic bird species by country – Our World in Data
The World Bank noted in 2023 that Tunisia is diversifying its economy beyond oil and phosphates, betting on renewable energy and sustainable tourism.
Last updated: September 26, 2026
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