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Economic Outlook

General Overview

Tunisia is gradually exiting a period of very low growth. 2011, the post-revolution crisis year saw GDP growth plummeting to -1.9%. But the economy suffered a double dip, as growth was also subdued in 2015 (+0.8%).

The ongoing recovery is tepid. The political transition, as elsewhere in the region, remains fragile, although on a firmer footing, and GDP growth reflects the uncertain political trajectory. Job prospects and general living standards have not improved significantly while past terrorist acts continue to undermine commercial activity. As a result, demonstrations are still a risk.

Moreover, the economic recovery in Europe, which accounts for 80% of overall foreign trade and over 50% of tourist numbers and receipts, is still tepid,  particularly in France and Italy where GDP growth stood at +1.1% and +1% in 2016. As a result, important investment and tourism flows - accounting for 14% of GDP, 12% of the labour force and 20% of FX earnings - remain weak. 

GDP growth climbed by a humble +1.3% in 2016 and should accelerate at a modest pace to +2% in 2017 and +2.5% in 2018. Moreover, political and social risks are weighing on external accounts. The current account deficit deteriorated from -2.8% of GDP to -9.1% in 2014 and improved only marginally since then (-8.3% of GDP in 2016). Deficits require careful management as revenue generation relies on a period of stability and enhanced security.

Conditional IMF support 

The IMF agreed to a 4-year Extended Fund Facility to the tune of USD2.9bn in June 2016. The facility is designed for a “country facing medium-term balance of payments problems because of structural weaknesses that require time to address”. Yet low growth and policy slippage implied a deterioration of the fiscal deficit in 2016. It is likely that the Fund will ask for additional reforms ahead of any new disbursements. The likelihood of new fiscal adjustments could weigh on growth and public debt will continue to grow (60.5% of GDP in 2016 and 63% in 2018). The pre-transition external debt to GDP ratio was around 50% and could grow to 74% in 2018, weighed down by gradual recovery and borrowing requirements. Moreover, import cover is somewhat weak, still (between 3 and 4 months).

The way forward is tricky 

The government needs to embark on confidence-building exercise, maintain external levels of support, and attempt to engineer a more rapid recovery in the economy’s organic means of foreign exchange earnings generation.

Tunisia Country Report