As of 2025, the electricity consumption profile in Tunisia is overwhelmingly dominated by fossil fuel energy sources, particularly natural gas, which makes up close to the entire energy mix at approximately 99%. Low-carbon energy sources have a very modest contribution, with wind energy being the only representative, accounting for just over 1% of the total electricity generation. This stark contrast underscores a significant dependency on fossil fuels, emphasizing a critical need for Tunisia to diversify its energy sources by integrating more clean energy solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.

Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember and IEA. More about data sources →

Is Electricity Growing in Tunisia?

Electricity consumption in Tunisia is not showing signs of growth; in fact, it has diminished significantly. The per capita electricity consumption has plummeted from a historic high of 1979 kWh/person in 2022 to just 1228 kWh/person in 2025, indicating a substantial drop of 751 kWh/person. This decline also reflects in the low-carbon electricity sector, with a reduction from 69 kWh/person in 2023 to a mere 18 kWh/person by 2025, manifesting a decrease of 51 kWh/person. These downward trends in overall and low-carbon electricity consumption are concerning, as they suggest a regression in the country's energy security and sustainability goals.

Suggestions

Tunisia has significant potential to increase its low-carbon electricity generation, primarily through wind and solar energy, while also considering nuclear power, which has been successfully implemented elsewhere. Observing regions with impressive percentages of low-carbon electricity, such as Denmark and Iowa, where wind energy accounts for 60% and 58% respectively, Tunisia can adopt similar strategies to harness its wind resources effectively. Emulating the solar strides of countries like Lebanon and Chile, which generate over 30% and 25% respectively from solar power, can also help Tunisia to expand solar capacity. Additionally, the substantial contribution of nuclear energy in countries like France and Slovakia, where it supplies more than two-thirds of electricity, demonstrates a viable path towards a sustainable, low-carbon future.

History

Historically, Tunisia has made modest advancements in low-carbon electricity, with hydro capabilities showing minor growth in the mid-1980s to early 2000s. There were incremental increases in wind power starting from 2009, though these developments were minimal. Unfortunately, recent years have seen setbacks, with wind power experiencing declines in 2015, 2022, and again in 2025. Solar power began contributing in 2021 and has shown some increase, albeit insufficient to counterbalance the overall decline in low-carbon generation. These historical patterns illustrate that while there were steps toward diversifying into clean energy, strategic and consistent investment in low-carbon infrastructure is crucial to avoid stagnation and to meet both current and future electricity demands sustainably.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade