In 2025, Tunisia’s electricity consumption was overwhelmingly supplied by fossil fuels: gas accounted for almost 99%, while low-carbon electricity contributed only about 1.4%, entirely from wind in the supplied data. This leaves clean electricity with a very small role and Tunisia heavily dependent on gas. Expanding low-carbon generation would help reduce the climate impacts and air pollution associated with fossil fuels while supporting a cleaner electricity supply.

Is Electricity Growing in Tunisia?

Tunisia’s latest figures do not indicate electricity growth relative to its historical peaks. Electricity consumption reached about 1,580 kWh per person in 2025, roughly 400 kWh—or 20%—below the record of about 1,980 kWh in 2022. Low-carbon electricity generation fell even more sharply relative to its peak: just 23 kWh per person, compared with 69 kWh in 2023, a decline of roughly two-thirds. These setbacks are concerning: Tunisia needs growing electricity availability, particularly clean electricity, to support electrification, economic development and emerging demand from AI.

Suggestions

Tunisia can increase low-carbon electricity generation by accelerating solar deployment, expanding wind and considering a nuclear programme. Nearby Mediterranean regions offer useful examples: solar supplies about 23% of electricity generation in both Cyprus and Spain, while Morocco gets about 20% from wind. Tunisia could learn from their approaches to project development and grid integration, pairing solar installations with stronger transmission and storage. For nuclear electricity, France demonstrates the potential for a large clean contribution, with about two-thirds of generation coming from nuclear, while the United Arab Emirates offers a regional example at 20%. Together, solar, wind and nuclear could substantially increase Tunisia’s clean electricity supply and reduce its reliance on gas.

History

Tunisia’s low-carbon electricity history shows modest, uneven gains. Hydro generation increased by about 0.1 TWh in each of 1985, 1987 and 1991, followed by another similar gain in 2003 and a reversal in 2006. Wind began making progress with a 0.1 TWh increase in 2009, then added a combined 0.4 TWh over 2012–2014; hydro also gained 0.1 TWh in 2012. That momentum weakened when wind fell by 0.1 TWh in 2015, with no recorded change in either wind or hydro in 2019. Solar provided an encouraging boost, adding a combined 0.4 TWh during 2021–2023, but wind declined by 0.1 TWh in both 2022 and 2025. The overall pattern highlights the need for sustained clean electricity expansion rather than intermittent gains.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade