Tunisia's economic growth stuck at 1.4% through 2025-2026, IMF reports

African Manager

24-04-2025

In terms of growth, Tunisia's rate in 2025 and 2026 will be exactly the same as in 2024, i.e. a sluggish 1.4%, which will mark the country's GDP trajectory for another two years, according to the 'World Economic Outlook, April 2025' report published on Tuesday by the International Monetary Fund on the sidelines of the World Bank Group (WBG) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings 2025.
According to the report, titled 'World Economic Outlook, April 2025: A Critical Juncture amid Policy Shifts', Tunisia's inflation rate will fall from 7% in 2024 to 6.1% in 2025 before rising to 6.5% in 2026, while the unemployment rate is not mentioned in the report.
It should be noted that the Tunisian economy will grow by 1.4% in 2024, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
Agricultural activity remains the main driver of growth. According to the INS, the sector's value added grew by 12.1% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Tunisia is taking part in the 2025 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which are held in Washington from April 21 to 26, 2025, the Ministry of Economy and Planning announced on Tuesday.
The official Tunisian delegation includes Minister of Economy and Planning, Samir Abdelhafidh, and Governor of the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT), Fethi Zouhair Nouri.
Members of the Tunisian delegation will meet with senior officials from regional and international financial institutions, as well as their counterparts.
In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, however, growth is expected to reach 2.6% in 2025 and 3.4% in 2026, according to the IMF report.
Egypt is expected to grow by 3.8% in 2025 and 4.3% in 2026, while Morocco will grow by 3.9% in 2025 and 3.7% in 2026. Algeria is expected to grow by 3.5% in 2025 and 3% in 2026.
The same goes for global growth!
It's worth noting that global growth will fall to 2.8% in 2025 and 3% in 2026, well below the historical average of 3.7% observed between 2000 and 2019.
After a series of prolonged and unprecedented shocks, the global economy seemed to have regained some stability, with stable but lackluster growth rates, the IMF recalled.
However, the situation is changing as governments around the world redefine their priorities and uncertainties reach new heights.
Global growth forecasts have been revised sharply downwards compared with the January 2025 edition of the World Economic Outlook Update, due to the imposition of tariffs reaching levels not seen in a century and the high level of uncertainty at the moment, the same source said.
It added that global headline inflation is expected to fall slightly more slowly than forecast in January.
A plea for a 'stable business environment'
Divergent and rapidly changing policies or a weakening of confidence could lead to an even more pronounced tightening of global financial conditions, the same document said.
The intensification of a trade war and heightened uncertainty around trade policy could further weigh on short- and long-term growth prospects, it said.
The report noted that a decline in international cooperation could jeopardize progress towards a more resilient global economy.
In this context, the financial institution called on countries to work constructively to promote a stable and predictable business environment and to facilitate international cooperation, while addressing policy shortcomings and structural imbalances.
This will help ensure economic stability, both domestically and internationally. To boost growth and reduce fiscal tensions, the authorities could implement policies to promote healthy ageing and increase the labor force participation of older people and women, the same source recommended.