Country Overview

Despite Tunisia’s long history of emigration and more recent role as a country of transit and destination in the North African region, migration-related statistics and data remain scarce and fragmented, hindering the ability of policy-makers and humanitarian stakeholders to plan effectively. This has been particularly evident starting from the second half of 2017, when Tunisia experienced its second-highest upsurge of irregular migration to Europe since the 2011 revolution lifting Tunisians the first ranking nationality in sea arrivals to Italy in 2018. On the other hand, these dynamics reflected against the deterioration of the political and security conditions in neighbouring countries – notably in Libya. These developments have resulted in an increase of sub-Saharan African migrants crossing to Tunisia and creating it a country of both destination and transit.

In response to the rapidly changing migratory dynamics in the region, IMPACT, through its humanitarian data initiative REACH, has been operational in Tunisia since 2018. IMPACT works to provide development and humanitarian stakeholders with in-depth and actionable data on, for example, recent mobility patterns, migratory profiles and protection risks.

Related News

Press Release: Refugees and migrants in the South of Tunisia- a crisis of unmet needs

Country news / 22 October 2019

Press Release: Refugees and migrants in the South of Tunisia- a crisis of unmet needs

Medenine has become one of Tunisia’s main migration hubs. REACH assessment of the situation revealed that the challenges faced by refugees and migrants require acute attention. So far the response...

From transit to destination − Tunisia has become a de facto destination for sub-Saharan migrants

Country news / 24 October 2018

From transit to destination − Tunisia has become a de facto destination for sub-Saharan migrants

Traditionally known as a country of emigration, the past decade has seen an increasing inflow of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa transiting through or settling in Tunisia.

Lessons Learned from 29 Area-Based Assessments in 18 countries

Global news / 24 June 2025

Lessons Learned from 29 Area-Based Assessments in 18 countries

Let’s stop asking if local voices can be heard. Let’s ask why we still aren’t acting on what they’re saying.  This is one of the main learning from IMPACT’s work...

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