Tunisia, 2011–2019

Democracy · Republic · Africa · The 2010s era

Tunisia after the 2011 revolution: the Arab Spring’s surviving democracy, adopting a new constitution and holding competitive elections amid economic strain.

The 2010–2011 revolution that removed Ben Ali inaugurated the Arab Spring’s most durable democratic transition. A national dialogue and a 2014 constitution established competitive elections and civil liberties, with power alternating between Islamist and secular parties. Persistent unemployment, regional inequality and security threats strained the young democracy.

Open Tunisia 2011–2019 in the interactive 3D atlas →

Dominant patterns

  • Democratization
  • Economic Crisis
  • Revolutionary Risk
  • Institutional Decay

Political-science factor profile

Each factor 0–100; higher = stronger authoritarian / crisis pole (except institutional stability, where higher = stronger institutions).

Centralization of Power42
Media Control30
Repression32
Nationalism52
Militarization35
Economic Stress65
External Conflict35
Cult of Personality30
Elite Fragmentation60
Institutions48
Social Polarization55
Corruption & Patrimonialism55
Ideological Mobilization45
External Sovereignty88

Economy & society

GDP per capita$11k (intl-$)
GDP growth+1.5%/yr
Population11.0M people
Share of world population0.15%
Urban share68%
Life expectancy76 years

Closest historical twins

The country-eras whose structural profile most resembles Tunisia 2011–2019, by similarity score (0–100).

  1. Brazil, 2011–2016 – similarity 87/100 · shared: Democratization, Economic Crisis, Revolutionary Risk
  2. South Africa, 1994–2008 – similarity 84/100 · shared: Democratization, Economic Crisis
  3. Indonesia, 1998–2004 – similarity 82/100 · shared: Economic Crisis, Revolutionary Risk, Institutional Decay
  4. Greece, 2009–2018 – similarity 82/100 · shared: Democratization, Economic Crisis, Revolutionary Risk, Institutional Decay
  5. United Kingdom, 2010–2016 – similarity 74/100 · shared: Democratization, Economic Crisis
  6. United Kingdom, 1970–1979 – similarity 74/100 · shared: Democratization, Economic Crisis
  7. United States, 1865–1898 – similarity 73/100 · shared: Democratization
  8. France, 1715–1723 – similarity 72/100 · shared: Democratization, Economic Crisis, Institutional Decay

What followed

  • A new constitution and competitive elections.
  • Economic strain and political fragmentation.