Tunisian economy grows by 2.3% in the second quarter of 2026

Tunis, Aug 15 (KUNA) -- Official data showed on Saturday that the Tunisian economy grew by 2.3 percent in the second quarter of this year. The National Institute of Statistics (INS) said in a statement that the growth was driven by improved performance in the agricultural sector and the hospitality and catering sector, including hotels, cafes, and restaurants. The data indicate that, after seasonal adjustments, the economy grew by 1.4 percent in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the first quarter of the same year. On this basis, gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 2.4 percent in the first half of this year compared with the same period in 2025. According to the institute’s data, the unemployment rate fell to 14.9 percent in the second quarter of this year, down from 15 percent in the previous quarter. (End) S.B.M./R.J.