Ask a young person in Tunis what they plan to do in five years, and a surprising number will describe a life somewhere else. The reasons young Tunisians are considering emigration are no longer just about pay. For many, the question has shifted from “how do I make a living?” to “where can I build a future?” Recent reporting and public-opinion data suggest that jobs, rising living costs, trust in institutions, and a sense of being heard all shape this decision.
How Many Young Tunisians Want to Leave?
The desire to emigrate is widespread, not marginal. Afrobarometer, an independent African research network that surveys public opinion, found that around two-thirds of young Tunisians had considered leaving the country. The intensity of that feeling has grown too. The share who said they thought about emigrating “a lot” rose from 38 percent in 2018 to 51 percent in 2024.
Thinking about leaving is not the same as actually going. But when half of a generation is seriously weighing the option, it signals something deeper than a passing mood. It points to a loss of confidence that stability and progress are possible at home.
The Jobs Problem Behind Youth Emigration
Employment remains the most concrete pressure. According to Tunisia’s National Institute of Statistics, unemployment stood at 14.9 percent in the second quarter of 2026, with roughly 622,000 people out of work. The numbers are harsher for younger people and the highly educated.
| Group | Unemployment rate (Q2 2026) |
|---|---|
| All Tunisians | 14.9% |
| Ages 15–24 | 35.4% |
| University graduates | 26.6% |
| Female university graduates | 35.6% |
| Male university graduates | 14.2% |
Two details stand out. First, a degree is not a reliable protection against joblessness. Second, the gap between female and male graduates is large, which suggests women with qualifications face an especially hard road into work. It is no surprise, then, that among young Tunisians who consider leaving, 59 percent name better job opportunities as their main motivation.
It Is Not Only About Money Anymore
Here is the part that makes the story more complicated. Some of those thinking about leaving are not struggling to find work at all. A 26-year-old software engineer interviewed by Al Jazeera, who works for a foreign company and earns a good income, is still seriously considering emigration. He points to lifestyle, dealings with the administration, uncertainty about the future, and the wider economic climate.
Ramadan Ben Omar, a researcher who studies migration, describes a shift in how people think about leaving. Motivations now include the search for greater freedom, the chance to take part in public life, and the wish to build a better future. Increasingly, he says, young people treat emigration as a life project in its own right rather than a way to top up their income.
Everyday pressures reinforce this. One journalist described to Al Jazeera how rent, loan repayments and his child’s schooling absorb nearly his entire salary, leaving little room to plan ahead or help a sick parent with medical costs. Others point to recurring difficulty obtaining certain essential goods and services, and to a desire for clearer communication and accountability from authorities. Opinion is not uniform, however. Some Tunisians still trust the president and feel reform needs more time, which is a reminder that this is a divided country, not a single mood.
The Skills Drain: Engineers, Doctors and Nurses
Emigration is not limited to people seeking a first job. Tunisia is also losing professionals it trained at public expense. The head of the Tunisian Order of Engineers has said that around 6,500 engineers left the country in 2022, compared with an annual average of about 3,000 in 2013 and 2014.
Healthcare shows a similar pattern. Figures from the Tunisian Agency for Technical Cooperation show that:
- 1,839 healthcare and paramedical professionals were recruited to work abroad in 2023
- 1,022 were recruited in the first nine months of 2024
- 1,244 were recruited in 2025
These numbers reflect real demand abroad for Tunisian expertise, but they also mean fewer experienced engineers and clinicians at home. That can deepen the very pressures that push the next group to leave.
Regular and Irregular Routes: Why the Pressure Is Uneven
Not every young person has the same options. Someone with a recognized qualification and language skills may secure a contract or visa through regular channels. Others, especially in regions where economic and social strain has built up over time, may feel they have fewer legal pathways. Researchers point to border areas such as Ben Guerdane, where such pressures have led more young people to consider both regular and irregular migration.
This matters for how we read the headlines. Behind a single word, “emigration,” sit very different realities: a software engineer comparing job offers, a nurse recruited by a hospital abroad, and a young person from a struggling town weighing a far riskier journey.
What Would Make Young Tunisians Stay?
The evidence points to a few overlapping needs rather than one fix. Better job prospects, particularly for graduates and young women, come first. Beyond that, young people say they want transparent institutions, clear explanations of government policy, room for public participation, and a stable cost of living. As the reporting frames it, the open question is whether Tunisia can give its young people enough reason to stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are young Tunisians considering emigration?
The main drivers are limited job opportunities, high youth and graduate unemployment, and cost-of-living pressure. Increasingly, people also cite uncertainty about the future, frustration with administration, and a desire for more freedom and participation in public life.
How many young Tunisians have thought about leaving?
Afrobarometer found that around two-thirds of young Tunisians had considered emigrating, and the share who thought about it “a lot” rose from 38 percent in 2018 to 51 percent in 2024.
What is Tunisia’s youth unemployment rate?
In the second quarter of 2026, unemployment among people aged 15 to 24 was 35.4 percent, according to the National Institute of Statistics. The overall rate was 14.9 percent.
Are only unemployed people thinking about leaving?
No. Well-paid professionals, including software engineers, are also considering emigration, often because of quality of life, uncertainty and frustration with institutions rather than income alone.
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