Tunisia occupies 77th place in the world in the 2026 edition of the “Best Countries” ranking published by the American media U.S. News & World Report, in partnership with BAV Group and the Wharton School.
With an overall score of 46.7 out of 100, the country is in an intermediate position, reflecting both achievements in human development and persistent economic and institutional fragilities.
This international ranking, which evaluates around a hundred countries, is based on a methodology combining international perceptions and statistical indicators.
In particular, it analyzes the performance of States through eight major pillars: economic development, governance, quality of life, health, infrastructure, the natural environment, opportunities and cultural capital.
The objective is to measure not only raw economic performance, but also the overall image and attractiveness of countries.
A contrasting positioning in the different pillars
The detailed results of the ranking show Tunisia with heterogeneous performances. In terms of economic development, the country ranks 73rd with a score of 43.1, driven by a GDP estimated at $178.3 billion and a GDP per capita in purchasing power parity of $14,521.
However, this indicator remains limited by a high unemployment rate of 15.1%, still low productivity and significant levels of poverty.
In terms of governance, Tunisia occupies 71st place in the world with a score of 46.9, reflecting challenges linked to institutional effectiveness, the perception of corruption and political stability.
The country also obtains a rank 74 in infrastructure, despite almost universal access to electricity and a sanitation coverage rate greater than 98%.
On a social level, Tunisia ranks 89th in “Civic Health”, an indicator which notably measures social trust, citizen participation and perceived well-being. For example, the country displays low levels of generalized trust and relatively low voter turnout rates according to the ranking methodology.
On the other hand, certain sectors appear more solid. In terms of health, Tunisia ranks 71st in the world, with a life expectancy of 76.5 years and vaccination coverage above 94%.
Access to care and the efficiency of basic systems are relatively positive points overall.
A country with potential but still in transition
The ranking also highlights the structural characteristics of the country. Tunisia has a relatively high level of education with an average of 7.6 years of schooling, as well as a developing rate of banking and social services.
However, challenges persist in terms of innovation, research and development, and access to digital skills, where the country remains behind.
In the “opportunities” pillar, Tunisia is ranked 70th, reflecting a business environment still constrained by regulatory obstacles and a labor market marked by an inadequacy between training and employment.
Ultimately, the US News 2026 ranking paints a portrait of Tunisia in a middle position on a global scale. The country benefits from real assets in terms of human capital, basic social coverage and strategic geographical position in the Mediterranean, but remains faced with structural challenges linked to growth, governance and creation economic opportunities.
With this rank 77, Tunisia is in the category of emerging economies in transition, where the margins for progress remain significant, particularly in economic transformation, innovation and improvement of the business climate.
