TUNIS, Tunisia (XOL Africa) — Tunisia’s water scarcity could reduce the country’s gross domestic product by 6.4% by 2050 and put at least 30% of agricultural jobs at risk, according to a new World Bank report calling for stronger water management, investment and governance reforms.
The Tunisia Economic Monitor, titled “Tunisia’s Water Challenge: From Scarcity to Resilience,” said water security is increasingly important to the country’s economic growth, employment and resilience as climate change and rising demand put pressure on limited freshwater resources.
Tunisia currently has about 380 cubic meters of renewable freshwater available per person annually, well below the international threshold for absolute water scarcity, according to the report.
“Water security is fundamental for jobs and growth. However, with the right policies, institutions, and investments, Tunisia can ease the impact of water scarcity upon the living standards of ordinary Tunisians,” said Ahmadou Moustapha Ndiaye, World Bank division director for the Maghreb and Malta.
The report said Tunisia’s economy grew 2.7% in 2025 and expanded 2.4% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, supported by a recovery in agriculture, mechanical and electrical industries and tourism.
Growth is projected to slow to 2.3% for 2026 and average 2.1% in 2027 and 2028, according to the World Bank.
Unemployment fell to 14.9% in the second quarter of 2026, but women continued to experience significantly higher unemployment, at 21.6%, compared with the rate for men.
The World Bank said water scarcity presents a particularly significant threat to agriculture, which employs about 14% of Tunisia’s workforce and up to half of rural workers.
Without stronger measures, water and climate pressures could eliminate at least 30% of agricultural jobs by 2050 while significantly reducing agricultural production, the report said.
The effects would extend beyond agriculture to tourism, agro-processing, manufacturing and other industries that depend on reliable water supplies.
The World Bank also identified water investment as an opportunity for employment creation and economic resilience.
Its RESEau program, which supports efforts to strengthen the resilience of Tunisia’s water sector, is expected to generate about 4,000 permanent jobs and 13,400 temporary jobs during its first phase.
The report said improved rainfall and reservoir levels during the previous year have provided short-term relief but have not changed Tunisia’s longer-term water outlook.
Tunisia’s Plan Eau 2050 envisages investments of about $900 million annually through the middle of the century. The World Bank said infrastructure spending will need to be accompanied by reforms to water governance, financial sustainability and the performance of water service providers.
Among the measures identified by the report are modernization of Tunisia’s Water Code, establishment of a framework for treated wastewater reuse and improvements in cost recovery while protecting vulnerable households.
The report also calls for reductions in water losses across distribution networks, greater digitalization and stronger irrigation management.
The World Bank said addressing these areas could help Tunisia reduce the economic impact of water scarcity while creating employment and strengthening the country’s ability to withstand climate and economic shocks.
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