Tunisia Governorates and Capitals List

Tunisia is divided into 24 governorates, which are known as "gouvernorats" in French and "wilayat" in Arabic. Here is a list of the 24 governorates of Tunisia:

Tunisia is a North African country located along the Mediterranean Sea between Algeria and Libya. The country is divided into 24 governorates for administration and regional governance. Tunis is the capital of Tunisia and also the country’s largest city, serving as the political, financial, and cultural center.

Tunisia includes Mediterranean coastlines, fertile plains, mountain regions, olive-growing countryside, and parts of the Sahara Desert in the south. Different governorates are known for tourism, agriculture, phosphate mining, manufacturing, fishing, trade, and historic archaeological sites, and the country’s blend of Arab, Berber, Mediterranean, and French influences can be seen across its cities and regions.

Key Facts

National capital: Tunis | Total population: 11,850,232 (2024 Estimate) | Total area: 163,610 km² (63,170 sq miles) | Currency: Tunisian Dinar (DT - TND) | Bordering countries: Algeria, Libya | Total Governorates: 24 | Total Delegations: 264+

List of Governorates and Capitals of Tunisia

Total administrative divisions shown: 24 | Combined population: 11,850,232 | Combined area: 163,610 km²

Largest Governorates by Area

• Tataouine - 15,015 sq mi (38,889 km²)
• Kébili - 8,670 sq mi (22,454 km²)
• Medenine - 3,539 sq mi (9,167 km²)
• Gafsa - 3,471 sq mi (8,990 km²)
• Kasserine - 3,115 sq mi (8,066 km²)
• Sfax - 2,913 sq mi (7,545 km²)
• Gabès - 2,767 sq mi (7,166 km²)
• Sidi Bouzid - 2,700 sq mi (6,994 km²)

Most Populous Governorates

• Tunis - Population: 1,150,000 (2024 Estimate)
• Sfax - Population: 1,120,000 (2024 Estimate)
• Nabeul - Population: 875,000 (2024 Estimate)
• Sousse - Population: 760,000 (2024 Estimate)
• Ben Arous - Population: 730,000 (2024 Estimate)
• Ariana - Population: 680,000 (2024 Estimate)
• Kairouan - Population: 620,000 (2024 Estimate)
• Monastir - Population: 620,000 (2024 Estimate)

Smallest Governorates by Area

• Tunis - 134 sq mi (346 km²)
• Ariana - 186 sq mi (482 km²)
• Ben Arous - 294 sq mi (761 km²)
• Monastir - 393 sq mi (1,019 km²)
• Manouba - 439 sq mi (1,137 km²)
• Sousse - 1,031 sq mi (2,669 km²)

Governorates by Geographic Grouping

• Capital Region: Tunis
• Cap Bon Peninsula: Nabeul
• Central-East Coast: Sfax
• Central Highlands: Siliana
• Central Interior: Sidi Bouzid
• Central Tunisia: Kairouan
• Eastern Coast: Mahdia, Monastir, Sousse
• Greater Tunis: Ariana, Ben Arous, Manouba
• Northeastern Highlands: Zaghouan
• Northern Coast: Bizerte
• Northwestern Highlands: Jendouba
• Northwestern Interior: Kef
• Sahara Desert Region: Kébili
• Southeastern Coast: Gabès
• Southern Desert Region: Tataouine
• Southern Tunisia: Medenine
• Southwestern Interior: Gafsa
• Southwestern Oasis Region: Tozeur
• Western Highlands: Kasserine

Governorates with Coastline

• Bizerte
• Gabès
• Mahdia
• Medenine
• Monastir
• Nabeul
• Sfax
• Sousse
• Tunis

Landlocked Governorates

• Ariana
• Béja
• Ben Arous
• Gafsa
• Jendouba
• Kairouan
• Kasserine
• Kébili
• Kef
• Manouba
• Sidi Bouzid
• Siliana
• Tataouine
• Tozeur
• Zaghouan

Governorates Sharing an International Border

• Béja - borders Algeria
• Gafsa - borders Algeria
• Jendouba - borders Algeria
• Kasserine - borders Algeria
• Kébili - borders Algeria
• Kef - borders Algeria
• Medenine - borders Libya
• Tataouine - borders Libya and Algeria
• Tozeur - borders Algeria

Major Economic Activities by Governorate

Important Natural and Cultural Areas

• Medina of Tunis: Tunis Governorate
• El Jem Amphitheatre: Mahdia Governorate
• Carthage Archaeological Site: Tunis Governorate
• Sahara Desert Oasis Towns: Tozeur and Kébili Governorates
• Djerba Island: Medenine Governorate
• Ichkeul National Park: Bizerte Governorate

Sources

• National Institute of Statistics Tunisia
• Government of Tunisia
• World Bank - Tunisia Data
• Encyclopaedia Britannica - Tunisia
• CIA World Factbook - Tunisia