Economic Outlook for 2026: A Focus on Social Justice and Economic Growth
As 2025 comes to a close, attention is shifting to future projects for the finance law and economic budget for 2026. These documents will serve as guiding principles for the country's economic and social future, as well as tools for economic transformation, regional development, and consolidation of the social state.
Global Economic Slowdown
According to reports, global economic growth is expected to slow down in 2025 and 2026 due to the combined effects of rising trade tensions, protectionist policies, and a persistent climate of uncertainty. Additionally, commodity prices, particularly energy prices, are expected to decline due to weakened global demand and excess supply. The fragmentation of international trade and ongoing uncertainties are also expected to weigh on the growth of goods and services exchanges.
National Economic Resilience
Despite this context, the national economy is expected to maintain its momentum in 2025 and 2026, supported by the anticipated recovery of agricultural and tourism activities and the consolidation of non-agricultural sector performance. The 2026 economic budget project represents a crucial step towards building and constructing, concretizing national choices. "Its axes have been defined to achieve a balance between social justice and economic growth," explains Prime Minister Sarra Zaâfrani Zenzri.
The economic budget project translates the state's orientations in social and economic fields. Its orientations "will mark the beginning of the implementation of the development plan for the 2026-2030 period and will contribute to achieving comprehensive development and social equity in all regions."
Priorities
The programs and measures of the project are centered around several axes, including:
- Reinforcing social gains
- Improving living conditions for citizens
- Reducing unemployment
- Access to social coverage and decent housing
- Improving public equipment services
- Developing and renewing the public transportation fleet
- Accelerating the implementation of public projects
Regarding social gains, the state budget project focuses on strengthening the pillars of the social state, including:
- Employment and reducing unemployment
- Combating precarious employment
- Prohibiting subcontracting
- Guaranteeing decent work with remunerative salaries and social protection
Among the social measures outlined are:
- Preserving the purchasing power of low-income households
- Access to decent housing
- Implementing a lease-purchase system to facilitate access to social housing
On the economic front, the project emphasizes:
- Developing public and private investment
- Promoting renewable energy
- Integrating the parallel economy
- Achieving balanced growth, taking into account the priorities of local, regional, and regional councils
Social Justice
Regarding the 2026 Finance Law project, President Kais Saïed reiterated his call for the law to reflect the social role of the state and translate the desire to establish long-sought social justice through its major orientations. To achieve this, "it is more imperative than ever to adopt innovative thinking centered around new concepts and perceptions," he emphasizes.
This involves:
- Concretizing the expectations of young people, long excluded and marginalized
- Rationalizing public spending by reducing funds allocated to unproductive and unnecessary institutions
The 2026 Finance Law outlines the contours of a new stage of economic and social transformation in Tunisia.
Priorities for 2026
The priorities concern the consolidation of Tunisia's emergence through the mobilization of all levers of growth, investment, and reform to strengthen economic resilience and national competitiveness. This orientation aims to position Tunisia durably in global value chains. Another priority is the acceleration of structural reforms, including the transformation of the public administration, which involves simplifying procedures, digitizing services, and strengthening proximity to citizens.
