The Tunisian state budget for the 2026 financial year was set at 79,624 million dinars (MD), an increase of 3.9% compared to the results expected in 2025, according to the finance bill document examined this Wednesday in joint plenary in Parliament. This moderate progression is part of the 2026-2030 Development Plan, focused on social justice, growth and the revival of public investment.
A distribution marked by the weight of the payroll
Budgetary expenses are expected to increase by 6.3%, reaching 63,575 MD. The budget structure remains dominated by current expenditure:
- Payroll: 25,267 MD (40% of the total),
- Intervention expenditure: 19,835 MD (32%), including 9,772 MD devoted to subsidies,
- Investment expenditure: 6,463 MD (10%),
- Management expenses: 2,939 MD (4.6%).
This composition reflects the priority given to the social role of the State, but also the persistent constraint of financing salaries and compensation, to the detriment of productive investment.
Mostly tax resources
Budgetary resources are estimated at 52,560 MD, up 7.1% compared to 2025. Tax revenues will represent nearly 90.9%, confirming the dependence of the budget on tax pressure and domestic economic performance.
The budget document is based on several macroeconomic assumptions:
- Growth rate: 3.3% over the whole of 2026,
- Stability of the dinar against the main currencies,
- Increase in imports estimated at 4%,
- Reference price for a barrel of Brent: $63.3 (compared to an observed average price of $64.44 as of November 4).
A budget backed by the 2026-2030 Development Plan
The 2026 finance bill is aligned with the strategic orientations of the 2026-2030 Development Plan, which aims to reconcile social justice and economic growth. It focuses on promoting employment, increasing wages in the public and private sectors, strengthening equitable regional development, and supporting public investment.
This five-year plan reflects the government’s desire to break with previous policies deemed ineffective, by placing national solidarity and budgetary sustainability at the heart of economic priorities.
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