Digital Inclusion in Tunisia: Persistent Disparities
The National Institute of Statistics (INS) has released its latest ICT flash report, highlighting the persistent disparities in digital inclusion in Tunisia.
According to the results, 59.6% of households do not have an internet connection, with this proportion rising to 92.8% in rural areas. The gap is also significant for computer equipment: 73.9% of households do not have a computer, with this figure reaching 90.2% in rural areas.
Regarding televisions, 5.1% of households do not own one, compared to 7.4% in rural areas. While television remains widely available, access to connected TVs is limited: 40.5% of households do not have a Smart TV, with this proportion rising to 80.5% in rural areas.
Regional differences are also apparent. The lack of internet connection reaches 71.3% in District 1, compared to 48.3% in District 2, which has the lowest rate. Other regions have levels close to the national average.
On the individual level, 23.4% of people have not used the internet in the three months preceding the census. However, this share has decreased significantly compared to 2014, when it was 54.4%. Non-use of computers remains high, with a national average of 64.3%. In District 2, 57.6% of inhabitants have not used a computer, compared to 70% in Districts 1 and 5.
These figures confirm that despite an improvement in internet usage over the past decade, Tunisia still faces a significant digital divide, particularly between urban and rural areas.
