Three Tunisian Cities Ranked Among the Most Attractive Cities of the Year
According to the Global Cities Index 2025 by Oxford Economics, three Tunisian cities have made it to the list of the most attractive cities of the year. The index evaluates 1000 cities worldwide based on 27 indicators across five categories: economy, human capital, quality of life, environment, and governance. The ranking reveals a stark reality: no African city has made it to the top 300 globally.
The ranking shows a Moroccan dominance, with seven Moroccan cities featuring in the top 50 African cities, including Casablanca (431st globally), Rabat (447th), Tangier (584th), Fez (640th), Meknes (682nd), Marrakech (648th), and Agadir (656th). Egypt follows with cities like Cairo (302nd globally, 1st in Africa), Alexandria, Port Said, Suez, El-Mansourah, and Tanta. South Africa has placed its major cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria, Durban, and Bloemfontein.
In Tunisia, the situation is more contrasting. Only three Tunisian cities have made it to the ranking:
- Tunis (529th globally, 14th in Africa)
- Sfax (591st globally, 22nd in Africa)
- Sousse (672nd globally, 41st in Africa)
It's worth noting that the ranking is dominated by economic criteria (30% of the total score), which penalizes cities like those in Tunisia, often hindered by modest economic growth, limited job markets, and insufficient foreign investments. Quality of life (25%) and human capital (25%) are also areas where Tunisia has room for improvement: despite having a recognized education system, the country suffers from brain drain and a lack of local opportunities.
