Introduction
How is the Military in Tunisia and how does it work to maintain Sucity and fight terrorism? In terms of Military and security forces, we have the Tunisian Armed Forces (Forces Armées Tunisiennes, FAT): Tunisian Army (includes Air Defense Force), Tunisian Navy, Tunisia Air Force
Ministry of Interior (MoI): Internal Security Forces (National Police, National Guard) (2025).
Ministry of Interior (MoI): Internal Security Forces (National Police, National Guard) (2025).
In Tunisia, the Tunisian Armed Forces (FAT) are responsible for territorial defense and internal security; operational areas of focus include counterterrorism and assisting with securing the border regions, particularly along the frontiers with Algerian and Libya
the FAT conducts bilateral and multinational training exercises with a variety of countries, including Algeria and other North African and Middle Eastern countries, France, and the US, as well as NATO; it also participates in UN peacekeeping operations; Tunisia has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2025)
the FAT conducts bilateral and multinational training exercises with a variety of countries, including Algeria and other North African and Middle Eastern countries, France, and the US, as well as NATO; it also participates in UN peacekeeping operations; Tunisia has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2025)
Security and military information of Tunisia
| Military and security service personnel strengths | approximately 35,000 active-duty Armed Forces (25,000 Army; 5,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force) (2025) |
|---|---|
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the Tunisian military's inventory consists mostly of older or second-hand equipment from a wide variety of suppliers, including Brazil, China, Turkey, and the US, as well as several European countries, such as France, Germany, and Italy (2024) |
| Military service age and obligation | 18-23 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; 20-23 years of age for compulsory (national) service for men with a 12-month service obligation; individuals engaged in higher education or vocational training programs prior to their military drafting are allowed to delay service until they have completed their programs (up to age 35); exemptions allowed for males considered to a family's sole provider (2023). note: women have been allowed in the service since 1975 as volunteers; as of 2023, women constituted about 8% of the military and served in all three services |
| Military deployments | 775 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2024). |
| Military expenditures | |
| Military Expenditures 2024 | 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2023 | 2.5% of GDP (2023 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2022 | 2.7% of GDP (2022 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2021 | 3% of GDP (2021 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2020 | 3% of GDP (2020 est.) |
Terrorism
In Tunisia, the different Terrorist group(s) inlcude: Ansar al-Sharia in Tunisia; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) network in Tunisia (known locally as Ajnad al-Khilafah or the Army of the Caliphate); al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb
All Important Facts about Tunisia
Want to know more about Tunisia? Check all different factbooks for Tunisia below.
