Health in Tunisia

In 2016, life expectancy in Tunisia was 74 years for males and 78 years for females.^[1] By comparison, in the 1960s it was only 47.1 years. Infant mortality in 2017 was 12.1 per 1,000 live births.^[2]

Measles, tetanus, and polio have been largely eliminated by a major immunization program. Schistosomiasis and malaria are rare, though rabies, stings, and leishmaniasis are still an issue. Non-communicable diseases associated with an unhealthy lifestyle are now the leading causes of death.

The Human Rights Measurement Initiative^[3] finds that Tunisia is fulfilling 85.7% of what it should be fulfilling for the right to health based on its level of income.^[4] When looking at the right to health with respect to children, Tunisia achieves 96.4% of what is expected based on its current income.^[5] In regards to the right to health amongst the adult population, the country achieves 96.5% of what is expected based on the nation's level of income.^[6] Tunisia falls into the "very bad" category when evaluating the right to reproductive health because the nation is fulfilling only 64.3% of what the nation is expected to achieve based on the resources (income) it has available.^[7]