Tunisia is located in North Africa, at the south of the Mediterranean Sea and at the junction of the oriental and occidental Mediterranean basins. While the total area of the country is of almost 164,000 km2, the agricultural areas account only for 50% of it. The total population of Tunisia is estimated at 11 million (2014), of which 63% lives in urban settlements. The country is localized between longitudes 7° and 12° East and latitudes 32° and 38° North. The relatively high latitude of Tunisia and its geographical stretch from South to North conferred to the country the following climatic zones: humid to sub-humid in the extreme north; sub-humid to semi-arid in the northwest and the Cap Bon region; semi-arid to arid in central Tunisia; and desert in the south.
Tunisia is considered to be one of the countries most exposed to climate change in the Mediterranean (Tunisia’s Nationally Determined Contribution). The main risks which it is likely to confront are temperature increases, reduced precipitation, rising sea levels and escalating extreme weather phenomena (floods and droughts). These risks are likely to result in major environmental and socio-economic vulnerability that will particularly affect water resources, agriculture, natural and artificial ecosystems, the coastline, health and tourism.