Edition No. 5
In six years, Tunisia has lost nearly a third of its livestock
The national herd (sheep, goats, cattle) fell from 8.37 to 5.94 million head between 2016 and 2022 — nearly 30% fewer. Drought is on the front line.
Context
According to the National Institute of Statistics (INS), Tunisia’s national herd of sheep, goats and cattle fell from about 8.37 million head in 2016 to 5.94 million in 2022. Faced with this collapse, the Ministry of Agriculture unveiled in early July 2026 a livestock recovery plan for 2026-2030.
The authorities point to recurring drought as one of the main drivers: less rain means pastures dry out and fodder runs short, forcing herders to buy ever more expensive imported feed.
Why it matters
This is not just a matter for herders. Livestock accounts for 38% of agricultural GDP and supports 22% of the sector’s workforce. When the herd shrinks, the whole chain tightens: the average price of a ewe rose from around 240-300 dinars in 2010 to nearly 2,500 dinars in early 2026, and red-meat production fell by 10%.
Climate drought thus turns, at the dinner table, into meat that is scarcer and dearer for Tunisian families. And a herd, unlike a factory, cannot be rebuilt in a year: it takes several breeding cycles. The toll of a dry decade will be paid over the next one.
On the roots of this vulnerability: Understand Why Tunisia is particularly exposed