North West Tunisia (Arabic : الشمال الغربي التونسي) is one of the six geographic and economic regions of Tunisia, consisting of four governorates: Béja, Kef, Siliana and Jendouba. The region had a population of 1,170,752[1] representing 12.2% of the total population of Tunisia. This makes it the 5th-most populous region in the country, with only South West Tunisia being smaller.
The North West region is located in the extreme north of the country, bounded to the west by the Tunisian-Algerian border and to the east by Grand Tunis and the North East region. In the north, the region is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea (with a 51 km long coast) and Bizerte Governorate and to the south by the Central West Region.
The region is divided in half by the Medjerda River which is the longest river in the country. The North West is characterized by its unique forests and mountains (the Kroumirie and Mogod Mountains), coral coasts and the large plains.
There are three national parks located wholly or partly in the North West: El Feidja National Park in Jendouba, Jebel Serj National Park shared between Siliana and Kairouan and the Jebel Chitana-Cap Négro National Park divided between Béja and Bizerte.
With 1,170,752[1] people, the North West is the 5th-most populous region in the country. In decreasing order of population, the North West consists of the following governorates:
| Governorate | Population (2014) | Population Density | Largest town/city | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 401,477 | 130/km² | Jendouba (113,116) (2014 est.) | ||
| 303,032 | 81/km² | Béja (109,299) | ||
| 243,156 | 49/km² | El Kef (73,706) | ||
| 223,087 | 48/km² | Siliana (59,140) |
The region is characterized by its ruralness. In 2004 only 37,1% live in the cities (compared to 64,9% nationwide).[2] This can be explained by the dominance of the agricultural sector in the region's economy. The region is also marked by its negative net migration of -45,300 between 1999 and 2004.[3]
Despite its ruralness, there are several cities and towns in North West Tunisia:
Population over 100,000
Population over 50,000
Population over 40,000
Population over 20,000
Population over 10,000
For a long time, the North West has been one of the poorest regions in Tunisia; it registers of the highest rates of poverty, unemployment and illiteracy in the country.