Justice Needs and Satisfaction in Tunisia

For several years, HiiL has been dedicated to understanding justice in Tunisia through its Justice Needs and Satisfaction (JNS) studies. Our initial research in 2017 identified the most urgent justice issues facing the population. We built on this in 2023 with a second nationwide study of 5,008 individuals, aiming to improve access to justice and develop more people-centered programs. To deepen our insights, we launched a unique three-wave longitudinal JNS study from 2023 to 2025, which allows us to track the same individuals and observe how their justice experiences change over time. This approach provides a dynamic, evolving picture of justice in Tunisia.

HiiL has been studying justice in Tunisia since 2017. That year we conducted our first Justice Needs and Satisfaction (JNS) study to understand people’s most pressing justice issues. In 2023, we released a second country-wide study of 5,008 individuals with the aim of advancing people-centred justice programming and enhancing access to justice throughout the country.

In 2023–2025, we went further. For the first time, we launched a three-wave longitudinal JNS study, calling back the same respondents across three consecutive years. This approach provided a unique opportunity to track how people’s justice experiences evolve over time in Tunisia.

• Wave 1 (2023): Captured the prevalence of legal problems and how people initially dealt with them. 
• Wave 2 (2024): Followed up with 2,548 of the same people to explore progress, barriers, and outcomes in their justice journeys. 
• Wave 3 (2025 – Final Report): Completed the study with 1,805 respondents, offering a full three-year picture of justice needs, resolution strategies, and people’s satisfaction with outcomes. 

Tunisia remains a priority country in HiiL’s mission to realise justice for all. Using a systemic and integrated approach known as people-centred justice programming, HiiL has produced rich, evidence-based data that supports policymakers, service providers, and justice sector innovators in (re)focusing their efforts to address the most pressing issues affecting people’s daily lives.

The data and findings now span three years, making this the most comprehensive people-centred justice study ever conducted in Tunisia. They empower justice institutions, practitioners, implementers, and donors to put people at the centre of their work and to prioritise the justice outcomes that matter most to Tunisians.

Key findings from the longitudinal study (2023–2025):

• More than half of Tunisians faced at least one legal problem during the past three years. 
• The majority of legal problems remain unresolved; when they are resolved, only about half of the outcomes are seen as fair. 
• The most common issues relate to neighbour disputes, money problems, public services, and employment problems. 
• Most problems never reach the formal justice system: people rely primarily on family, friends, and neighbours, while only a small fraction engage lawyers or courts. 
• Each year, Tunisians experience an estimated 5 million legal problems, with significant social and economic consequences. 

We invite public officials and leaders across Tunisia to explore the data and use it to advance our shared mission of realising SDG16 – equal access to justice for all. Progress towards people-centred justice is not only crucial for preventing and resolving conflicts but also brings immense social and economic benefits, as responsive justice systems contribute to stronger and more resilient economies.

Related Resources

• Country Programme: Tunisia
• The Justice Dashboard: Data from Tunisia