Tunisian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Tunisia is the northernmost country in Africa, on the Mediterranean coast between Algeria and Libya. Its capital, Tunis, is close to the ruins of Carthage, once a great rival of Rome. Arabic is the official language and French is widely spoken. Tunisians in Birmingham include students, professionals and families.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 7,948 people living in the city had been born in North Africa, a group that includes Tunisia.

Working for Birmingham

Tunisian residents work in engineering, healthcare, IT, education and hospitality, and many are multilingual. Tunisian students study at the city's universities, and Tunisian professionals bring skills in science and technology to Birmingham's businesses and institutions.

Birmingham is one of the youngest and most diverse cities in Europe, and its progress has always depended on people who chose to make it home. Its hospitals, schools and universities, its building sites, workshops, warehouses and kitchens all rely on skills brought from around the world. The Tunisian community adds its own share to that effort, and takes pride in giving back to the city that welcomed it.

Culture and community life

Couscous is at the heart of Tunisian cooking, often served with fish or lamb, and harissa, the famous chilli paste, is a Tunisian gift to the world's kitchens. Eid and family weddings are joyful occasions, and the blue and white town of Sidi Bou Said is a symbol of the country's beauty.

The story of the Tunisian community in Birmingham is still being written, by students, workers, parents and pensioners who call the city home. It is a story of hard work, friendship and quiet pride, and Birmingham is richer for it.