Transition de la fécondité, développement et droits des femmes en Tunisie

In Tunisia, shortly after independence (1956), the first President, Habib Bourguiba initiated a lot of measures to improve the status of Tunisians, especially women, including right to education, National family planning program, prohibition of polygamy. H. Bourguiba supported the idea that improved legal and socio-economic status of women was necessary to reduce fertility and to achieve socioeconomic development. Population policy was integrated into development policy. These policies were successful: the total fertility rate has decreased from 7 births per woman (1966) to 2 (2000). Furthermore, there were clear regional differences in fertility levels and trends. A regional and national analysis of transition confirms the importance of the status of women in Tunisian society as variable of demographic change