Intergenerational homesharing in Tunisia: data, customs and practical routes

A population ageing faster than its neighbours

Tunisia's 2024 census, taken on 6 November, counted 11,972,169 residents, of whom 2,020,772 were aged 60 or over. That is 16.9 per cent of the population, compared with 11.4 per cent ten years earlier, a rise of more than five points in a single decade.

The ageing index, comparing over-60s with under-15s, jumped from 49 per cent in 2014 to 73.9 per cent in 2024. Census technical director Abdelkader Talhahoui links the shift to more older people and fewer children, while cautioning against talk of generalised ageing just yet.

Projections to 2030

National statistics office projections released in May 2026 put the over-60 share at 17.4 per cent in 2026 and 19.9 per cent by 2030. At independence the same group represented roughly 5.5 per cent, which shows how deeply the age pyramid has changed.

Where older Tunisians live

Some 34.4 per cent live in the second district covering Greater Tunis, Nabeul and Zaghouan, and 23.5 per cent in the third, stretching from Sousse and Monastir to Kairouan, Mahdia, Siliana and Kasserine. These are also the regions where most universities attract students from the interior.

A gender gap in social protection

Census figures reported by Webmanagercenter show 88 per cent of older people with health cover but only 52 per cent with social protection, split between 72.2 per cent of men and just 33.2 per cent of women. About 69.7 per cent receive a regular income.

For an older widow who owns a large house but has no pension, a modest monthly payment from a lodger could help with utilities and upkeep. Company in the evening may matter just as much, especially where adult children have moved to the capital or abroad.

Why there is no formal programme

No national or municipal homesharing scheme is on record. Custom expects parents to live with or near a married child, and taking in an unrelated young person remains unusual, even close to campuses in Tunis, Sfax or Sousse where student demand is high.

Family networks still do most of the work

Children, nephews, nieces and long-standing neighbours provide most practical help to older Tunisians. This informal web works well in villages and small towns, but it thins out in cities and in families where the younger generation has emigrated to Europe or the Gulf.

Housing choices for students

Students can apply for public university hostels run by regional university services offices, or turn to private hostels and shared flats. Public places are allocated on social criteria and cannot meet total demand, particularly for students coming from inland governorates.

Making a room let lawful

Leases are governed by the Code of Obligations and Contracts. A dated written agreement signed by both parties, describing the room, shared spaces, rent and notice, is the strongest protection if disagreements arise later between the student and the older owner.

Lease registration and the tax treatment of rent should be confirmed with the local tax collection office. The Idaraty platform, which lists administrative procedures and public bodies, helps identify the paperwork and supporting documents normally required.

Six practical steps

1. Clarify what the older person needs: night-time presence, shopping, conversation, never medical care.
2. Find a student through a faculty, hostel or trusted personal network.
3. Check identity card, enrolment certificate and at least one reference.
4. Meet with a son, daughter or close relative of the older person present.
5. Sign a written lease with reduced rent, notice period and house rules.
6. Review after four weeks and adjust commitments if needed.

This light framework borrows the core of European homeshare practice, screening, a contract and follow-up, without claiming to be a programme. It fits university cities where public hostels cannot house every student arriving from the south and centre-west.

Common mistakes

• Accepting a student introduced by an unknown middleman without any checks.
• Promising free lodging without defining what is expected in return.
• Letting relatives discover the arrangement after the fact.
• Expecting full availability during exam periods.
• Signing an incomplete lease with no notice clause or inventory.

Exam seasons deserve a specific clause. A student who is less present in January or June is not being unhelpful, and a good agreement anticipates those peaks rather than turning them into a source of resentment.

Tunisians abroad

Tunisian students in France, Germany or Canada can join structured homesharing schemes run by charities, universities or local authorities there. Conversely, families settled abroad sometimes look for a trustworthy presence beside a parent who lives alone in Sfax, Bizerte or Gabès.

Frequently asked questions

These answers cover what Tunisian families, older homeowners with empty rooms and students from interior governorates most often ask when considering a shared home near a university, as well as relatives abroad who want reassurance.

Is there state funding for hosting a student?

No subsidy specifically targets an older person hosting a student. Public support focuses on university hostels, study grants and services for older people, without a dedicated strand for shared housing between generations.

Does the rent have to be declared?

In principle yes, like any rental income. Registration and tax rules depend on current regulations, so a visit to the tax collection office or an accountant before signing is the safest way to confirm them.

Can a male student lodge with an older woman?

The most socially accepted pairing is a female student with an older woman. Other combinations happen but require explicit family agreement, very clear rules and, often, regular visits from a relative.

How can the arrangement end without conflict?

Respect the notice in the lease and announce the decision early. A conversation with a relative present, followed by a joint inventory when the room is returned, prevents most disputes.