As the holidays approach and in a context of a massive drop in the use of checks, the circulation of cash in Tunisia continues to break records, illustrating a lasting shift in payment habits.
More than four billion additional dinars in circulation
The amount of notes and coins in circulation reached, on December 24, 2025, a new historic record of 26.317 billion dinars, compared to 22.171 billion a year earlier, according to recent figures published by the Central Bank of Tunisia.
This represents an increase of 4.146 billion dinars compared to the same period of the previous year, an increase of 18.7%.
Liquidity up sharply before the holidays
This new record comes two days after the start of the school holidays and a few days before the end-of-year holidays. Peaks are often linked to seasons of large spending combined with limitations on the number and amount of checks.
The last peak of 26.178 billion dinars was recorded a week earlier, on December 18, 2025. Since the beginning of December a few peaks have been noted, while the latest were those noted during the summer holidays, including the last of 26.096 billion dinars which coincided with the date of August 29, 2025 and expenses linked to the start of the school year. The previous peaks had coincided with Eid El-Kébir (festival of sacrifice) and purchases linked to Eid Esseghir (traditional cakes and new clothes for children), all accentuated by the entry into force of the new law on checks, which increased the use of cash.
The check in sharp decline compared to cash
The Payments in Figures in Tunisia bulletin published at the end of November 2025 by the Central Bank of Tunisia, shows that payment by check fell sharply in the first nine months of 2025, under the effect of this new law. The number of telecleared checks fell by 67.9%, to 5.9 million. The check thus represented only 3.7% of telecleared payment methods in number, compared to 37% for the same period in 2024.
At the same time, the total amount of checks issued fell by 57.9%, reaching 40.21 billion dinars at the end of September 2025, compared to 95.62 billion dinars at the end of September 2024. In value, the check only represented 25% of telecleared payments, compared to 53% at the end of September 2024.
Since October 2024, the holding of large sums of cash is no longer subject to the obligation to justify the origin of the funds.
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