The population of the Tataouine governorate is 144,200 (July 2007).It is characterized by a high urbanization rate (62 %) and a population density of 3.7 inhabitants per km².

The active labor force is distributed between agriculture and fishing (13.2 %), industry (9.9 %), public works and construction (18.5%), mining and energy (2%), services (26 %) and civil service (28,5 %).

The governorate’s network of schools and vocational training centres are able to supply the local job market with qualified competencies and skilled labour in specialtieswhich are highly demanded by firms established in the area.The governorate has two higher education institutions:

	Higher Institute of Arts and Trades
	Higher Institute of Technological Studies in Tataouine

Tataouine has three public and four private vocational training centers with capacity for 837 people.

Economic activity in this region is centred on agriculture. With its large area expanse of farmland, the Tataouine governorate is well-known for its agricultural wealth, namely olive trees, leguminous plants, early crops, asparagus (for export), as well as for its red meat and dairy productions. The governorate also has substantial water resources and many natural pasture lands.

The industrial sector is developing. The governorate has 11 industrial enterprises (providing 10 jobs or more), working mostly in building materials and agroindustry, together with 3 wholly or partly foreign-owned firms, active in manufacturing.

The governorate has a large oilfield at El Borma (14 million barrels p.a.).

Over the past few years, Saharan tourism has been growing remarkably in the region. This is easily explained by the presence of geological sites, Saharan “ksours”, hilltop villages, as well as by the ancient oasis cities with their Berber villages, which account for the charm and the peculiar attractiveness of Tunisia’s Sahara.