The population in the Monastir governorate (509,100 as of January 2010) is highly urbanized (100%), fairly dense (500 people/sq. km²), and very dynamic socioeconomically.

The active labor force is particularly skilled and available. The major job providing sectors are manufacturing industries (40%) and services (42.6%).

The Monastir governorate has a large array of bilingual (Arabic-French) schools and private institutions teaching modern languages (English, German and Italian). It also has a university complex consisting of 12 higher education institutions providing tuition to some 22,813 students in various subjects, such as medicine, pharmaceutics, science, biotechnology, engineering and modern languages for business. These institutions are

	Faculty of Medicine
	Faculty of Dental Surgery
	Faculty of Pharmacy
	Faculty of Science
	The National School of Engineering
	Monastir Preparatory Engineering Institute
	Higher Institute of Biotechnology
	Ksar Helal Higher Institute for Technological Studies
	Higher School of Health Sciences and Techniques
	Higher Institute of Languages Applied to Business and Tourism at Moknine
	Higher Institute for Computer Studies and Mathematics
	The Higher Institute of Fashion Professions in Monastir

Thanks to its 8 vocational training centers with room for 4,510 trainees, the governorate of Monastir supplies the job market with skilled manpower specialized in local industries like textiles, ready-to-wear garments, tourism, agriculture and fishing.

A road and railway network covering its whole territory and giving direct access to all the neighbouring governorates whether to the north, to the west or the south.

Monastir- El Fejja competitiveness cluster is made up of a Technopole in Monastir which is devoted to textile and clothing (including a business incubator, a center for technological resources, a fashion institute…), 2 industrial activity areas (one in Monastir, and another one in El Fejja – La Manouba, which  includes an area devoted to textile finishing) and a network of In’Tex partners.

The distinguishing feature of this governorate is a diversified economic fabric in which a competitive industry holds a dominant position with 701 industrial units (providing 10 or more jobs), 536 of which operate in textiles and clothing and 512 of which are totally exporting.

There are also 412 firms with foreign equity holdings, operating in industry, farming, tourism, and services.

The governorate is specializing in off-season and greenhouse crops, and has posted steady growth in plant production (oil from 60,000 hectares of olive groves, irrigated crops 6,900), animal production (8,000 head of cattle, 60,000 head of sheep, 2,500 goats) and fishing.

The Monastir governorate is extremely attracting to both tourists and foreign investors with an impressive seaside, a fairly rich archaeological heritage, a steadily growing accommodation capacity (25,450 beds, i.e. 11% of national capacity) and a variety of recreational activities (marina, golf course, equestrian facilities).

62 bank branches.