Why People Are Sleeping Worse—and What to Do About It in Tunis

Summer nights in Tunis have grown hotter and, for many, more restless. In June 2026, pharmacist Malek Bouaziz at Place Pasteur says she saw a marked uptick in people buying over-the-counter sleep remedies—everything from chamomile teas to herbal extracts. It’s not just an anecdotal trend. Local clinics including Centre Médical Hannibal in Berges du Lac report a busy month for consultations on sleep difficulties. Across the capital, the toss-and-turn epidemic is in full swing.

Stress, Screens and the Climate Factor

What’s fuelling this collective insomnia? Dr. Amira Ben Jemaa, a physician based in El Menzah, tells The Daily Tunis that rising nighttime temperatures are making traditional cooling methods—like opening windows—far less effective. The mercury hit uncomfortable highs last month, with the National Institute of Meteorology reporting overnight lows above 27°C for 11 straight days. Add to that the glare of smartphones that fill the city’s cafés on Avenue Habib Bourguiba until well past midnight, and the picture becomes clearer: the digital and climate double-punch is keeping many Tunisians awake when their bodies should be winding down.

Sleep matters in Tunis, a city that prides itself on its active wellness culture, visible each morning at Parc du Belvédère as joggers pound the paths from first light. But with rest so elusive, energy and productivity are slipping. "I used to get up early for tennis at Tennis Club de Tunis," says one local member, "but lately I’m just too tired from tossing all night."

Evidence: Sleeplessness on the Rise

The numbers back it up. A 2025 survey by the Association Tunisienne de la Médecine du Sommeil found that 38% of urban Tunisians reported trouble falling or staying asleep at least three nights a week, up from 29% just three years prior. Pharmacists on Avenue de la Liberté say melatonin supplement sales have doubled since Ramadan, with a 30-tablet box retailing around 48 dinars at most local pharmacies. And as the hot season peaks, air conditioning use spikes, but not everyone in Tunis Centre or La Marsa can afford to run split-units through the night—leaving many sweating and restless.

Experts trace the trend not only to climate and screens, but also to city stress. The clamour of construction along Rue de Madrid, unpredictable traffic on Route X, and the pressure to keep up with work and family demands all add to the mental churn at bedtime.

How to Rest Easier

If there’s a silver lining, it’s the growing focus on sleep hygiene in Tunis. Local wellness studios like Zen Attitude in La Soukra and yoga collectives in Carthage are rolling out pre-bed meditation classes, with sessions priced at 25-35 dinars. Meanwhile, organisations such as Sleep Well Tunisia are distributing leaflets on bedroom environment—advising blackout curtains, no-phones after 10 p.m., and chilled showers before bed.

For those facing relentless heat, Dr. Ben Jemaa recommends basic fixes: light cotton sheets, shutting off electronics an hour before sleep, and—if possible—sleeping in the coolest room of the house, even if it means rearranging the family setup during the summer months. Several local pharmacies now offer free evening consultations on sleep aids and routines.

The message from Tunis’s health community is simple: don’t ignore those sleepless nights. Take small steps—less phone time, cooler rooms, evening strolls in Parc Montfleury if it’s safe—and, if problems persist, book a meeting with a doctor at your neighbourhood polyclinic. The city is restless, yes, but good sleep is still within reach for those who seek it out.