World Heritage Identification Number: 1640
World Heritage since: 2023
Category: Cultural Heritage
WHE Type: Historic Cities & Urban Areas
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇹🇳 Tunisia
Continent: Africa
UNESCO World Region: Arab States
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Djerba: A Unique Island Settlement Pattern in North Africa
Djerba, located in the Gulf of Gabès off the coast of Tunisia, is the largest island in North Africa, spanning an area of 514 square kilometers (198 square miles). This island, home to a rich history and unique settlement pattern, was officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
This serial property is a testimony to a settlement pattern that developed on the island of Djerba around the 9th century CE amidst the semi-dry and water-scarce environment. Low‑density was its key characteristic: it involved the division of the island into neighbourhoods, clustered together, that were economically self-sustainable, connected to each other and to the religious and trading places of the island, through a complex network of roads. Resulting from a mixture of environmental, socio-cultural and economic factors, the distinctive human settlement of Djerba demonstrates the way local people adapted their lifestyle to the conditions of their water-scarce natural environment.UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (v): Djerba: Testimony to a settlement pattern in an island territory is an eminent example of spatial organization based on a dispersed settlement pattern that extended over the entire territory of the island of Djerba. The socio-economic system induced by this distinctive settlement pattern, featuring both urban and rural characteristics and dependant on complementary economic activities, is an exceptional testimony to human interaction with the water-scarce environment, and to the way the local population adapted to the challenges of insular life. It has become vulnerable to the socio-cultural and economic changes resulting from contemporary development, making its safeguarding extremely important.
Encyclopedia Record: Djerba
Djerba, also transliterated as Jerba or Jarbah, is a Tunisian island and the largest island of North Africa at 514 square kilometers (198 sq mi), in the Gulf of Gabès, off the coast of Tunisia. Administratively, it is part of Medenine Governorate. The island had a population of 139,544 at the 2004 census, which rose to 163,726 at the 2014 census. Citing its long and unique history, Tunisia has sought UNESCO World Heritage status protections for the island, and, in 2023, Djerba was officially designated a World Heritage Site.Additional Site Details
Area: 5,460.477 hectares
Number of Components: 30
Coordinates: 33.7924194444 , 11.0039583333
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Unknown, Public domain
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Djerba: Testimony to a settlement pattern in an island territory from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
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Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plant in Djerba island, Tunisia
An ethnobotanical study on Djerba Island, Tunisia, identifies 86 medicinal plants with significant traditional pharmacopoeia uses, primarily from the Asteraceae family. The research documents diverse plant applications, with leaves being the most utilized part (59%) and decoction as the predominant preparation method. This cataloguing effort highlights the island's rich botanical heritage, offering a valuable database for future scientific exploration of natural substances. The study employed semi-structured interviews and direct observations over one year, engaging both local residents and non-residents to capture comprehensive traditional knowledge.
Ben Salah, M., Barhoumi, T., & Abderraba, M. (2019). Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plant in Djerba island, Tunisia. Arabian Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Vol 5, No 2 (2019). https://doi.org/10.48347/IMIST.PRSM/AJMAP-V5I2.16487
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Estimating willingness to pay for desalinated seawater: the case of Djerba Island, Tunisia
A significant majority of households on Djerba Island, Tunisia, support the use of desalinated water to address water scarcity, yet fewer are willing to pay for it. This study combines a contingent valuation survey with joint modeling to assess societal support and household willingness to pay (WTP) for desalinated seawater—a relationship not previously explored in research. Findings indicate that while desalination is widely accepted as a solution to water stress, the financial viability of such projects remains uncertain due to low WTP. The research underscores the need to evaluate WTP in developing countries before investing in large-scale desalination infrastructure, ensuring cost recovery and sustainable water management.
Ben Brahim-Neji, H., Del Saz-Salazar, S., Besrour, A., & González-Gómez, F. (2017). Estimating willingness to pay for desalinated seawater: the case of Djerba Island, Tunisia. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 35(1), 126–144. https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2017.1377060
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Automatic Measurement of Shoreline Change on Djerba Island of Tunisia
Between 1984 and 2009, Djerba Island, Tunisia, experienced significant coastal dynamics, with erosion rates reaching -6.95 m/year in Aghir and accretion trends of up to +21.14 m/year in El Kastil. These findings were derived from advanced image processing techniques, including the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) and Landsat imagery, which provided precise measurements of shoreline changes across three key regions: Rass Errmall, El Kastil, and Aghir. The study highlights both erosion and accretion processes along Djerba's coast, offering critical insights into the island's evolving settlement patterns within a UNESCO World Heritage context.
Bouchahma, M., & Yan, W. (2012). Automatic Measurement of Shoreline Change on Djerba Island of Tunisia. Computer and Information Science, 5(5). https://doi.org/10.5539/cis.v5n5p17
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