Kasserine Governorate

Kasserine Governorate (Arabic: ولاية الڨصرين Wilāyat al-Gaṣrīn pronounced [ɡasˤˈriːn]; French: Gouvernorat de Kasserine), sometimes spelt Casrein, is one of the twenty-four governorates (provinces) of Tunisia. It is in west-central Tunisia on the frontier with Algeria, wholly north of the true centre line but the area is south or west of the bulk of the population of the country, based on Tunisia's greater northern rainfall. It covers an area of 8,260 km² and has a population of 492,741 (2024) .The capital is Kasserine which is at the foot of Jebel ech Chambi, Tunisia's highest mountain, in turn part of the Dorsal Atlas mountains. The mountain and its associated escarpment form its own national park in the province. The governorate is known for its archaeological wealth and has 102 monuments listed by the National Heritage Institute. At the same time, it is also noted for the marginalization it has suffered at the hands of various governments: in 2012, it recorded the lowest knowledge index (0.03), the lowest wealth and employment index (0.21), the lowest justice and equity index (0.32), and ranked last among governorates according to the regional development indicator (0.16).