TUNIS, May 15 (Reuters) - Tunisia's economy grew by 2.1 percent in the first quarter of 2017 compared to zero growth in the same quarter a year ago, the statistics institute said on Monday.

The institute said growth was bolstered by a recovery in state phosphate production and tourism, which had been hit hard by Islamist militant attacks in 2015.

(Reporting by Tarek Amara; Editing by Toby Chopra and Patrick Markey)