Algeria

Introduction & Quick Facts
Land
- Relief
  - The Tell
  - The Sahara
- Drainage
- Soils
- Climate
- Plant and animal life
People
- Ethnic groups
- Languages
- Religion
- Settlement patterns
- Demographic trends
Economy
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
- Resources and power
  - Hydrocarbons
  - Mining
- Manufacturing
- Finance
- Trade
- Services
- Labour and taxation
- Transportation and telecommunications
Government and society
- Constitutional framework
- Local government
- Justice
- Political process
- Security
- Health and welfare
- Housing
- Education
Cultural life
- Cultural milieu
- Daily life and social customs
- The arts
- Cultural institutions
- Sports and recreation
- Media and publishing
History
- French Algeria
  - The conquest of Algeria
  - Colonial rule
  - Nationalist movements
- World War II and the movement for independence
- The Algerian War of Independence
- Independent Algeria
  - From Ben Bella to Boumedienne
  - Bendjedid’s move toward democracy
  - Civil war: the Islamists versus the army
    - Army prevents Islamist election victories
    - Constitutional referendum and the election of Abdelaziz Bouteflika
  - Presidency of Abdelaziz Bouteflika
    - End to the civil war and amnesty for peace
    - Opposition, reform, and continued corruption
      Bouteflika’s third term and the Arab Spring protests of 2011
      Bouteflika’s fourth term, though he had suffered a stroke
  - Anti-government protests and the presidency of Abdelmadjid Tebboune
    - Resignation of Bouteflika
    - Continued protests
    - Election of Abdelmadjid Tebboune and the 2020 constitution
  - Foreign relations
    - Relations in North Africa
    - Relations with Europe

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images, Videos & Interactives

Ghardaïa, Algeria

Algiers, Algeria

Fort Mers-el-Kebir, Oran, Algeria

Physical features of Algeria

Algeria: Ethnic composition

Algeria: Religious affiliation

For Students

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Algeria summary

Algeria: Facts & Stats

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Dec 24, 2025

News •

Ivory Coast starts Africa Cup title defense with a win as proud dad Zidane sees Algeria beat Sudan • Dec. 24, 2025, 5:13 PM ET (AP)

Argentina and Messi will open their World Cup defense against Algeria. The US starts vs. Paraguay • Dec. 6, 2025, 12:40 PM ET (AP)

Pope Leo XIV shares his thoughts on the conclave, reflects on spirituality and future travels • Dec. 3, 2025, 4:34 AM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	Al-Jumhūriyyah al-Jazāʾiriyyah al-Dīmuqrāṭiyyah al-Shaʿbiyyah • People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria
Head Of State And Government	President: Abdelmadjid Tebboune, assisted by Prime Minister: Sifi Ghrieb
Capital	Algiers
Population	(2025 est.) 47,803,000
Form Of Government	multiparty republic with two legislative houses (Council of the Nation [144¹]; National People’s Assembly [462])
Official Languages	Arabic; Amazigh
Official Religion	Islam
Official Name	Al-Jumhūriyyah al-Jazāʾiriyyah al-Dīmuqrāṭiyyah al-Shaʿbiyyah (Arabic) (People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria)
Total Area (Sq Km)	2,381,741
Total Area (Sq Mi)	919,684
Monetary Unit	Algerian dinar (DA)
Population Rank	(2025) 32
Population Projection 2030	49,373,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2025) 52
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2025) 20.1
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2024) 75.7% • Rural: (2024) 24.3%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2018) 77.1 years • Female: (2018) 78.4 years
Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate	Male: (2018) 87% • Female: (2019) 74%
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2023) 228,481
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2023) 4,950
¹Includes 48 nonelected seats.

Photos and Videos

Ghardaïa, Algeria

Algiers, Algeria

Fort Mers-el-Kebir, Oran, Algeria

Physical features of Algeria

Ahaggar plateau

Atlas Mountains

Physiography of the Sahara.

See how Allied commanders Eisenhower and Montgomery trapped Rommel to end Axis North Africa campaigns

National anthem of Algeria

See All Videos, Images, Audio and Interactives →

Topics

ʿAbd al-Wādid Dynasty nation-state OPEC Arab League Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa Organization of the Islamic Cooperation Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries Operation Torch Association of Algerian Muslim Ulama flag of Algeria United States India United Kingdom China Canada Russia Germany Australia Japan France

Charles de Gaulle

Charles de Gaulle

president of France

Abdelkader

Abdelkader

Algerian leader

Ahmed Ben Bella

Ahmed Ben Bella

president of Algeria

Bouteflika, Abdelaziz

Abdelaziz Bouteflika

president of Algeria

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Jacques Soustelle

French anthropologist and politician

Ferhat Abbas

Ferhat Abbas

president of Algeria

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Lakhdar Brahimi

Algerian diplomat

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Liamine Zeroual

president of Algeria

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Georges Bidault

prime minister of France

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Frantz Fanon

West Indian psychoanalyst and philosopher

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Charles-Denis-Sauter Bourbaki

French general

Hanotaux, detail of an engraving by Dujardin after a portrait by Benjamin Constant

Gabriel Hanotaux

French statesman and historian

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Raoul Salan

French general

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Jean-Baptiste Drouet, count d’Erlon

French marshal

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Houari Boumedienne

president of Algeria

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Thomas-Robert Bugeaud, duke d’Isly

marshal of France

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Abdelaziz Belkhadem

prime minister of Algeria

Crémieux, lithograph by L.-E. Coedès

Adolphe Crémieux

French politician

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Christophe-Louis-Leon Juchault de Lamoricière

French general

Clauzel, lithograph by A.-L. Lemercier after a portrait by A. Maurin

Bertrand, Count Clauzel

marshal of France

A map of the continent of Africa, including its countries, boundaries, and capital cities. It also shows parts of Europe and Asia and surrounding bodies of water, including the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean.

Africa

continent

North Africa

North Africa

region, Africa

The Middle East: Countries, Key locations, and Major Cities

Middle East

region, Asia, Africa, and Europe

Algiers

Algiers

national capital, Algeria

Oran

Oran

Algeria

Constantine, Algeria

Constantine

Algeria

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Kabylie

region, Algeria

Tlemcen, Algeria

Tlemcen

Algeria

Tipasa, Algeria

Tipasa

Algeria

Boujdour Refugee Camp

Tindouf

Algeria

Annaba

Annaba

Algeria

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Biskra

Algeria

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Tamanrasset

Algeria

Date-palm grove, Béchar, Algeria.

Béchar

Algeria

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Bejaïa

Algeria

Actual continental drift of plates. Thematic map.

Geography Fun Facts

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Countries of the World

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Countries & Their Features

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Africa’s Physical Features

7:023 Geography: Think of Something Big, globe showing Africa, Europe, and Eurasia

Which Country Is Larger By Area? Quiz

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Guess the Country by Its Neighbors Quiz

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Which Country Is Larger By Population? Quiz

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Match the Country with Its Hemisphere Quiz

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You Name It!

Church of Saint George (Bet Giyorgis), Lalibela, Ethiopia. UNESCO World Heritage site.

Geography of Africa Quiz

The President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano at the Quirinale Palace (cropped out), shakes hands with the President of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, Rome, Oct. 17, 2009. egypt protests 2011, protests in egypt 2011

Before They Were World Leaders: Middle East Edition

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Which Country Is Larger? Quiz

Flags of all countries of the world. Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery

The Country Quiz

Tomb of Mohammed Bin Ali, Salalah, Oman.

A View of the Middle East