Local timeAlgiers · UTC+1
Africa / Northern Africa · Card 001
Flag of Algeria

Algeria

Algeria is a country in Northern Africa. Its capital is Algiers, and it is Africa’s largest country by area.

Find Algeria

ALGERIAMoroccoTunisiaLibyaNigerMaliMauritaniaWestern Sahara*SpainMediterranean SeaAlgiers
● Capital city   ·   Algeria highlighted in gold
* Western Sahara is a disputed territory. Map: Natural Earth.

At a glance

Capital
Algiers
Official languages
Arabic &
Tamazight
Currency
Algerian dinarDZD
Population
47.4 million2025 · World Bank
Area
2,381,741 km²919,595 square miles
Independence
1962From France

Algeria in Africa

Algeria is in Northern Africa, on the Mediterranean Sea. Gold marks its position on the continent.

Map: Natural Earth
Geography

Geography & languages

01

Physical geography

Algeria has a Mediterranean coast in the north, mountain ranges and highlands inland, and the Sahara in the south.

02

Two official languages

Arabic and Tamazight are Algeria’s official languages. Both are part of the country’s cultural identity.

03

Capital and location

Algiers is on the northern coast. The capital sits beside the Mediterranean Sea, far from the country’s southern desert landscapes.

Algerian flag, green and white with a red crescent and star

Flag

The flag has green and white vertical halves, with a red crescent and star in the center.

History & independence

How Algeria became independent

Algeria gained independence from France after the 1954–1962 war. The National Liberation Front (FLN) combined armed resistance with political organization and diplomacy. Negotiations with France led to the Évian Accords in March 1962 and a ceasefire on March 19.

In a referendum on July 1, 1962, Algerians voted overwhelmingly for independence. France recognized independence on July 3; Algeria celebrates Independence Day on July 5.

  1. Ottoman period

    Algiers came under Ottoman protection. The regency of Algiers remained linked to the Ottoman Empire until the French invasion.

  2. French invasion

    French forces captured Algiers. The conquest expanded over subsequent decades, facing resistance including that led by Emir Abd el-Kader.

  3. War of independence begins

    The uprising began on November 1. The war lasted nearly eight years.

  4. Independence

    The Évian Accords and the referendum ended French colonial rule. The republic was proclaimed in September.

  5. Hydrocarbon nationalization

    Algeria nationalized key oil and gas interests, increasing state control over a major source of national revenue.

Sources: Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Larousse: Évian Accords

Economy

Oil and natural gas are central to Algeria’s exports and public finances. Services, manufacturing, construction and agriculture also contribute to economic activity.

Oil and natural gas

Energy exports bring in foreign currency and help fund government spending. Changes in global energy prices can therefore affect the budget and trade balance.

83%of exports came from oil and gas
2020–2024 period · World Bank

Other sectors and priorities

Manufacturing, services and agriculture support production and employment beyond energy. Public investment plays a substantial role in the economy.

Economic policy aims to expand non-energy exports, attract private investment and create jobs, reducing dependence on oil and gas revenue.

Sources: World Bank: Algeria overview · Spring 2025 economic update

Population & economic trends

Historical figures from the World Bank. Each chart uses a consistent series and shows its unit and date range.

Population, 1970–2025

Millions of people · selected years
47.4 million2025
025501970: 13.8 million people13.819701980: 18.6 million people18.619801990: 25.4 million people25.419902000: 30.9 million people30.920002010: 36.2 million people36.220102020: 44.0 million people44.020202025: 47.4 million people47.42025

Source: World Bank · total population. Estimates may be revised between releases.

View data table
Population (millions)
Year Value
1970 13.78
1980 18.61
1990 25.38
2000 30.90
2010 36.19
2020 44.04
2025 47.44

Real GDP, 1990–2025

Billions of US dollars · constant 2015 prices
$231.6 billion2025 · 2015 prices
01252501990: 91.5 billion US dollars, 2015 prices19901991: 90.4 billion US dollars, 2015 prices1992: 92.0 billion US dollars, 2015 prices1993: 90.1 billion US dollars, 2015 prices1994: 89.3 billion US dollars, 2015 prices1995: 92.7 billion US dollars, 2015 prices1996: 96.5 billion US dollars, 2015 prices1997: 97.5 billion US dollars, 2015 prices1998: 102.5 billion US dollars, 2015 prices1999: 105.8 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2000: 109.8 billion US dollars, 2015 prices20002001: 113.1 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2002: 119.2 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2003: 127.0 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2004: 132.7 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2005: 139.8 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2006: 143.9 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2007: 148.4 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2008: 152.1 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2009: 153.9 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2010: 161.3 billion US dollars, 2015 prices20102011: 166.1 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2012: 170.1 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2013: 174.5 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2014: 181.7 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2015: 187.5 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2016: 194.8 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2017: 197.7 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2018: 200.5 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2019: 202.3 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2020: 192.2 billion US dollars, 2015 prices20202021: 199.5 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2022: 206.7 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2023: 215.1 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2024: 223.1 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2025: 231.6 billion US dollars, 2015 prices2025

GDP measures the value of goods and services produced. Using constant prices adjusts for inflation; these figures are not current-dollar GDP or income per person.

Source: World Bank · GDP (constant 2015 US$).

View data table
GDP (billions of constant 2015 US dollars)
Year Value
1990 91.50
1991 90.40
1992 92.03
1993 90.09
1994 89.28
1995 92.68
1996 96.48
1997 97.54
1998 102.51
1999 105.79
2000 109.81
2001 113.11
2002 119.21
2003 126.96
2004 132.68
2005 139.84
2006 143.90
2007 148.36
2008 152.07
2009 153.89
2010 161.28
2011 166.12
2012 170.10
2013 174.52
2014 181.68
2015 187.49
2016 194.81
2017 197.73
2018 200.50
2019 202.30
2020 192.19
2021 199.49
2022 206.67
2023 215.14
2024 223.10
2025 231.62

Human development

The UN Development Programme’s Human Development Index (HDI) combines health, education and income measures. Scores range from 0 to 1.

HDI · 20230.763High human developmentRank 96 of 193 · 2025 report

Human Development Index over time

19900.595
20000.651
20100.718
20200.742
20230.763
76.3 yearsLife expectancy at birth
7.4 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+

All figures above refer to 2023, except the explicitly dated HDI history. HDI is a summary measure; it does not capture every aspect of inequality or quality of life.

Source: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025 data. Historical scores use the same report edition.

Government

Type: Republic with a presidential–parliamentary system.

Algeria has a president and a government responsible for executive functions. Its parliament has two chambers, a structure known as a bicameral legislature.

Lower chamber
National People’s Assembly
Upper chamber
Council of the Nation

This describes the formal structure of government, rather than an assessment of political freedoms.

Sources: IPU: political systems · IPU: Algeria’s parliament

Knowledge check

Three questions about Algeria.

QUESTION 1 OF 3

What is the capital of Algeria?

Sources & notes

Country facts and language information: Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Map geometry: Natural Earth, using the project’s existing geographic data. Flag: existing Verbacard artwork. Population and GDP: World Bank World Development Indicators, downloaded September 24, 2026; source release updated July 13, 2026. These are published estimates, not live counters. UNDP indicators use the 2025 report and 2023 reference year.

History, economy and government sources are linked in their sections. Reviewed September 24, 2026.

ALGERIAMoroccoTunisiaLibyaNigerMaliMauritaniaWestern Sahara*SpainMediterranean SeaAlgiers