Background: Algeria has known many empires and dynasties, including the ancient Numidians (3rd century B.C.), Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, over a dozen different Arab and Amazigh dynasties, Spaniards, and Ottoman Turks. Under the Turks, the Barbary pirates operated from North Africa and preyed on shipping, from about 1500 until the French captured Algiers in 1830. The French southward conquest of Algeria proceeded throughout the 19th century and was marked by many atrocities. A bloody eight-year struggle culminated in Algerian independence in 1962. Algeria's long-dominant political party, the National Liberation Front (FLN), was established in 1954 as part of the struggle for independence and has since played a large role in politics, though it is falling out of favor with the youth and current President Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE. The Government of Algeria in 1988 instituted a multi-party system in response to public unrest, but the surprising first-round success of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the 1991 legislative election led the Algerian military to intervene and postpone the second round of elections to prevent what the secular elite feared would be an extremist-led government from assuming power. An army crackdown on the FIS escalated into an FIS insurgency and intense violence from 1992-98 that resulted in over 100,000 deaths, many of which were attributed to extremist groups massacring villagers. The government gained the upper hand by the late 1990s, and FIS’s armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded in 2000. FIS membership is now illegal. In 1999, Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA won the presidency with the backing of the military, in an election that was boycotted by several candidates protesting alleged fraud. He won subsequent elections in 2004, 2009, and 2014. Widespread protests against his decision to seek a fifth term broke out in early 2019. BOUTEFLIKA resigned in April 2019, and in December 2019, Algerians elected former Prime Minister Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE as the country’s new president. A longtime FLN member, TEBBOUNE ran for president as an independent. In 2020, Algeria held a constitutional referendum on governmental reforms, which TEBBOUNE enacted in 2021. Subsequent reforms to the national electoral law introduced open-list voting to curb corruption. The new law also eliminated gender quotas in Parliament, and the 2021 legislative elections saw female representation plummet. The referendum, parliamentary elections, and local elections saw record-low voter turnout.

Area
Total: 2,381,740 km²
Land: 2,381,740 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas

Land boundaries
Total: 6,734 km
Border countries (6): (6) Libya 989 km; Mali 1,359 km; Mauritania 460 km; Morocco 1,941 km; Niger 951 km; Tunisia 1,034 km

Coastline: 998 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm

Climate: arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer

Terrain: mostly high plateau and desert; Atlas Mountains in the far north and Hoggar Mountains in the south; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Elevation
Highest point: Tahat 2,908 m
Lowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 m
Mean elevation: 800 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 17.4% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 13.8% (2023 est.)
Forest: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Other: 81.9% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 13,819 km² (2019)

Natural hazards: mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides and floods in rainy season; droughts

Geography
Note: largest country in Africa but 80% desert; canyons and caves in the southern Hoggar Mountains and in the barren Tassili n'Ajjer area in the southeast of the country contain numerous examples of prehistoric art -- rock paintings and carvings depicting human activities and wild and domestic animals (elephants, giraffes, cattle) -- that date to the African Humid Period, roughly 5,000 to 11,000 years ago, when the region was completely vegetated

Population
Total: 47,022,473 (2024 est.)
Male: 23,854,821
Female: 23,167,652
Distribution: the vast majority of the populace is found in the extreme northern part of the country along the Mediterranean Coast
Growth rate: 1.54% (2024 est.)

Languages: Arabic (official), French (lingua franca), Tamazight (official) (dialects include Kabyle (Taqbaylit), Shawiya (Tacawit), Mzab, Tuareg (Tamahaq))
Major-language sample(s): ; كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions: Muslim (official; predominantly Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Ahmadi Muslim, Shia Muslim, Ibadi Muslim) <1% (2012 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 30.8% (male 7,411,337/female 7,062,794)
15-64 years: 62.3% (male 14,846,102/female 14,441,034)
65 years and over: 6.9% (2024 est.) (male 1,597,382/female 1,663,824)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 60.6 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 49.4 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 11.1 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 9 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 29.1 years (2024 est.)
Male: 28.8 years
Female: 29.4 years

Population growth rate: 1.54% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 20.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 4.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: the vast majority of the populace is found in the extreme northern part of the country along the Mediterranean Coast

Urbanization
Urban population: 75.3% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 2.902 million ALGIERS (capital), 936,000 Oran (2022)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 62 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 18.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 19.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 17.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 77.2 years
Female: 78.7 years

Total fertility rate: 2.94 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 9.6% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 1.7% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 8.3% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 3.4% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.7% (2019 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 11.5% (2024 est.); 11.8% (2023 est.); 12.4% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Algiers
Geographic coordinates: 36 45 N, 3 03 E
Time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: name derives from the Arabic al-jazair, meaning 'the islands,' and refers to the four islands formerly off the coast of the capital but joined to the mainland since 1525

Administrative divisions: 58 provinces (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain Temouchent, Alger (Algiers), Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Beni Abbes, Biskra, Blida, Bordj Badji Mokhtar, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djanet, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Meghaier, El Meniaa, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, In Guezzam, In Salah, Jijel, Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila, Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Ouled Djellal, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanrasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Timimoun, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen, Touggourt

Legal system: mixed system of French civil law and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials including several Supreme Court justices

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE (since 12 December 2019)
Head of government: Prime Minister Sifi GHRIEB (since 28 August 2025)
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
Election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by the president after consultation with the majority party in Parliament
Most recent election date: 7 September 2024
2024: Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE (NLF) 94.7%, Abdelaali Hassani CHERIF (MSP) 3.2%, Youcef AOUCHICHE (FFS) 2.2%
2019: (FLN) 58.1%, Abdelkader BENGRINA (El-Bina) 17.4%, Ali BENFLIS (Talaie El Hurriyet) 10.6%, Azzedine MIHOUBI (RND) 7.3%, Abdelaziz BELAID (Future Front) 6.7%
Expected date of next election: 2,029

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Parliament (Barlaman)
Legislative structure: bicameral

Flag description: two equal vertical bands of green (left) and white; a red, five-pointed star inside a red crescent, centered over the two-color boundary

National anthem
Title: 'Kassaman' (We Pledge)
Lyrics/music: Mufdi ZAKARIAH/Mohamed FAWZI
History: adopted 1962; ZAKARIAH wrote 'Kassaman' as a poem while imprisoned in Algiers by French colonial forces

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 mixed)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 3.3% (2024 est.); 4.1% (2023 est.); 3.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 3.3% (2024 est.); 4.1% (2023 est.); 3.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 40.8% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 17.9% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 32.8% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 23.6% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -20.1% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 13.1% (2023 est.)
Industry: 37.8% (2023 est.)
Services: 45.6% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Industries: petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing

Industrial production growth rate: 3.9% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 13.294 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 11.5% (2024 est.); 11.8% (2023 est.); 12.4% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 11.5% (2024 est.); 11.8% (2023 est.); 12.4% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $55.185 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $64.728 billion (2019 est.)

Exports: $59.426 billion (2023 est.); $69.226 billion (2022 est.); $41.846 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: natural gas, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, fertilizers, iron bars (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $51.131 billion (2023 est.); $46.613 billion (2022 est.); $44.287 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: wheat, plastics, cars, milk, corn (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 22.591 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 85.687 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 2.753 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 475.8 million kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 9.237 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 100%
Access electrification - rural areas: 99.3%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 98.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 3,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 241,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 223 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 1.443 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 446,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 12.2 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 104.896 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 52.831 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Exports: 51.566 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 4.504 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 163.661 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 741,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 57.795 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 105.125 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 61.843 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 6.324 million (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 51.5 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 77% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 5.54 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 8% of GDP (2024 est.); 8% of GDP (2023 est.); 4.8% of GDP (2022 est.); 5.6% of GDP (2021 est.); 6.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

Airports: 95 (2025)

Heliports: 11 (2025)

Railways
Total: 4,020 km (2019)

Merchant marine
Total: 119 (2022)
By type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 4, general cargo 11, oil tanker 14, other 89