Official name: People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
Also known as: Al-Jumhūriyyah al-Jazāʾiriyyah al-Dīmuqrāṭiyyah al-Shaʿbiyyah
(Arabic: الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; Algerian Arabic: الدزاير, al-dzayir; Berber: ⴷⵣⴰⵢⴻⵔ, dzayer; French: Algérie)
Currency:
Algerian dinar (
DZD)
Time zone:
UTC+1 (
CET)
Calling code: (
+213)
Organizations: United Nations, African Union, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
World's 10th largest country
Maritime boundaries: Mediterranean Sea
Border countries (6):
Libya 989 km (614 mi),
Mali 1,359 km (844 mi),
Mauritania 460 km (285 mi),
Morocco 1,941 km (1,206 mi),
Niger 951 km (590 mi),
Tunisia 1,034 km (642 mi).
Coastline: 998 km (620 mi)
Algeria, as of 2024, is divided into (58) wilayas (sing. wilaya: provinces):
Adrar,
Chlef,
Laghouat,
Oum El Bouaghi,
Batna,
Bejaia,
Biskra,
Béchar,
Blida,
Bouira,
Tamanrasset,
Tebessa,
Tlemcen,
Tiaret,
Tizi Ouzou,
Algeria,
Djelfa,
Jijel,
Setif,
Saïda,
Skikda,
Sidi Bel Abbes,
Annaba,
Guelma,
Constantine,
Medea,
Mostaganem,
M'Sila,
Mascara,
Ouargla,
Oran,
El Beidh,
Illizi,
Bordj Bou Arreridj,
Boumerdes,
El Tarif,
Tindouf,
Tissemsilt,
El Oued,
Khenchela,
Souk Ahras,
Tipaza,
Mila,
Ain Defla,
Naama,
Ain Temouchent,
Ghardaia,
Relizane,
Timimoun,
Bordj Badji Mokhtar,
Ouled Djellal,
Béni Abbès,
Ain Salah,
Ain Guezzam,
Touggourt,
Djanet,
El M'Ghair,
El Menia.
Cities, towns, and villages
- Algiers (الجزائر العاصمة) — with nearly 3 Million inhabitants Algiers is the Capital but also political and cultural centre of Algeria. Beautiful mix of white-washed French buildings, narrow streets in the Kasbah district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, beautiful parks and the magic Bay of Algiers.
- Annaba (عنابة) — A town with 200,000 inhabitants located in the east of Algeria next to the border of Tunisia. Annaba enjoys nice colonial building, a very nice church on a hill built for Saint-Augustin and amazing beaches.
- Batna (باتنة) — A modern city in the Aures region, in the East of Algeria. Near can be found Timgad, one of the most beautiful Roman ruins in the world, but also the Ghoufi Canyons.
- Béchar (بشار) — Small city in the Sahara, not far away from the Moroccan border.
- Constantine (قسنطينة) — An impressive city in the East, full of history and traditions, on huge and dramatic cliffs and crossed by various bridges.
- Oran (وهران) — Biggest city after Algiers also called second Paris by Algerians, with many impressive buildings from the colonial time. Oran is the city of partying and leisure with its beaches and nightclubs and the worldwide famous Raï music.
- Sétif (سطيف) — South of Kabylia with quite moderate temperatures and occasional snow falls in the winter. Near can be found Djemila, a beautiful ancient Roman city.
- Tamanrasset (تمنراست) — Largest town in the South and starting point for expeditions to the Sahara and the Hoggar mountains
- Bejaia (بجاية) — Second largest city in Kabylia, with an amazing coastline, gorgeous beaches and nice architecture, a castle can be visited on the Gourara mountain.
- Ghardaia (غرداية) — A UNESCO listed city where the desert starts with its marvellous Mzab architecture and its art.
- Tipaza (تيبازة) — A very nice city next to Algiers with beautiful beaches and Roman ruins next to the sea.
- Mostaganem (مستغانم) — A very touristy city next to Oran, known in the whole country for its culture and its numerous and very nice beaches.
- Tlemcen (تلمسان) — A sophisticated city full of history, the most Moorish city of Algeria with its mosques and Muslim architecture.
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc.
Interesting facts:
- Algeria is the tenth largest country in the world, the first in Africa, the Arab world and the Mediterranean, and the second in the Islamic world after the Republic of Kazakhstan.
- 70% of lawyers and 60% of judges are women. 60% of university students are women. In many families, women are contributing more to the household income than men.
- 30% of the population is under the age of 15.