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Algeria

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Algeria is a massive nation located in the Maghreb region of North Africa.

Algeria relief
Algeria relief

Officially known as the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, it is the largest country on the African continent. It also ranks as the tenth largest country in the entire world. To the north, the country is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea.

Niels simonsen Alger 2
Niels simonsen Alger 2

It shares land borders with Tunisia to the northeast and Libya to the east. To the southeast lies Niger, while Mali, Mauritania, and Western Sahara border the southwest. Morocco sits to the west. The country has a population exceeding 47 million people.

Koppen-Geiger Map DZA present
Koppen-Geiger Map DZA present

The geography of Algeria is defined by extreme differences in landscape and climate. The vast majority of the territory is dominated by the Sahara desert.

The desert in Algeria
The desert in Algeria

This area is characterized by a semi-arid climate that is very hot and dry. You might find animals like the fennec fox living in these sandy environments.

In contrast, the northern part of the country is much more fertile. This region features mountains, such as the Djurdjura, and receives more moisture.

Djurdjura mountains
Djurdjura mountains

Because the north is more hospitable, most of the population lives in these coastal and mountainous areas.

Algeria has been a crossroads for many different civilizations for thousands of years. Archeological evidence shows that ancestral hominins lived in the area as far back as 2.4 million years ago.

Djémila (15241258054)
Djémila (15241258054)

Over time, many groups established themselves there, including the Phoenicians and the Romans. The Romans were particularly influential, building more than 500 cities across the region.

L'arc de timgade (2)
L'arc de timgade (2)

Today, Algeria holds the second-largest number of Roman sites in the world, following only Italy. Other groups like the Vandals, Byzantine Greeks, and various Berber kingdoms also shaped the land. The indigenous Berber people have remained a constant presence throughout these many changes.

The modern cultural identity of Algeria is deeply linked to the seventh century. During this time, Arab Muslim migrations began to influence the region significantly. This led to the Arabisation of the indigenous Berber populations. Between the eighth and 15th centuries, several Islamic Arab and Berber dynasties ruled the area. In 1516, the Regency of Algiers was established under the Ottoman Empire.

North Africa, from the "Physical And Political Map Of Africa ... 1822"
North Africa, from the "Physical And Political Map Of Africa ... 1822"

This period helped define the modern political borders of the state. The Ottoman Turks acted as a central military and political authority in the regency.

Algeria experienced a period of intense struggle during the 19th and 20th centuries. France invaded the country in 1830 and formally annexed it in 1848. This era of French rule led to mass European settlement. This settlement displaced the local population and caused great hardship. By the mid-1870s, the indigenous population had declined by up to one third due to warfare, disease, and starvation. Local resistance grew over time, eventually leading to the Algerian War in 1954.

Six chefs FLN - 1954
Six chefs FLN - 1954

Algeria finally achieved its independence in 1962. The nation later faced a difficult civil war from 1992 to 2002.

Today, Algeria is a significant regional power in North Africa and a middle power globally. It possesses the largest military budget on the African continent. The economy is very strong, ranking as the third largest in Africa. This economic strength comes largely from massive reserves of petroleum and natural gas.

Algeria relief
Algeria relief

Algeria holds the sixteenth largest petroleum reserves and the ninth largest natural gas reserves in the world. The national oil company, Sonatrach, is the largest company in Africa. It serves as a major supplier of natural gas to countries in Europe. As of 2025, Algeria has the highest Human Development Index in Africa.

The social and political structure of the country is well-defined. Algeria is a semi-presidential republic divided into 58 provinces, known as wilayas. There are also 1,541 communes within these provinces. The official languages are Arabic and Tamazight. While French is widely used in education and media, it does not have official status. Most Algerians identify as Arabs, though Berbers remain a sizeable minority. Sunni Islam is the official religion, practiced by 99 percent of the population. Algeria is an active member of many international groups, including the United Nations and the African Union.

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🖼️ Images & Media (47)
National anthem of Algeria, by the U.S....
File:Civitates-Orbis-Terrarium-1575.jpg
Civitates-Orbis-Terrarium-1575.jpg
File:Djémila (15241258054).jpg
Djémila (15241258054).jpg
File:L'arc de timgade (2).jpg
L'arc de timgade (2).jpg
File:GM Massinissa.png
GM Massinissa.png
File:Justinian555AD.png
Justinian555AD.png
File:Side face (2).jpg
Side face (2).jpg
File:Fatimid.jpg
Fatimid.jpg
File:Statue of Dyhia in Khenchela (Algeria).jpg
Statue of Dyhia in Khenchela (Algeria).jpg
File:Maghrawa dynasty - dynastie maghraoua.jpg
Maghrawa dynasty - dynastie maghraoua.jpg
File:El Mansourah.jpg
El Mansourah.jpg
File:Maghreb 15th Century.svg
Maghreb 15th Century.svg

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