Algeria

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<p>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. <br><br>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.</p> <p>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.</p>

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Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia

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28 00 N, 3 00 E

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Africa

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slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas

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998 km

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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

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

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petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc

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13,819 sq km (2019)

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Lullemeden-Irhazer Aquifer System, Murzuk-Djado Basin, North Western Sahara Aquifer, Taoudeni-Tanezrouft Basin

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

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

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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

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Arab-Amazigh 99%, European less than 1%

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<strong>note:</strong> although almost all Algerians are Amazigh in origin and not Arab, only a minority identify themselves as primarily Amazigh, about 15% of the total population; these people live mostly in the mountainous region of Kabylie east of Algiers and in several other communities; the Amazigh are also Muslim but identify with their Amazigh rather than Arab cultural heritage; some Amazigh have long agitated, sometimes violently, for autonomy; the government is unlikely to grant autonomy but has officially recognized Amazigh languages and introduced them into public schools

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

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1.47% (2025 est.)

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19.62 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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4.39 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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-0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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

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2.902 million ALGIERS (capital), 936,000 Oran (2022)

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62 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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2.91 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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1.42 (2025 est.)

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1.66 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

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1.6 beds/1,000 population (2017 est.)

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27.4% (2016)

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2.7% (2019 est.)

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55.5% (2019 est.)

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air pollution in major cities; soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; river and coastal pollution from dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents; pollution in Mediterranean Sea from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate potable water

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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

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22.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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11.667 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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presidential republic

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58 provinces (<em>wilayas</em>, singular - <em>wilaya</em>); 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

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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

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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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18 years of age; universal

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<strong>note:</strong> Algeria's judicial system does not include sharia courts

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Algerian National Front or FNA<br>Algerian Popular Movement or MPA<br>Algeria's Hope Rally or TAJ<br>Dignity or El Karama<br>El-Infitah<br>El Mostakbal (Future Front)<br>Ennour El Djazairi Party (Algerian Radiance Party) or PED<br>Equity and Proclamation Party or PEP<br>Islamic Renaissance Movement or Ennahda Movement<br>Justice and Development Front or FJD<br>Movement for National Reform or El Islah<br>Movement of Society for Peace or MSP<br>National Construction Movement or El-Bina (Harakat El-Binaa El-Watani)<br>National Democratic Rally (Rassemblement National Democratique) or RND<br>National Front for Social Justice or FNJS<br>National Liberation Front or FLN<br>National Militancy Front or FMN<br>National Party for Solidarity and Development or PNSD<br>National Republican Alliance or ANR<br>New Dawn Party (El-Fajr El-Jadid)<br>New Generation (Jil Jadid)<br>Oath of 1954 or Ahd 54<br>Party of Justice and Liberty or PLJ<br>Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD<br>Socialist Forces Front or FFS<br>Union for Change and Progress or UCP<br>Union of Democratic and Social Forces or UFDS<br>Vanguard of Liberties (Talaie El Hurriyet)<br>Workers Party or PT<br>Youth Party or PJ

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<strong>note:</strong> a law banning political parties based on religion was enacted in 1997

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ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BIS, CAEU, CD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

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5 July 1962 (from France)

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Independence Day, 5 July (1962); Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)

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<strong>description:</strong> two equal vertical bands of green (left) and white; a red, five-pointed star inside a red crescent, centered over the two-color boundary <br><br><strong>meaning: </strong>the colors represent Islam (green), purity and peace (white), and liberty (red); the crescent and star are also Islamic symbols, but the crescent is more closed than those of other Muslim countries because Algerians believe the long crescent horns bring happiness

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five-pointed star between the extended horns of a crescent moon; fennec fox

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green, white, red

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suffering oil and gas economy; lack of sector and market diversification; political instability chilling domestic consumption; poor credit access and declines in business confidence; COVID-19 austerity policies; delayed promised socio-economic reforms

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$263.62 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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potatoes, watermelons, wheat, milk, onions, tomatoes, vegetables, oranges, dates, barley (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

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3.9% (2023 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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13.294 million (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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<strong>note:</strong> data cover central government debt as well as debt issued by subnational entities and intra-governmental debt

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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Italy 29%, France 14%, Spain 13%, USA 6%, Netherlands 4% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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natural gas, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, fertilizers, iron bars (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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China 24%, France 12%, Italy 8%, Turkey 7%, Brazil 6% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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wheat, plastics, cars, milk, corn (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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Radio Alg&eacute;rienne is the state-run radio broadcast; the National Company of Television (Entreprise Nationale de T&eacute;l&eacute;vision (ENTV)) is the primary state-run public TV station (2024)

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.dz

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7T

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95 (2025)

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11 (2025)

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Algerian People's National Army (ANP): Land Forces, Naval Forces (includes Coast Guard), Air Forces, Territorial Air Defense Forces, Republican Guard, National Gendarmerie<br><br>Ministry of Interior: General Directorate of National Security (national police) (2025)

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<strong>note: </strong>the Republican Guard is subordinate to the ANP, but responsible to the President; the National Gendarmerie performs police functions outside urban areas under the auspices of the Ministry of National Defense and shares responsibility with the General Directorate of National Security for maintaining law and order; it is comprised of territorial, intervention/mobile, border guard, railway, riot control, and air support units

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information varies; estimated 200,000 active ANP, including the National Gendarmerie (2025)

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the Algerian military has traditionally been armed mostly with Russian and Soviet-era weapons systems and equipment; over the past decade, it has made investments in acquiring more modern armored vehicles, air defense systems, fighter aircraft, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and warships, largely from Russia, its traditional supplier, but also China and Western European suppliers such as Germany (2025)

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18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 19 years of age for mandatory national service for men (all Algerian men must register at age 17); 12 months national service obligation (2025)

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the ANP is responsible for external defense but also has some internal security responsibilities; key areas of concern include border and maritime security, terrorism, regional instability, and tensions with Morocco; Algeria supports the pro-independence Polisario Front in Western Sahara and accuses Morocco of supporting the Algerian separatist Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylie (MAK); border security and counterterrorism have received additional focus since the Arab Spring events of 2011 and the rise of terrorist threats emanating from Libya and the Sahel; the Army and Ministry of Defense (MND) paramilitary forces of the Gendarmerie and the border guards have beefed up their presence along the frontiers with Tunisia, Libya, Niger, and Mali to interdict and deter cross-border attacks by Islamist militant groups; the ANP and MND paramilitary forces have also increased counterterrorism cooperation with some neighboring countries, particularly Tunisia, including joint operations<br><br>the ANP has also played a large role in the country’s politics since independence in 1962, including coups in 1965 and 1991; it was a key backer of BOUTEFLIKA’s election in 1999 and remained a center of power during his 20-year rule; the military was instrumental in BOUTEFLIKA’s resignation in 2019, when it withdrew support and called for him to be removed from office (2024)

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Algerian Space Agency (Agence Spatiale Alg&eacute;rienne, ASAL; established 2002) (2025)

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none; note - in 1947, Algeria began hosting a French military rocket test site known as&nbsp;&nbsp;the Centre Interarm&eacute;es d&rsquo;Essais d&rsquo;Engins Sp&eacute;ciaux (CIEES or Interarmy Special Vehicles Test Center); it was the continent of Africa's first rocket launch site and was in service until 1967

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has a national space policy and space research program with stated goals of supporting internal development, managing resources, mastering space technology, and reinforcing national sovereignty; builds and operates communications and remote sensing (RS) satellites; researching and developing a range of space-related capabilities, including satellites and satellite payloads, communications, RS, instrumentation, image processing, and geo-spatial information; works with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including Argentina, China, France, Germany, India, Russia, Slovenia, Ukraine, the UK, and other African countries; member of the African Space Agency and the Arab Space Coordination Group (2025)

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2002 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (Alsat-1A) built jointly with the UK and launched by Russia<br><br>2006 - announced a national space program<br><br>2010 and 2016 - first Algerian-designed and -built RS satellites (Alsat-2A and 2B) launched by India<br><br>2017 - first communications satellite (Alcomsat-1) built jointly with and launched by China; announced a 2040 national space plan<br><br>2026 - RS satellite (AlSat-3A) launched by China

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al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) – Algeria; al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun)

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<strong>note:</strong> details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide