Algeria Overview

by microedu · Published February 3, 2021 · Updated September 9, 2021

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Algeria is one of the Maghreb states and is the largest state in terms of area on the African continent and the tenth largest in the world. Most of the population lives in the northern part of Algeria. The much larger southern part is dominated by the desert regions of the Sahara. After years of concentrating on the oil and gas industry, Algeria is pursuing ambitious goals to expand renewable energies.

Population / geography

Country name	El-djumhuriya el-djazairiya ed dimukratiya esch-schaâbiyaPeople’s Democratic Republic of Algeria
Land area	2.38 million km²(7 times the size of Germany)
Population	40,969,443(Estimate July 2017)
Life expectancy	Men: 75.6 yearsWomen: 78.4 years (2017 estimate)
Age structure	0-14 years: 29.31%15-64 years: 65.04% 65 years and older: 5.65% (2017 estimate)
Growth of population	1.7%(2017 estimate)
Population groups	99% Arab / Berber<1% Europeans (As of 2017)
Languages	Arabic and Tamazight (official languages), French (lingua franca), Berber dialects (as of 2017)
Religions	99% Muslims (mostly Sunnis),<1% Christians and Jews (2012 estimate)
National day	November 1st (beginning of the independence struggle in 1954)
Independence day	July 5, 1962 (declaration of independence from France)
Time zone	CET (UTC + 1)No summer and winter time changeover. The difference to Central Europe is 0 hours in winter and -1 hour in summer.
Currency	1 Algerian dinar DZD / 100 centimes1 euro = 136.37 Algerian dinars (DZD) (as of December 2017)
Prefix	+213

Sources: Countryaah.com

Politics / Administration

Country name	El-djumhuriya el-djazairiya ed dimukratiya esch-schaâbiya People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria
Capital	Algiers
Form of government	Republic / semi-presidential system
Head of state	Abd al-Azis Bouteflikare-elected since 1999, 2009 and 2014
Head of government	Ahmed OuyahiaPrime Minister since August 15, 2017
Foreign Minister	Abdelkader Messahelsince May 25, 2017
Minister of Education	Nouria Benghabritsince May 5, 2014
Science Minister	Tahar HadjarMinister for Higher Education and Scientific Research since May 14, 2015
Houses of Parliament	Two-chamber parliament consisting of: al-Majlis al-Sha’abi al-Watani / National People’s Assembly / House of Commons (462 members, directly elected by the people, last election on May 4, 2017) al-Majlis al-‘Umma / National Council / House of Lords (144 members, 96 members are half-elected every three years and fully elected every six years by the local councils, the remaining 48 members of the council are appointed directly by the president.
Ruling parties	FLN / Front de Liberation Nationale / National Liberation Front (164 seats) RND / Rassemblement National Démocratique / National Democratic Assembly (97 seats) MPA / Mouvement Populaire Algérien / Algerian People’s Movement (13 seats) TAJ / Rassemblement de l’Espoir de l’Algérie / Association for Algeria’s Hope (19 seats)
Opposition parties	Islamist alliance of the parties MSP / Mouvemement de la société pour la paix / Movement of the Society for Peace and FC / Front du changement / Front for change (together 33 seats) FFS / Front des Forces Socialistes / Front Socialist Forces (14 seats) PT / Parti des Travailleurs / Workers’ Party with (11 seats)
Administrative structure	48 administrative districts (Wilayas), divided into 1,541 parishes (Baladiyahs)