Algeria

Algeria is a country in North Africa and the largest nation on the African continent by land area, spanning about 2.38 million square kilometers. It borders Tunisia and Libya to the northeast, Niger and Mali to the south, Mauritania and Western Sahara to the southwest, and Morocco to the west, with a long coastline along the Mediterranean Sea. The capital and largest city is Algiers. The population is about 44 million. Official languages are Modern Standard Arabic and Tamazight (Berber); French is widely used in business, education, and daily life.

Geography ranges from a narrow coastal plain to the vast Sahara Desert that covers much of the interior. A Mediterranean climate dominates the north, while the interior features arid conditions and desert landscapes, including notable regions such as the Ahaggar and Tassili n’Ajjer. The country contains several UNESCO sites and diverse natural environments.

Historically, the area has seen Phoenician, Roman, and Arab influences before becoming a French colony in 1830. Algeria gained independence in 1962 after a long war of liberation. Since independence, its political system has evolved from a one-party framework toward more pluralism, with periods of instability in the 1990s. The Hirak protests of 2019 called for political reform, and the country has pursued reforms and modernization efforts since then.

Politically, Algeria is a semi-presidential republic with a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. It has a bicameral legislature—the National People’s Assembly and the Council of the Nation—and is divided into 58 provinces. Islam is the state religion, and the constitution recognizes Arabic and Berber as official languages.

The economy is dominated by hydrocarbons, with oil and natural gas accounting for a substantial portion of export earnings and government revenue. The country seeks diversification, job creation, and economic reform amid social and environmental challenges.