Algeria

Algeria (Arabic: الجزائر; French: Algérie) is a republic in North Africa with Mediterranean coastline to the north. It is Africa's largest country by land area, covering approximately 2.38 million square kilometres, and borders Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Western Sahara, and Morocco. Its capital is Algiers. The majority of its territory is the Sahara Desert, though most of the population lives in the coastal regions and the Atlas Mountains.

The World Bank estimated the population at 46.8 million in 2024, with projections approaching 47 million. The official languages are Arabic and Tamazight (Berber), while French is widely used in administration, commerce, and education. Islam is the state religion.

Political history

Algeria gained independence from France on 5 July 1962 following a prolonged war of independence. The Front de Libération Nationale (FLN) held power for an extended period. In the 1990s, the country experienced internal conflict stemming from the cancellation of elections in 1991–92, with consequences for security and politics extending to the present.

In 2019, widespread protests known as Hirak (Arabic: movement) emerged in opposition to Abdelaziz Bouteflika's candidacy for a fifth term. Bouteflika resigned, and a presidential election was held later in 2019, in which Abdelmadjid Tebboune was elected. In 2020, a new constitution was adopted, which the government presented as a rebalancing of separated powers; human rights advocates argued the changes were limited.

Economy

Algeria's economy is heavily dependent on hydrocarbons (natural gas and oil), which constitute a large share of state revenue and exports. Consequently, the state budget is sensitive to fluctuations in global market prices. The International Monetary Fund completed Algeria's Article IV consultation in September 2025, part of its ongoing monitoring of the member state's economy.

The state-owned company Sonatrach is the largest operator in the energy sector. Following shifts in Europe's energy market in 2022–23, Algeria became one of Europe's largest suppliers of piped gas, particularly to Italy and Spain. Analysts have cautioned that increasing exports depends on new investment in exploration and rising domestic consumption.

Foreign relations

Algeria pursues a foreign policy based on non-alignment and military non-alignment. It is a member of the African Union, the Arab League, and OPEC. Its relations with Morocco are strained, particularly over Western Sahara; diplomatic ties between the two countries have been severed since 2021, with the dispute remaining long-standing.