Editing Algeria (section)

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Algeria}}
{{see also|List of cities in Algeria}}

Algeria has a population of an estimated 45.6 million,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Algeria - Place Explorer - Data Commons |url=https://datacommons.org/place/country/DZA|access-date=2024-11-10 |website=datacommons.org |language=en}}</ref> of which the majority, 75%<ref name="EB-2022">{{Cite web |title=Algeria – Drainage |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Algeria/Drainage |access-date=2022-12-25 |website=Britannica|archive-date=22 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222022251/https://www.britannica.com/place/Algeria/Drainage |url-status=live |quote=More than three-fourths of the country is ethnically Arab}}</ref> to 85% are ethnically [[Arabs|Arab]].<ref name="AlgeriaFactbook"/><ref name="ons">{{cite web |url=http://www.ons.dz/-Demographie-.html/ |title=Algérie a atteint 40,4 millions d'habitants (ONS) |publisher=ons |date=17 April 2013 |access-date=24 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205120223/http://www.ons.dz/-Demographie-.html |archive-date=5 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ber_evidance">{{cite journal |last1=Arredi |first1=Barbara |first2=Estella S. |last2=Poloni |first3=Silvia |last3=Paracchini |author-link3=Silvia Paracchini |first4=Tatiana |last4=Zerjal |last5=Dahmani |first5=M. Fathallah |first6=Mohamed |last6=Makrelouf |last7=Vincenzo |first7=L. Pascali |first8=Andrea |last8=Novelletto |first9=Chris |last9=Tyler-Smith |title=A Predominantly Neolithic Origin for Y-Chromosomal DNA Variation in North Africa|date=7 June 2004 |pmc=1216069 |pmid=15202071 |doi=10.1086/423147 |volume=75 |issue=2 |journal=Am. J. Hum. Genet. |pages=338–45}}</ref> At the outset of the 20th century, its population was approximately 4 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://countrystudies.us/algeria/48.htm |title=Algeria&nbsp;– Population |publisher=Library of Congress Country Studies |access-date=17 January 2013 |archive-date=13 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613154609/http://countrystudies.us/algeria/48.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> About 90% of Algerians live in the northern, coastal area; the inhabitants of the Sahara desert are mainly concentrated in [[oasis|oases]], although some 1.5 million remain [[nomad]]ic or partly nomadic. 28.1% of Algerians are under the age of 15.<ref name="AlgeriaFactbook"/>

Between 90,000 and 165,000 [[Sahrawi people|Sahrawis]] from [[Western Sahara]] live in the [[Sahrawi refugee camps]],<ref name="UNHCRAlgeria">{{cite web |url=http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e485e16.html |title=2013 UNHCR country operations profile – Algeria |publisher=[[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]] |year=2013 |access-date=9 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213003042/http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e485e16.html |archive-date=13 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="USCRIAlgeria">{{cite web|url=http://www.refugees.org/resources/refugee-warehousing/archived-world-refugee-surveys/2009-wrs-country-updates/algeria.html |title=World Refugee Survey 2009: Algeria |publisher=[[U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants]] |year=2009 |access-date=9 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812185303/http://www.refugees.org/resources/refugee-warehousing/archived-world-refugee-surveys/2009-wrs-country-updates/algeria.html |archive-date=12 August 2014 }}</ref> in the western Algerian Sahara desert.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irinnews.org/report/74134/western-sahara-lack-of-donor-funds-threatens-humanitarian-projects |title=Western Sahara: Lack of Donor Funds Threatens Humanitarian Projects |work=IRINnews |agency=[[The New Humanitarian|IRIN]] |date=5 September 2007 |access-date=9 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212160848/http://www.irinnews.org/report/74134/western-sahara-lack-of-donor-funds-threatens-humanitarian-projects |archive-date=12 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> There are also more than 4,000 [[Palestinian refugee]]s, who are well integrated and have not asked for assistance from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).<ref name="UNHCRAlgeria"/><ref name="USCRIAlgeria"/> In 2009, 35,000 [[Overseas Chinese|Chinese]] migrant workers lived in Algeria.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8184499.stm |title=Chinese Migrants in Algiers Clash |work=BBC News |date=4 August 2009 |access-date=17 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206105216/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8184499.stm |archive-date=6 December 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The largest concentration of Algerian migrants outside Algeria is in France, which has reportedly over 1.7&nbsp;million [[Algerians]] of up to the second generation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.insee.fr/fr/themes/document.asp?reg_id=0&ref_id=IMMFRA12_g_Flot1_pop |title=Fiches thématiques – Population immigrée&nbsp;– Immigrés 2012 |publisher=Insee |access-date=18 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130220075247/http://www.insee.fr/fr/themes/document.asp?reg_id=0&ref_id=IMMFRA12_g_Flot1_pop |archive-date=20 February 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

There are also many [[foreign communities in Algeria]], though these do not make up a significant portion of the population. 

{{Largest cities
| country      = Algeria
| stat_ref     = According to the 2008 Census<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/algeria/cities/ |title=Algeria: Provinces & Major Cities – Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information |website=City Population |access-date=27 January 2023 |archive-date=17 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517222605/https://www.citypopulation.de/en/algeria/cities/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| list_by_pop  = <!-- link to the list of cities in the given country, if possible sorted by population -->
| div_name     = Province
| div_link     = <!-- the template will automatically create a link for "div_name of country" (e.g. Provinces of Chile), if this doesn't work you can use this field -->

| city_1 = Algiers | div_1 = Algiers Province | pop_1 =  2,364,230 | img_1 = Alger View Oct-2010 IMG 1039.JPG
| city_2 = Oran | div_2 = Oran Province | pop_2 = 803,329 | img_2 = Oran facade maritime.JPG
| city_3 = Constantine, Algeria{{!}}Constantine | div_3 = Constantine Province | pop_3 =  448,028 | img_3 = Constantine10.JPG
| city_4 = Annaba| div_4 = Annaba Province | pop_4 = 342,703 | img_4 = Annaba, algeria04.jpg
| city_5 = Blida| div_5 = Blida Province | pop_5 = 331,779

| city_6 = Batna, Algeria{{!}}Batna | div_6 = Batna Province | pop_6 = 289,504
| city_7 = Djelfa| div_7 = Djelfa Province | pop_7 = 265,833
| city_8 = Sétif | div_8 = Sétif Province | pop_8 = 252,127
| city_9 = Sidi Bel Abbès | div_9 =  Sidi Bel Abbès Province | pop_9 = 210,146
| city_10 = Biskra | div_10 = Biskra Province | pop_10 = 204,661
| city_11 = Tébessa | div_11 = Tébessa Province | pop_11 = 194,461
| city_12 = El Oued | div_12 = El Oued Province | pop_12 = 186,525
| city_13 = Skikda | div_13 = Skikda Province | pop_13 = 182,903
| city_14 = Tiaret | div_14 = Tiaret Province | pop_14 = 178,915
| city_15 = Béjaïa | div_15 = Béjaïa Province | pop_15 = 176,139
| city_16 = Tlemcen | div_16 = Tlemcen Province | pop_16 = 173,531
| city_17 = Ouargla | div_17 = Ouargla Province | pop_17 = 169,928
| city_18 = Béchar | div_18 = Béchar Province | pop_18 = 165,241
| city_19 = Mostaganem{{!}}Mostaganem | div_19 = Mostaganem Province | pop_19 = 162,885
| city_20 = Bordj Bou Arréridj | div_20 = Bordj Bou Arréridj Province | pop_20 = 158,812
}}

=== Ethnic groups ===
{{Main|Ethnic groups in Algeria}}
[[File:Tenus traditionnelles algériennes 27.png|left|thumb|Some of Algeria's traditional clothes]]
[[Arabs]] and indigenous [[Berbers]] as well as [[Phoenicians]], [[Ancient Rome|Romans]], [[Vandals]], [[Byzantine Greeks]], [[Turkish people|Turks]], various [[Sub-Saharan Africans]], and French have contributed to the history and culture of Algeria.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=UNESCO |year=2009 |title=Diversité et interculturalité en Algérie |url=http://rabat.unesco.org/IMG/pdf/Diversite_InterculturalitAlgerie.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725111743/http://rabat.unesco.org/IMG/pdf/Diversite_InterculturalitAlgerie.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 July 2013|page=9 }}</ref> Descendants of [[Al-Andalus|Andalusi]] refugees are also present in the population of Algiers and other cities.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WIRWgrbE_fEC&pg=PA22 |title=Modern Algeria&nbsp;– The Origins and Development of a Nation |page=22 |author=Ruedy, John Douglas |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=9780253217820 |year=2005 |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906031345/https://books.google.com/books?id=WIRWgrbE_fEC&pg=PA22 |archive-date=6 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Moreover, Spanish was spoken by these [[Aragon]]ese and [[Castilian people|Castillian]] [[Moriscos|Morisco]] descendants deep into the 18th century, and even [[Catalan language|Catalan]] was spoken at the same time by [[Catalonia|Catalan]] [[Moriscos|Morisco]] descendants in the small town of Grish El-Oued.<ref>{{cite book|last=De Epalza|first=Mikel|title=El español hablado en Túnez por los moriscos (siglos XVII-XVIII)|year=2011|publisher=Universitat de València|pages=32–38–39–444|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D7_VKzdSIzwC|isbn=978-84-370-8415-2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020075020/https://books.google.com/books?id=D7_VKzdSIzwC|archive-date=20 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Centuries of [[Arab migrations to the Maghreb]] since the seventh century shifted the demographic scope in Algeria. Estimates vary based on different sources. The majority of the population of Algeria is ethnically [[Arabs|Arab]], constituting between 75%<ref name="EB-2022" /><ref name="DK-2016">{{Cite book |last=DK |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=joxoDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA201 |title=Reference World Atlas: Everything You Need to Know About Our Planet Today |date=2016-08-01 |publisher=Dorling Kindersley Limited |isbn=978-0-241-28679-1 |pages=201 |language=en |quote=Ethnic groups: Arab 75%, Berber 24%, European and Jewish 1%}}</ref><ref name="Seddon-2013">{{Cite book |last=Seddon |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=buyrxARN_H0C&pg=PT39 |title=A Political and Economic Dictionary of the Middle East |date=2013-01-11 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-35561-6 |pages=39 |language=en |quote=The population was estimated at 32,277,942 in July 2002, of which 75% were Arabs, 24% Berbers, and 1% others (mostly Europeans).}}</ref><ref name="DK-2005">{{Cite book |last=DK |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cVVtZn6goCAC&pg=PA82 |title=FT World Desk Reference 2005 |date=2005-01-27 |publisher=Dorling Kindersley Limited |isbn=978-1-4053-6726-4 |pages=82 |language=en |quote=Arab 75%, Berber 24%, European and Jewish 1%. The population is predominantly Arab, under 30 years of age and urban; some 24% are Berber. More than 85% speak Arabic and 99% are Sunni Muslim.}}</ref> and 80%<ref name="ESU-2024">{{Cite web |title=Algeria - History Background |url=https://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/19/Algeria-HISTORY-BACKGROUND.html |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=education.stateuniversity.com |language=en |quote=The combined Arab-Berber people comprise more than 99 percent of the population (Arabs approximately 80 percent; Berbers 20 percent), with Europeans less than one percent.}}</ref><ref name="Laaredj-Campbell-2015" /><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Bouherar |first1=Salim |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1ppXEAAAQBAJ&pg=PR8 |title=Algerian Languages in Education: Conflicts and Reconciliation |last2=Ghafsi |first2=Abderrezzaq |date=2022-01-03 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-3-030-89324-8 |language=en |quote=In Algeria, on the other hand, Berberists supported by France ask to expand the use of Tamazight even on Arabs who represent 80% of Algerian population.}}</ref> to 85%<ref>{{Cite book |last=Naylor |first=Phillip C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ftFbCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA87 |title=Historical Dictionary of Algeria |date=2015-05-07 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0-8108-7919-5 |pages=87 |language=en |quote=Most Algerians, approximately 85 percent of the population, today claim an Arab background.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Algeria Ethnic Groups |url=https://study.com/academy/lesson/algeria-ethnic-groups.html |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=study.com |quote=Partly due to the strong association between Islam and Arab identity, there is a fair amount of social pressure in Algeria to identify with Arab ancestry. In fact, roughly 85% of the nation identifies much more strongly with their Arab heritage than their Berber heritage.}}</ref> of the population. [[Berbers]] who make up between 15%<ref name="AlgeriaFactbook" /> and 20%<ref name="Laaredj-Campbell-2015">{{Cite book |last=Laaredj-Campbell |first=Anne |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C7UvCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA31 |title=Changing Female Literacy Practices in Algeria: Empirical Study on Cultural Construction of Gender and Empowerment |date=2015-12-10 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-658-11633-0 |quote=Ethnically the population is made up of about 80% Arabic and 20% Berber. |access-date=1 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326164800/https://books.google.com/books?id=C7UvCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA31 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ESU-2024" /><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Tschudin |first1=Alain |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6sXnDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT28 |title=Extremisms in Africa Volume 2 |last2=Moffat |first2=Craig |last3=Buchanan-Clarke |first3=Stephen |last4=Russell |first4=Susan |last5=Coutts |first5=Lloyd |date=2019-06-18 |publisher=Jonathan Ball Publishers |isbn=978-0-6399928-3-9 |language=en |quote=The majority of Algerians are Arab, but around 20% are Berbers.}}</ref> to 24%<ref name="DK-2016" /><ref name="Seddon-2013" /><ref name="DK-2005" /> of the population are divided into many groups with varying languages. The largest of these are the [[Kabyle people|Kabyles]], who live in the [[Kabylie]] region east of Algiers, the [[Chaoui people|Chaoui]] of Northeast Algeria, the [[Tuareg people|Tuaregs]] in the southern desert and the [[Chenouas|Shenwa people]] of North Algeria.<ref>{{cite book|last=Marion Mill Preminger|title=The sands of Tamanrasset: the story of Charles de Foucauld|year=1961 |publisher=Hawthorn Books|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xfCfAAAAMAAJ|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150906031938/https://books.google.com/books?id=xfCfAAAAMAAJ |archive-date=6 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>{{page needed|date=February 2013}}
During the colonial period, there was a large (10% in 1960)<ref name="Cook">{{Cite book | author=Cook, Bernard A. | title=Europe since 1945: an encyclopedia | year=2001 | publisher=Garland | location=New York | isbn=978-0-8153-4057-7 | page=398}}</ref> [[Ethnic groups in Europe|European]] population who became known as ''[[Pied-Noir]]s''. They were primarily of French, Spanish and [[Italian Algerians|Italian origin]]. Almost all of this population left during the war of independence or immediately after its end.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N8VHizsqaH0C&pg=PA25 |title=Migration and Development Co-Operation |page=25 |author1=De Azevedo |author2=Raimond Cagiano |publisher=Council of Europe |isbn=9789287126115 |year=1994 |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906025429/https://books.google.com/books?id=N8VHizsqaH0C&pg=PA25 |archive-date=6 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Languages ===
{{Main|Languages of Algeria}}[[Modern Standard Arabic]] and [[Berber language|Berber]] are the official languages.<ref name="Constitution of Algeria">{{Cite web|url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Algeria|title=Constitution of Algeria|via=Wikisource|access-date=21 April 2021|archive-date=21 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421195005/https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Algeria|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Algerian Arabic]] (Darja) is the language used by the majority of the population. Colloquial Algerian Arabic has some Berber loanwords which represent 8% to 9% of its vocabulary.<ref name="Wexler-2012">{{Cite book |last=Wexler |first=Paul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YJpdiPiG2g4C&pg=PA174 |title=The Non-Jewish Origins of the Sephardic Jews |date=2012-02-01 |publisher=State University of New York Press |isbn=978-1-4384-2393-7|access-date=1 January 2023 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326164800/https://books.google.com/books?id=YJpdiPiG2g4C&pg=PA174 |url-status=live }}</ref>[[File:Tizi Ouzou Tasdawit.jpg|thumb|Signs in the [[University of Tizi Ouzou]] in three languages: [[Arabic]], [[Berber languages|Berber]], and French]]

[[Berber language|Berber]] has been recognised as a "national language" by the constitutional amendment of 8 May 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/fr/features/awi/features/2007/06/21/feature-01 |title=L'Algérie crée une académie de la langue amazigh |publisher=Magharebia.com |date=2 June 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216045948/http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/fr/features/awi/features/2007/06/21/feature-01 |archive-date=16 February 2011 }}</ref> [[Kabyle language|Kabyle]], the predominant Berber language, is taught and is partially co-official (with a few restrictions) in parts of [[Kabylie]]. Kabyle has a significant [[Arabic]], [[French language|French]], [[Latin]], [[Greek language|Greek]], [[Phoenician language|Phoenician]] and [[Punic language|Punic]] substratum, and Arabic loanwords represent 35% of the total Kabyle vocabulary.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Baldauf |first1=Richard B. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sabe8l9hox0C&pg=PA50 |title=Language Planning and Policy in Africa |last2=Kaplan |first2=Robert B. |date=2007-01-01 |publisher=Multilingual Matters |isbn=978-1-84769-011-1|access-date=1 January 2023 |archive-date=31 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131153531/https://books.google.com/books?id=Sabe8l9hox0C&pg=PA50 |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2016, the Algerian constitution passed a resolution that made Berber an official language alongside Arabic. Algeria emerged as a bilingual state after 1962.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dargin|first=Justin |url= http://topics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/algerias-liberation-terrorism-and-arabization/ |title=Algeria's Liberation, Terrorism, and Arabization |work=The New York Times |date=19 November 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130510130831/http://topics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/algerias-liberation-terrorism-and-arabization/ |archive-date=10 May 2013 |url-access = registration }}</ref> Colloquial [[Algerian Arabic]] is spoken by about 83% of the population and Berber by 27%.<ref name="leclerc">{{cite web
 |author=Leclerc, Jacques
 |title=Algérie: Situation géographique et démolinguistique
 |work=L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde
 |language=fr
 |publisher=[[Université Laval]]
 |date=5 April 2009 |url=http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/AXL/AFRIQUE/algerie-1demo.htm
 |access-date=8 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124150058/http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/afrique/algerie-1demo.htm
 |archive-date=24 January 2010 |url-status=dead
}}</ref>

Although French has no official status in Algeria, it has one of the largest Francophone populations in the world,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senat.fr/colloques/actes_mondialisation_francophonie/actes_mondialisation_francophonie10.html |title=La mondialisation, une chance pour la francophonie |publisher=Senat.fr |access-date=17 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201075711/http://www.senat.fr/colloques/actes_mondialisation_francophonie/actes_mondialisation_francophonie10.html |archive-date=1 December 2008 }} () "L'Algérie, non-membre de l'Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, comptabilise la seconde communauté francophone au monde, avec environ 16 millions de locuteurs, suivie par la Côte d'Ivoire avec près de 12 millions de locuteurs francophones, le Québec avec 6 millions et la Belgique avec plus de 4 millions de francophones."</ref> and French is widely used in government, media (newspapers, radio, local television), and both the education system (from primary school onwards) and academia due to [[French rule in Algeria|Algeria's colonial history]]. It can be regarded as a [[lingua franca]] of Algeria. In 2008, 11.2 million Algerians could read and write in French.<ref>{{cite web|title=Le dénombrement des francophones |url=http://www.francophonie.org/IMG/pdf/1e.pdf |publisher=Organisation internationale de la Francophonie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012052949/http://www.francophonie.org/IMG/pdf/1e.pdf |archive-date=12 October 2013 }} () p. 9 "Nous y agrégeons néanmoins quelques données disponibles pour des pays n'appartenant pas à l'OIF mais dont nous savons, comme pour l'Algérie (11,2 millions en 2008<sup>1</sup>)," and "1. Nombre de personnes âgées de cinq ans et plus déclarant savoir lire et écrire le français, d'après les données du recensement de 2008 communiquées par l'[[Office national des statistiques d'Algérie]]."</ref> In 2013, it was estimated that 60% of the population could speak or understand French.<ref name="Natalie Edwards">{{cite book|first=Natalie |last=Edwards|title=The Contemporary Francophone African Intellectual |year=2013|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |isbn=978-1-4438-5121-3|pages=9}}</ref> In 2022, it was estimated that 33% of the population was Francophone.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.francophonie.org/sites/default/files/2023-03/Rapport-La-langue-francaise-dans-le-monde_VF-2022.pdf |title=La Langue Française Dans le Monde 2019–2022 |language=fr |publisher=Éditions Gallimard |edition=2022 |page=35 |access-date=30 March 2024 |archive-date=18 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118183348/https://www.francophonie.org/sites/default/files/2023-03/Rapport-La-langue-francaise-dans-le-monde_VF-2022.pdf |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>

The use of [[English in Algeria]], though limited in comparison to the previously mentioned languages, has increased due to globalisation.<ref name="Maraf Osam 2023 pp. 307–314">{{cite journal | last1=Maraf | first1=Baya | last2=Osam | first2=Ulker Vanci | title=The booming wave of English in the linguistic landscape in Algeria: Timeline of the presence of English language in Algerian bottom-up signs | journal=English Today | volume=39 | issue=4 | date=2023 | issn=0266-0784 | doi=10.1017/S026607842200013X | pages=307–314| doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Allah 2023 k545">{{cite web | last=Allah | first=Abu Bakr Khaled Saad | title=The Politics of Language in Algerian Education | website=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace | date=July 20, 2023 | url=https://carnegieendowment.org/sada/2023/07/the-politics-of-language-in-algerian-education?lang=en | access-date=April 2, 2024 | archive-date=18 April 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418193904/https://carnegieendowment.org/sada/90230 | url-status=live }}</ref> In 2022 it was announced that English would be taught in elementary schools.<ref name="The Associated Press 2024 o507">{{cite web | agency=Associated Press | title=Algeria expands English lessons to primary school students | website=Toronto Star | date=April 2, 2024 | url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/africa/algeria-expands-english-lessons-to-primary-school-students/article_8a2d3b20-672b-5eb6-9e94-e5bfc6c30abd.html | access-date=April 2, 2024 | archive-date=2 April 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402222458/https://www.thestar.com/news/world/africa/algeria-expands-english-lessons-to-primary-school-students/article_8a2d3b20-672b-5eb6-9e94-e5bfc6c30abd.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Algeria}}
{{See also|Islam in Algeria|Early African Church|History of the Jews in Algeria}}

[[File:Mosque Hassan Pacha Oran 1790 (6).jpg|thumb|right|[[Hassan Pasha Mosque]] in [[Oran]] ]]

[[Islam]] is the predominant religion in Algeria, with its adherents, mostly Sunnis, accounting for 99% of the population according to a 2021 CIA ''[[World Factbook]]'' estimate,<ref name="AlgeriaFactbook"/> and 97.9% according to Pew Research in 2020.<ref name=pew>{{cite web |url = http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/algeria/religious_demography#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2020|website = Global Religious Futures|publisher = [[Pew Research Center]]'s Religion & Public Life Project|title = Religion in Algeria |url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216182816/http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/algeria/religious_demography#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010 |archive-date=16 December 2013 |year = 2010}}</ref> There are about 290,000 [[Ibadi]]s in the M'zab Valley in the region of [[Ghardaia]].

Prior to independence, Algeria was home to more than 1.3 million Christians (mostly of [[Pied-Noir|European ancestry]]).<ref>{{cite book|last1=Greenberg|first1=Udi|last2= A. Foster|first2=Elizabeth|title=Decolonization and the Remaking of Christianity|year=2023|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press|location=Pennsylvania|isbn=9781512824971|pages=105}}</ref> Most of the Christian settlers left to France after the country's independence.<ref>De Azevedo, Raimondo Cagiano (1994) ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=N8VHizsqaH0C&pg=PA25 Migration and development co-operation.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429204819/https://books.google.com/books?id=N8VHizsqaH0C&pg=PA25 |date=29 April 2023 }}''. Council of Europe. p. 25. {{ISBN|92-871-2611-9}}.</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Area Handbook for Morocco|first=Richard |last=F. Nyrop|year= 1972| isbn= 9780810884939| page =97|publisher=University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign}}</ref> Today, estimates of the [[Christianity in Algeria|Christian population]] range from 100,000 to 200,000.<ref name="US DoS-2020">{{Cite web|title=Algeria|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-report-on-international-religious-freedom/algeria/|access-date=6 April 2021|website=United States Department of State|archive-date=10 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610190351/https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-report-on-international-religious-freedom/algeria/|url-status=live}}</ref> Algerian citizens who are Christians predominantly belong to [[Protestantism|Protestant]] denominations, which have seen increased pressure from the government in recent years including many forced closures.<ref name="US DoS-2020" />

According to the [[Arab Barometer]] in 2018–2019, the vast majority of Algerians (99.1%) continue to identify as Muslim.<ref name="Arab Barometer-2023">{{Cite web |title=Data Analysis Tool – Arab Barometer |url=https://www.arabbarometer.org/survey-data/data-analysis-tool/ |access-date=2022-11-02|archive-date=21 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821161350/https://www.arabbarometer.org/survey-data/data-analysis-tool/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The June 2019 [[Arab Barometer]]-[[BBC News]] report found that the percentage of Algerians identifying as non-religious has grown from around 8% in 2013 to around 15% in 2018.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-48703377 |title=The Arab world in seven charts: Are Arabs turning their backs on religion? |work=[[Arab Barometer]], [[BBC News]] |date=23 June 2019 |access-date=17 July 2021 |archive-date=19 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119175129/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-48703377 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Arab Barometer December 2019, found that the growth in the percentage of Algerians identifying as non-religious is largely driven by young Algerians, with roughly 25% describing themselves as non-religious.<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 December 2019 |title=Young Arabs are Changing their Beliefs and Perceptions: New Survey |work=Fanack |url=https://fanack.com/religions-in-the-middle-east-and-north-africa/young-arabs-are-changing-their-beliefs-and-perceptions/ |access-date=17 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924090413/https://fanack.com/religions-in-the-middle-east-and-north-africa/young-arabs-are-changing-their-beliefs-and-perceptions/ |archive-date=24 September 2020}}</ref> However, the 2021 Arab Barometer report found that those who said they were not religious among Algerians has decreased, with just 2.6% identifying as non-religious. In that same report, 69.5% of Algerians identified as religious and another 27.8% identifying as somewhat religious.<ref name="Arab Barometer-2023" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bheria |date=2022-02-17 |title=Arabs Are Getting More Religious. Why Isn't Western Media Reporting It? |url=https://muslimskeptic.com/2022/02/17/arabs-are-getting-more-religious-why-isnt-western-media-reporting-it/ |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=The Muslim Skeptic|archive-date=3 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103184929/https://muslimskeptic.com/2022/02/17/arabs-are-getting-more-religious-why-isnt-western-media-reporting-it/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Algeria has given the [[Muslim world]] a number of prominent thinkers, including [[Emir Abdelkader]], [[Abdelhamid Ben Badis]], [[Mouloud Kacem Naît Belkacem]], [[Malek Bennabi]] and [[Mohamed Arkoun]].

=== Health ===
{{Main|Health in Algeria}}
In 2018, Algeria had the highest numbers of physicians in the Maghreb region (1.72 per 1,000 people), nurses (2.23 per 1,000 people), and dentists (0.31 per 1,000 people). Access to "improved water sources" was around 97.4% of the population in urban areas and 98.7% of the population in the rural areas. Some 99% of Algerians living in urban areas, and around 93.4% of those living in rural areas, had access to "improved sanitation". According to the World Bank, Algeria is making progress towards its goal of "reducing by half the number of people without sustainable access to improved drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015". Given Algeria's young population, policy favours preventive health care and clinics over hospitals. In keeping with this policy, the government maintains an immunisation programme. However, poor sanitation and unclean water still cause [[tuberculosis]], [[hepatitis]], [[measles]], [[typhoid fever]], [[cholera]] and [[dysentery]]. The poor generally receive healthcare free of charge.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Algeria.pdf |title=Library of Congress Country Studies – Algeria |access-date=20 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319155750/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Algeria.pdf |archive-date=19 March 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Health records have been maintained in Algeria since 1882 and began adding Muslims living in the south to their vital record database in 1905 during French rule.<ref>{{cite book|author=Kemp, Thomas Jay|title=International Vital Records Handbook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=afnc6_o5AqoC&pg=PA347|year=2009|publisher=Genealogical Publishing Com|isbn=978-0-8063-1793-9|page=347|access-date=20 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906024608/https://books.google.com/books?id=afnc6_o5AqoC&pg=PA347|archive-date=6 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Education ===
{{Main|Education in Algeria|List of universities in Algeria}}
[[File:UIS Literacy Rate Algeria population plus15 1980 2015.png|thumb|[[UNESCO Institute for Statistics|UIS]] literacy rate Algeria population plus 15 1985–2015]]
Since the 1970s, in a centralised system that was designed to significantly reduce the rate of illiteracy, the Algerian government introduced a decree by which school attendance became compulsory for all children aged between 6 and 15 years who have the ability to track their learning through the 20 facilities built since independence, now the literacy rate is around 92.6%.<ref name="APSLIT">{{cite web | title=Le taux d'analphabétisme en Algérie réduit à 7,94% en 2021 | website=Algérie presse service | date=8 September 2021 | url=https://www.aps.dz/societe/127134-le-taux-d-analphabetisme-en-algerie-reduit-a-7-94-en-2021 | language=fr | access-date=12 September 2021 | archive-date=12 September 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912230519/https://www.aps.dz/societe/127134-le-taux-d-analphabetisme-en-algerie-reduit-a-7-94-en-2021 | url-status=live }}</ref> Since 1972, Arabic is used as the language of instruction during the first nine years of schooling. From the third year, French is taught and it is also the language of instruction for science classes. The students can also learn English, Italian, Spanish and German. In 2008, new programmes at the elementary appeared, therefore the compulsory schooling does not start at the age of six anymore, but at the age of five.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.presse-dz.com/revue-de-presse/version-imprimable/1045-les-verites-de-benbouzid.html |title=Ecoles privées, Tamazight, enseignement du Français, syndicats&nbsp;... – Les vérités de Benbouzid |publisher=Presse-dz.com |access-date=18 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115130310/http://www.presse-dz.com/revue-de-presse/version-imprimable/1045-les-verites-de-benbouzid.html |archive-date=15 November 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Apart from the 122 private schools, the Universities of the State are free of charge. After nine years of primary school, students can go to a high school or to an educational institution. The school offers two programmes: general or technical. At the end of the third year of secondary school, students pass the exam of the baccalaureate, which allows once it is successful to pursue graduate studies in universities and institutes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.algerie-dz.com/article10808.html |title=Le taux d'analphabétisme en Algérie est de 21,3% |publisher=Algerie-dz.com |access-date=18 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021070732/http://www.algerie-dz.com/article10808.html |archive-date=21 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Wikipedia Education Program Algeria V2 Ceremony (96).jpg|thumb|Students at the [[University of Chlef]] in Algeria]]
Education is officially compulsory for children between the ages of six and 15. In 2008, the illiteracy rate for people over 10 was 22.3%, 15.6% for men and 29.0% for women. The province with the lowest rate of illiteracy was [[Algiers Province]] at 11.6%, while the province with the highest rate was [[Djelfa Province]] at 35.5%.<ref name="illit">{{cite web|title=Taux d'Analphabétisme et taux d'Alphabétisation de la population âgée de 10 ans et plus selon le sexe et la wilaya de résidence|url=http://www.ons.dz/IMG/pdf/pop9_national.pdf|publisher=Office National des Statistiques|access-date=7 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204094417/http://www.ons.dz/IMG/pdf/pop9_national.pdf|archive-date=4 February 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Algeria has 26 universities and 67 institutions of higher education, which must accommodate a million Algerians and 80,000 foreign students in 2008. The [[University of Algiers]], founded in 1879, is the oldest, it offers education in various disciplines (law, medicine, science and letters). Twenty-five of these universities and almost all of the institutions of higher education were founded after the independence of the country.

Even if some of them offer instruction in [[Arabic]] like areas of law and the economy, most of the other sectors such as science and medicine continue to be provided in French and English. Among the most important universities, there are the [[University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene]], the [[University of Mentouri]] Constantine, and [[University of Oran]] Es-Senia. The [[University of Abou Bekr Belkaïd]] in Tlemcen and [[University of Batna]] Hadj Lakhdar occupy the 26th and 45th row in Africa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://webometrics.info/en/Africa/Algeria |title=Algeria &#124; Ranking Web of Universities |publisher=Webometrics.info |access-date=18 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208084507/http://webometrics.info/en/Africa/Algeria |archive-date=8 February 2014 }}</ref> Algeria was ranked 115th in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2024.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2024/en/|title=Global Innovation Index 2024. Unlocking the Promise of Social Entrepreneurship|access-date=2024-10-22|author=[[World Intellectual Property Organization]]|year=2024|isbn=978-92-805-3681-2|doi= 10.34667/tind.50062|website=www.wipo.int|location=Geneva|page=18}}</ref>