Algeria is the largest country in Africa by area, located in North Africa and bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Sahara Desert to the south. It is known for its rich Berber and Arab heritage, ancient Roman ruins, and vast desert landscapes. The country gained independence from France in 1962 after a long and significant liberation war.
- Capital
- Algiers
- Continent
- Africa
- Region
- Northern Africa
- Area
- 2,381,741 km²
- Coordinates
- 28° N, 3° E
Country facts
- Algeria is home to the Hoggar Mountains, a dramatic volcanic highland rising from the central Sahara.
- The Amazigh (Berber) people are among Algeria's oldest inhabitants, and Tamazight is an official language alongside Arabic.
- Algeria has the largest natural gas reserves in Africa and is one of the continent's leading energy exporters.
- The ancient city of Timgad, built by the Roman Emperor Trajan around 100 AD, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in northeastern Algeria.
- Traditional Algerian music includes Raï, a genre that blends Bedouin folk music with modern influences and has gained international popularity.
Capital facts
- Algiers is built on a hillside sloping down to the Mediterranean Sea, giving it a distinctive tiered appearance.
- The Casbah of Algiers, a historic Ottoman-era medina, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its narrow winding streets.
- The Great Mosque of Algiers, inaugurated in 2025, features one of the tallest minarets in the world.
- Algiers has been an important port city since ancient times and was a major base for Barbary corsairs during the Ottoman period.
- The city's name derives from the Arabic 'Al-Jazā'ir,' meaning 'The Islands,' referring to small islands that once lay offshore.