# Demographics of Algeria

Demographic features of the population of Algeria include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects. All figures are from National Office of Statistics Algeria and the United Nations Demographic Yearbooks, unless otherwise indicated.
Ninety-one percent of the Algerian population lives along the Mediterranean coast on 12% of the country's total land mass. 75% of the population is urban, and urbanization continues, despite government efforts to discourage migration to the cities.
97% of the population follows Sunni Islam; the few non-Sunni Muslims are mainly Ibadis from the Mozabite valley at 1.3% (see Islam in Algeria).
Christianity in Algeria constitutes about 1% of the total population. While significantly greater during the French colonial years, a mostly foreign Roman Catholic community still exists, as do some Protestants. The Jewish community of Algeria, which once constituted 2% of the total population, has substantially decreased due to emigration, mostly to France and Israel.
Algeria's educational system has grown rapidly since 1962. In 2022, there were almost 11 million pupils and 2 million students. Education is free and compulsory to age 16. Modest numbers of Algerian students study abroad, primarily in France and French-speaking Canada. In 2000, the government launched a major review of the country's educational system.

## Population size and structure
### Age distribution

| Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
| Total | 17 232 753 | 16 847 277 | 34 080 030 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 1 750 097 | 1 654 821 | 3 404 918 | 9.99 |
| 5–9 | 1 475 674 | 1 412 702 | 2 888 376 | 8.48 |
| 10–14 | 1 662 262 | 1 596 511 | 3 258 773 | 9.56 |
| 15–19 | 1 847 312 | 1 787 859 | 3 635 171 | 10.67 |
| 20–24 | 1 895 703 | 1 867 801 | 3 763 504 | 11.04 |
| 25–29 | 1 730 411 | 1 691 966 | 3 422 377 | 10.04 |
| 30–34 | 1 379 085 | 1 361 910 | 2 740 996 | 8.04 |
| 35–39 | 1 167 250 | 1 175 529 | 2 342 779 | 6.87 |
| 40–44 | 1 007 683 | 1 010 644 | 2 018 327 | 5.92 |
| 45–49 | 817 005 | 812 432 | 1 629 436 | 4.78 |
| 50–54 | 682 358 | 664 336 | 1 346 695 | 3.95 |
| 55–59 | 547 180 | 515 398 | 1 062 578 | 3.12 |
| 60–64 | 354 694 | 356 788 | 711 482 | 2.09 |
| 65-69 | 314 958 | 316 345 | 631 303 | 1.85 |
| 70-74 | 248 672 | 256 254 | 504 926 | 1.48 |
| 75-79 | 181 478 | 182 364 | 363 843 | 1.07 |
| 80-84 | 93 472 | 93 657 | 187 130 | 0.55 |
| 85-89 | 43 307 | 46 416 | 89 722 | 0.26 |
| 90-94 | 13 575 | 16 097 | 29 672 | 0.09 |
| 95-99 | 4 178 | 5 851 | 10 028 | 0.03 |
| 100+ | 252 | 398 | 650 | <0.01 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 0–14 | 4 888 033 | 4 664 034 | 9 552 067 | 28.03 |
| 15–64 | 11 428 682 | 11 244 661 | 22 673 343 | 66.53 |
| 65+ | 899 892 | 917 382 | 1 817 274 | 5.33 |
| unknown | 16 146 | 21 200 | 37 347 | 0.11 |
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
| Total | 21 118 894 | 20 576 732 | 41 695 626 | 100 |
| 0-4 | 2 537 210 | 2 400 525 | 4 937 735 | 11.84 |
| 5-9 | 2 155 222 | 2 034 306 | 4 189 528 | 10.05 |
| 10-14 | 1 672 925 | 1 583 253 | 3 256 178 | 7.81 |
| 15-19 | 1 513 910 | 1 449 966 | 2 963 876 | 7.11 |
| 20-24 | 1 728 672 | 1 662 960 | 3 391 633 | 8.13 |
| 25-29 | 1 887 412 | 1 837 618 | 3 725 030 | 8.93 |
| 30-34 | 1 891 310 | 1 868 670 | 3 759 980 | 9.02 |
| 35-39 | 1 672 000 | 1 638 996 | 3 310 996 | 7.94 |
| 40-44 | 1 322 807 | 1 314 955 | 2 637 762 | 6.33 |
| 45-49 | 1 128 564 | 1 141 789 | 2 270 354 | 5.45 |
| 50-54 | 957 002 | 964 127 | 1 921 129 | 4.61 |
| 55-59 | 764 232 | 765 395 | 1 529 628 | 3.67 |
| 60-64 | 623 980 | 613 837 | 1 237 817 | 2.97 |
| 65-69 | 464 950 | 452 674 | 917 624 | 2.20 |
| 70-74 | 288 205 | 304 720 | 592 925 | 1.42 |
| 75-79 | 237 094 | 252 360 | 489 454 | 1.17 |
| 80-84 | 156 185 | 171 174 | 327 360 | 0.79 |
| 85+ | 117 213 | 119 406 | 236 619 | 0.57 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 0-14 | 6 365 357 | 6 018 084 | 12 383 441 | 29.70 |
| 15-64 | 13 489 890 | 13 258 314 | 26 748 204 | 64.15 |
| 65+ | 1 263 647 | 1 300 334 | 2 563 981 | 6.15 |
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
| Total | 22 407 000 | 21 819 000 | 44 226 000 | 100 |
| 0-4 | 2 593 000 | 2 454 000 | 5 047 000 | 11.41 |
| 5-9 | 2 402 000 | 2 270 000 | 4 672 000 | 10.56 |
| 10-14 | 1 949 000 | 1 838 000 | 3 787 000 | 8.56 |
| 15-19 | 1 557 000 | 1 480 000 | 3 037 000 | 6.87 |
| 20-24 | 1 579 000 | 1 517 000 | 3 096 000 | 7.00 |
| 25-29 | 1 800 000 | 1 738 000 | 3 538 000 | 8.00 |
| 30-34 | 1 908 000 | 1 875 000 | 3 783 000 | 8.55 |
| 35-39 | 1 827 000 | 1 799 000 | 3 636 000 | 8.22 |
| 40-44 | 1 514 000 | 1 489 000 | 3 003 000 | 6.79 |
| 45-49 | 1 227 000 | 1 232 000 | 2 459 000 | 5.56 |
| 50-54 | 1 053 000 | 1 067 000 | 2 120 000 | 4.79 |
| 55-59 | 860 000 | 869 000 | 1 729 000 | 3.91 |
| 60-64 | 687 000 | 690 000 | 1 377 000 | 3.11 |
| 65-69 | 546 000 | 537 000 | 1 083 000 | 2.45 |
| 70-74 | 354 000 | 362 000 | 716 000 | 1.62 |
| 75-79 | 240 000 | 261 000 | 501 000 | 1.13 |
| 80-84 | 170 000 | 191 000 | 361 000 | 0.82 |
| 85+ | 141 000 | 150 000 | 291 000 | 0.66 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 0-14 | 6 944 000 | 6 562 000 | 13 506 000 | 30.54 |
| 15-64 | 14 012 000 | 13 756 000 | 27 768 000 | 62.79 |
| 65+ | 1 451 000 | 1 501 000 | 2 952 000 | 6.67 |

## Vital statistics

| | Average population (1 January) | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate (per 1000) | Crude death rate (per 1000) | Natural change (per 1000) | Crude migration rate (per 1000) | Total fertility rate | Male life expectancy | Female life expectancy |
| 1966 | 13,123,000 | 667,000 | | | 50.8 | | | | | | |
| 1967 | 13,497,000 | 630,000 | 214,000 | 416,000 | 50.1 | 15.9 | 34.2 | -6.5 | | | |
| 1968 | 13,887,000 | 618,000 | 241,000 | 377,000 | 47.7 | 17.4 | 30.3 | -2.2 | | | |
| 1969 | 14,287,000 | 665,000 | 243,000 | 422,000 | 49.8 | 17.0 | 32.8 | -4.8 | | | |
| 1970 | 14,691,000 | 689,000 | 226,000 | 463,000 | 50.2 | 16.5 | 33.7 | -6.2 | | | |
| 1971 | 15,098,000 | 687,000 | 241,000 | 446,000 | 48.4 | 17.0 | 31.4 | -4.4 | | | |
| 1972 | 15,512,000 | 697,000 | 229,000 | 468,000 | 47.7 | 15.7 | 32.0 | -5.3 | | | |
| 1973 | 15,936,000 | 717,000 | 246,000 | 471,000 | 47.6 | 16.3 | 31.3 | -4.7 | | | |
| 1974 | 16,375,000 | 722,000 | 234,000 | 488,000 | 46.5 | 15.1 | 31.4 | -4.6 | | | |
| 1975 | 16,834,000 | 738,000 | 249,000 | 489,000 | 46.1 | 15.5 | 30.6 | -3.3 | | | |
| 1976 | 17,311,000 | 751,000 | 258,000 | 493,000 | 45.4 | 15.6 | 29.8 | -2.2 | | | |
| 1977 | 17,809,000 | 796,000 | 241,000 | 555,000 | 45.0 | 14.4 | 30.6 | -2.6 | | | |
| 1978 | 18,331,000 | 817,000 | 238,000 | 579,000 | 46.4 | 13.5 | 32.9 | -4.4 | | | |
| 1979 | 18,885,000 | 774,000 | 212,000 | 562,000 | 42.8 | 11.7 | 31.1 | -1.8 | | | |
| 1980 | 19,475,000 | 797,000 | 203,000 | 594,000 | 42.7 | 10.9 | 31.8 | -1.5 | | | |
| 1981 | 20,104,000 | 791,000 | 178,000 | 613,000 | 41.0 | 9.4 | 31.6 | -0.3 | | | |
| 1982 | 20,767,000 | 808,000 | 180,000 | 628,000 | 40.6 | 9.1 | 31.5 | 0.4 | | | |
| 1983 | 21,453,000 | 830,000 | 181,000 | 649,000 | 40.4 | 8.8 | 31.6 | 0.4 | | | |
| 1984 | 22,150,000 | 850,000 | 173,000 | 677,000 | 40.2 | 8.6 | 31.6 | -0.1 | | | |
| 1985 | 22,847,000 | 864,000 | 183,000 | 681,000 | 39.5 | 8.4 | 31.1 | -0.6 | | | |
| 1986 | 23,539,000 | 781,000 | 165,000 | 616,000 | 34.7 | 7.3 | 27.4 | 2.0 | | | |
| 1987 | 24,226,000 | 755,000 | 161,000 | 594,000 | 34.6 | 7.0 | 27.6 | 0.8 | | | |
| 1988 | 24,905,000 | 806,000 | 157,000 | 649,000 | 33.9 | 6.6 | 27.3 | 0 | | | |
| 1989 | 25,577,000 | 755,000 | 153,000 | 602,000 | 31.0 | 6.0 | 25.0 | 1.3 | | | |
| 1990 | 25,022,000 | 775,000 | 151,000 | 624,000 | 30.9 | 6.0 | 24.9 | -47.1 | 4.50 | | |
| 1991 | 25,643,000 | 773,000 | 155,000 | 618,000 | 30.1 | 6.0 | 24.1 | 0.1 | | | |
| 1992 | 26,271,000 | 799,000 | 160,000 | 639,000 | 30.4 | 6.1 | 24.3 | -0.4 | | | |
| 1993 | 26,894,000 | 775,000 | 168,000 | 607,000 | 28.8 | 6.2 | 22.6 | 0.6 | | | |
| 1994 | 27,496,000 | 776,000 | 180,000 | 596,000 | 28.2 | 6.5 | 21.7 | 0.2 | | | |
| 1995 | 28,060,000 | 711,000 | 180,000 | 531,000 | 25.3 | 6.4 | 18.9 | 1.2 | | | |
| 1996 | 28,566,000 | 654,000 | 172,000 | 482,000 | 22.9 | 6.0 | 16.9 | 0.8 | | | |
| 1997 | 29,045,000 | 654,000 | 178,000 | 476,000 | 22.5 | 6.1 | 16.4 | 0.1 | | | |
| 1998 | 29,507,000 | 607,000 | 144,000 | 463,000 | 20.6 | 4.9 | 15.7 | 0 | | | |
| 1999 | 29,965,000 | 593,643 | 141,000 | 452,643 | 19.8 | 4.7 | 15.1 | 0.2 | | | |
| 2000 | 30,416,000 | 588,628 | 140,000 | 448,628 | 19.4 | 4.6 | 14.8 | 0 | 2.40 | | |
| 2001 | 30,879,000 | 618,380 | 141,000 | 477,380 | 20.0 | 4.6 | 15.5 | -0.5 | | | |
| 2002 | 31,357,000 | 616,963 | 138,000 | 478,963 | 19.7 | 4.4 | 15.3 | -0.1 | 2.48 | | |
| 2003 | 31,848,000 | 649,000 | 145,000 | 504,000 | 20.4 | 4.6 | 15.8 | -0.4 | 2.53 | | |
| 2004 | 32,364,000 | 669,000 | 141,000 | 528,000 | 20.7 | 4.4 | 16.3 | -0.4 | | | |
| 2005 | 32,906,000 | 703,000 | 147,000 | 556,000 | 21.4 | 4.5 | 16.9 | -0.4 | 2.52 | | |
| 2006 | 33,481,000 | 739,000 | 144,000 | 595,000 | 22.1 | 4.3 | 17.8 | -0.6 | | | |
| 2007 | 34,096,000 | 783,000 | 149,000 | 634,000 | 23.0 | 4.4 | 18.6 | -0.6 | | 74.7 | 76.8 |
| 2008 | 34,591,000 | 817,000 | 153,000 | 664,000 | 23.6 | 4.4 | 19.2 | -4.9 | 2.81 | 74.8 | 76.4 |
| 2009 | 35,268,000 | 849,000 | 159,000 | 690,000 | 24.1 | 4.5 | 19.6 | -0.4 | 2.84 | 74.7 | 76.3 |
| 2010 | 35,978,000 | 888,000 | 157,000 | 731,000 | 24.7 | 4.4 | 20.3 | -0.6 | 2.87 | 75.6 | 77.0 |
| 2011 | 36,717,000 | 910,000 | 162,000 | 748,000 | 24.8 | 4.4 | 20.4 | -0.3 | 2.87 | 75.6 | 77.4 |
| 2012 | 37,495,000 | 978,000 | 170,000 | 808,000 | 26.1 | 4.5 | 21.6 | -0.9 | 3.02 | 75.8 | 77.1 |
| 2013 | 38,297,000 | 963,000 | 168,000 | 795,000 | 25.1 | 4.4 | 20.7 | 0.2 | 2.93 | 76.5 | 77.6 |
| 2014 | 39,114,000 | 1,014,000 | 174,000 | 840,000 | 25.9 | 4.4 | 21.5 | -0.6 | 3.03 | 76.6 | 77.8 |
| 2015 | 39,963,000 | 1,040,285 | 182,570 | 857,715 | 26.0 | 4.6 | 21.4 | -0.2 | 3.09 | 76.4 | 77.8 |
| 2016 | 40,836,000 | 1,066,823 | 180,404 | 886,419 | 26.1 | 4.5 | 21.6 | -0.2 | 3.13 | 77.1 | 78.2 |
| 2017 | 41,721,000 | 1,060,000 | 190,000 | 870,000 | 25.4 | 4.6 | 20.8 | 0.4 | 3.13 | 76.9 | 78.2 |
| 2018 | 42,578,000 | 1,038,000 | 193,000 | 845,000 | 24.4 | 4.5 | 19.9 | 0.2 | 2.97 | 77.1 | 78.4 |
| 2019 | 43,424,000 | 1,034,000 | 198,000 | 837,000 | 23.8 | 4.6 | 19.2 | 0.3 | 2.99 | 77.2 | 78.6 |
| 2020 | 44,241,000 | 988,209 | 241,069 | 747,140 | 22.3 | 5.4 | 16.9 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 74.2 | 77.9 |
| 2021 | 44,938,000 | 949,799 | 258,491 | 691,308 | 21.1 | 5.8 | 15.4 | -8.8 | 2.7 | 74.4 | 77.2 |
| 2022 | 45,631,000 | 915,223 | 203,146 | 712,077 | 20.1 | 4.5 | 15.6 | -9.8 | 2.62(e) | 77.0 | 80.0 |
| 2023 | 46,344,163 | 895,140 | 192,186 | 702,954 | 19.3 | 4.1 | 15.2 | 0.1 | 2.53(e) | 78.2 | 81.0 |
| 2024 | 46,700,000 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Life expectancy

| Period | Life expectancy in Years |
| 1950–1955 | 42.89 |
| 1955–1960 | 45.00 |
| 1960–1965 | 47.29 |
| 1965–1970 | 49.47 |
| 1970–1975 | 51.48 |
| 1975–1980 | 54.93 |
| 1980–1985 | 61.57 |
| 1985–1990 | 65.85 |
| 1990–1995 | 67.20 |
| 1995–2000 | 69.14 |
| 2000–2005 | 71.50 |
| 2005–2010 | 73.88 |
| 2010–2015 | 75.27 |

## Ethnic groups

* Arabs (73.6%)
* Berbers (23.2%)
* Arabized Berbers (3%)
* Others (0.2%)
Arabs make up 73.6% of the population of Algeria, Berbers make up 23.2%, Arabized Berbers make up 3%, and others constitute 0.2%. Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Turks as well as other ethnic groups have contributed to the ethnic makeup and genetic structure of the Algerian population. Descendants of Andalusian refugees are also present in the population of Algiers and other cities. Moreover, Spanish was spoken by these Aragonese and Castillian Morisco descendants deep into the 18th century, and even Catalan was spoken at the same time by Catalan Morisco descendants in the small town of Grish El-Oued.
The Arab population of Algeria is a result of the inflow of sedentary and nomadic Arab tribes from Arabia since the Muslim conquest of the Maghreb in the 7th century with a major wave in the 11th century. The majority of Algerians identify with an Arab-based identity due to the 20th century Arab nationalism. The ethnic Berbers are divided into many groups with varying languages. The largest of these are the Kabyles, who live in the Kabylia region east of Algiers, the Chaoui of North-East Algeria, the Tuaregs in the southern desert and the Shenwa people of North Algeria.
During the colonial period, there was a large (15% in 1960) European population who became known as Pied-Noirs. They were primarily of French, Spanish and Italian origin. Almost all of this population left during the war of independence or immediately after its end.

### Genetics
#### Y-DNA frequencies in coastal Algeria

| Population | Nb | E1a | E1b1a | E1b1b1a | E1b1b1b | E1b1b1c | F | K | J1 | J2 | R1a | R1b | Q | Study |
| 1 Oran | 102 | 0 | 7.85% | 5.90% | 45.10% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22.50% | 4.90% | 1% | 11.80% | 1% | Robino et al. (2008) |
| 2 Algiers | 35 | 2.85% | 0 | 11.40% | 42.85% | 0 | 11.80% | 2.85% | 22.85% | 5.70% | 0 | 0 | 0 | Arredi et al. (2004) |
| 3 Tizi Ouzou | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47.35% | 10.50% | 10.50% | 0 | 15.80% | 0 | 0 | 15.80% | 0 | Arredi et al. (2004) |
| Total | 156 | 0.65% | 5.10% | 6.40% | 44.90% | 1.30% | 9.58% | 0.65% | 21.80% | 4.50% | 0.65% | 9.60% | 0.65% | |
In a recent genetic study by Semino et al. (2004), the Haplogroup J1 associated with the diffusion of Arabs was found at 35% in Algeria, which is one of the most common haplogroups in Algeria, like the rest of the Maghreb, along with E1b1b.
Recent studies on the common J1 Y chromosome suggest it arrived over 10,000 years ago in North Africa, and M81/E3b2 is a Y chromosome specific to North African ancestry, dating to the Neolithic. A thorough study by Arredi et al. (2004) which analyzed populations from Algeria concludes that the North African pattern of Y-chromosomal variation (including both E3b2 and J haplogroups is largely of Neolithic origin, which suggests that the Neolithic transition in this part of the world was accompanied by demic diffusion of Afro-Asiatic–speaking pastoralists from the Middle East. This Neolithic origin was later confirmed by Myles et al. (2005) which suggest that "contemporary Berber populations possess the genetic signature of a past migration of pastoralists from the Middle East", although later papers have suggested that this date could have been as longas ten thousand years ago, with the transition from the Oranian to the Capsian culture in North Africa.

## Languages

Arabic and Berber serve as both official languages and national languages in Algeria.
Algerian Arabic (Algerian Dziriya or Darja) is the language used by the majority of the population. Colloquial Algerian Arabic has many Berber and French loanwords.
Although French has no official status, Algeria is the second-largest Francophone country in the world in terms of speakers, 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 Algeria's colonial history. It can be regarded as the de facto co-official language of Algeria. In 2008, 11.2 million Algerians could read and write in French. An Abassa Institute study in April 2000 found that 60% of households could speak and understand French. In recent decades the government has reinforced the study of French and TV programs have reinforced use of the language.
Algeria emerged as a bilingual state after 1962. Colloquial Arabic is spoken by about 83% of the population and Berber by 27.4%.

### Spoken and popular languages

* Arabic language: 83% (dialectal Algerian Arabic including all dialects: Eastern, Western, Algiers dialect, Saharan)
* French: 70% (as a 2nd or 3rd language, spoken by both low and highly educated people)
* Berber languages: 27.4% Chaouia, Kabyle, Tamahaq, Chenoua, Mozabite (Tumẓabt)
* English: 15% (as a 3rd language, spoken by highly educated people)
* Korandje language (Kwarandzyey): 0.01%

### Official and recognized languages

* Modern Standard Arabic: official language of the state.
* Berber language (Tamazight): official language of the state.

## Religion

Religions of Algeria (2020) :
| Religions | Religions | percent | percent |
| Islam (official; Sunni) | Islam (official; Sunni) | 99% | 99% |
| Other (includes Christian and Jewish) | Other (includes Christian and Jewish) | 1% | 1% |
Islam is the predominant religion with 99% of the population. There are about 150,000 Ibadis in the M'zab Valley in the region of Ghardaia.
There were an estimated 10,000 Christians in Algeria in 2008. In a 2009 study the UNO estimated there were 45,000 Catholics and 50,000–100,000 Protestants in Algeria. A 2015 study estimates 380,000 Muslims converted to Christianity in Algeria.