People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, In Arabic the country is known as Al-Jaza’ir, which is short for Al-Jumhuriya Al-Jaza’iriyah al-dimuqratiyah ash-sha’biyah. The name Algeria is derived from the name of the country’s oldest continuous settlement and modern capital Algiers.
Algeria is now Africa’s largest country, covering an area of nearly 2.4 million km², where it is located in Northern Africa bordering the Mediterranean Sea, Neighbouring countries include Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Tunisia, and Western Sahara.
According to the Algerian Nation Office of Statistics, the population exceeds 40 million people in 2018. About 90% of Algerians live in the northern coastal area, and majority of population living in big cities as “Alger la Blanche” the Mediterranean’s least known capital, whereas Constantine – “City of Bridges” – amazes with its precipitous rock faces. Oran, Algeria’s fast-growing and most dynamic city, is justly proud of its Spanish heritage, whilst Annaba – known to the French as Bône – makes the ideal base for a visit to Hippo Regius, where St Augustine once held sway.
Islam is the official religion of Algeria and the majority of Algerians are Muslims. Since the departure of the French, Christianity is a secondary religion.
The Official languages in Algeria are Arabic, French and Tamazight (the language of the indigenous Berber has been constitutionally recognized as a national language).