Algeria Population 2026 | Live Population Clock By Region
Algeria Population 2026: Africa’s Largest Country by Area Reaches 47 Million
Algeria is geographically the largest country in Africa at approximately 2.38 million square kilometers, larger than the next two African countries combined (DR Congo and Sudan). Yet approximately 90 percent of the Algerian population lives on roughly 12 percent of the country’s land area, concentrated along the northern Mediterranean coast and the Tell Atlas mountain belt. The vast Sahara Desert that constitutes most of Algerian territory holds less than 10 percent of the population.
The Algerian population in 2026 stands at approximately 47 million according to the live counters on worldpopulationclock.net, drawing on the United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 revision and the National Office of Statistics of Algeria. The country ranks ninth in Africa by population and approximately thirty-fifth in the world. Algeria is among the largest natural gas exporters globally, particularly to European markets, and the petroleum sector continues to dominate the formal economy.
This article examines the Algerian population through the lens of the Mediterranean concentration, the distribution across 58 provinces (the number was expanded from 48 to 58 in 2019), the post-1990s Black Decade recovery, and the trajectory through 2050 and beyond.
A Population Recovering From a Difficult Decade and Now Growing
Algeria’s population stood at approximately 8.9 million in 1950. The post-independence period (independence achieved in 1962 after a brutal war with France) saw rapid population growth fueled by very high fertility. The 1990s Black Decade civil conflict between the government and Islamist insurgents produced significant mortality and disruption, although the country has since stabilized and resumed growth.
A condensed Algerian demographic timeline:
- 1950: 8.9 million residents
- 1970: 14 million
- 1990: 25.3 million
- 2010: 36 million
- 2020: 43.5 million
- 2026: 47 million
The Algerian fertility transition began in the 1980s with one of the more rapid fertility declines in North Africa. Total fertility fell from above 7 in the late 1970s to approximately 2.0 by 2000 before rising again to approximately 3.0 in the mid 2010s and stabilizing near 2.7 by 2026.
Algeria Population by Province: A Detailed Breakdown
Algeria is divided into 58 provinces (wilayas) following the 2019 administrative reform that expanded the number from 48 to 58 by creating new provinces from former subdivisions in the southern Saharan regions. The 10 new provinces (created from the original 48) were designed to improve the administration of the vast southern Sahara territories.
The major provinces by population include:
| Province | 2026 Population (Est.) | Capital City |
|---|---|---|
| Algiers | 3.7 million | Algiers |
| Setif | 1.95 million | Setif |
| Oran | 1.85 million | Oran |
| Constantine | 1.05 million | Constantine |
| Tizi Ouzou | 1.15 million | Tizi Ouzou |
| Batna | 1.35 million | Batna |
| Djelfa | 1.4 million | Djelfa |
| Annaba | 685,000 | Annaba |
| Tlemcen | 985,000 | Tlemcen |
| Bejaia | 985,000 | Bejaia |
| Mascara | 850,000 | Mascara |
| Skikda | 945,000 | Skikda |
| Bordj Bou Arreridj | 765,000 | Bordj Bou Arreridj |
| Medea | 875,000 | Medea |
| Ouargla | 705,000 | Ouargla |
| Tipaza | 670,000 | Tipaza |
| Tamanrasset | 250,000 | Tamanrasset |
| Adrar | 470,000 | Adrar |
| Bechar | 295,000 | Bechar |
| Illizi | 75,000 | Illizi |
Source: National Office of Statistics of Algeria 2025 estimates.
Algiers province holds approximately 3.7 million residents in the capital region. The broader Algiers metropolitan area extends into surrounding provinces to total approximately 4 million. Oran in the west (approximately 1.85 million) and Constantine in the east (approximately 1.05 million) anchor regional economies.
The Saharan provinces (Tamanrasset, Adrar, Illizi, Tindouf, and the newer provinces created in 2019) hold less than 2 million residents combined across more than 80 percent of Algerian territory. Population density in these provinces is among the lowest of any populated areas in the world, with several below 1 resident per square kilometer.
| Year | Projected Algeria Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 50 million | Continued growth |
| 2040 | 55 million | Continued growth |
| 2050 | 60 million | Continued growth |
| 2075 | 64 million | Approaching peak |
| 2100 | 64 million | Long-term peak |
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium variant.
Demographic Profile in 2026
Algerian total fertility sits at approximately 2.7 children per woman in 2026, above the 2.1 replacement threshold. The figure has fluctuated significantly over recent decades, with the 1990s and early 2000s seeing fertility below replacement before a partial recovery.
Median age in Algeria is approximately 30 years in 2026. Approximately 7 percent of Algerian residents are aged 65 or older.
Life expectancy at birth in Algeria stands at approximately 77 years overall, with women averaging approximately 79 years and men approximately 75 years. The figure has improved substantially over recent decades, with Algerian life expectancy now ranking among the highest figures in Africa and approaching Mediterranean European levels.
Algeria hosts approximately 250,000 foreign-born residents in 2026, with substantial Sahrawi refugee populations (approximately 175,000 in Tindouf camps), Syrian refugees, sub-Saharan African migrants in transit toward Europe, and various smaller communities.
The Algerian diaspora abroad numbers approximately 6 million, with the largest community in France (approximately 2.5 million when including descendants), followed by Spain, Italy, Canada, the United Kingdom, and various other destinations. The Franco-Algerian community has been central to French demographics and politics for more than half a century.
Future Projections
Projections from the UN World Population Prospects 2024 revision suggest the Algerian population will reach approximately 50 million by 2030, around 60 million by 2050, and approximately 64 million by 2100. The trajectory assumes continued moderate fertility, sustained mortality improvements, and modest net emigration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Algeria in 2026?
Algeria’s population in 2026 stands at approximately 47 million residents. The figure draws on the UN World Population Prospects 2024 revision and Algerian National Office of Statistics estimates.
Which Algerian province has the largest population?
Algiers province has the largest population at approximately 3.7 million residents. The broader Algiers metropolitan area extends to approximately 4 million when the surrounding provinces are included.
What is Algeria’s fertility rate?
Algeria’s total fertility rate sits at approximately 2.7 children per woman in 2026, above the 2.1 replacement threshold. The figure has fluctuated significantly, with the 1990s and early 2000s recording below replacement levels.
How many Algerians live abroad?
The Algerian diaspora abroad numbers approximately 6 million, with the largest community in France (approximately 2.5 million when including descendants), followed by Spain, Italy, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
How many provinces does Algeria have?
Algeria has 58 provinces (wilayas) following the 2019 administrative reform that expanded the number from 48 to 58. The 10 new provinces were created from former subdivisions in the southern Saharan regions to improve administration.
What is the largest city in Algeria?
Algiers is the largest Algerian city at approximately 3.7 million residents in the broader province. The broader Algiers metropolitan area extends to approximately 4 million.
What is the median age in Algeria?
The median age in Algeria sits at approximately 30 years in 2026, with about 7 percent of residents aged 65 or older.
What is the life expectancy in Algeria?
Life expectancy at birth in Algeria stands at approximately 77 years overall, with women averaging approximately 79 years and men approximately 75 years.
How many Sahrawi refugees live in Algeria?
Algeria hosts approximately 175,000 Sahrawi refugees in Tindouf camps near the Western Sahara border, a longstanding refugee population from the Western Sahara conflict.
What is the projected Algerian population in 2050?
Algeria’s population is projected to reach approximately 60 million by 2050 under the UN medium variant, representing a gain of 13 million from the 2026 level.
Sources
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division.
- World Population Prospects 2024 revision.
- National Office of Statistics of Algeria (ONS), Population Estimates 2025.
- World Bank Open Data, World Development Indicators, 2024 and 2025 updates.
- UNHCR Algeria, Refugee Situation Reports 2024.
- Live national and provincial counters at worldpopulationclock.net.