Algeria

Algiers serves as the political, cultural and economic heart of Algeria, positioned in Northern Africa. As the seat of government and often the most populous city, it concentrates the country's main institutions, universities and cultural landmarks. Beyond the capital, major cities include Oran, Constantine, Annaba — each a hub of regional culture, economy and history. Algiers cascades down steep hillsides to the Mediterranean in white-washed layers that earned it the nickname 'Alger la Blanche' — its Ottoman casbah, a UNESCO World Heritage labyrinth of narrow alleys, contrasts with the French colonial boulevards below.

With a population of approximately 44.9M, Algeria is a vibrant society with a rich mix of traditions and communities. The principal languages spoken are Arabic, Berber, which reflect the country's cultural heritage and open doors to a wide international community. Internationally, Algeria is reached via the dialling code +213. Algerian identity fuses Arab, Berber (Amazigh), and French colonial threads — a tension that surfaced in the recognition of Tamazight as an official language in 2016, acknowledging the pre-Islamic North African heritage that persists in Kabylie and the Saharan south.

Algeria spans 2,381,741 km², in the Northern Africa subregion of Africa. Geographically centred around 28.0°N, 3.0°E, the country offers a diverse range of landscapes shaped by its location, climate and geology. Road traffic follows the right-hand rule, in line with surrounding Africa convention.

The official currency is the Algerian dinar (د.ج), used for everyday transactions and commerce throughout the country. Algeria's economy is shaped by its geography, natural resources and trade relationships. Business and daily life operate under UTC+01:00, aligning the country with its regional neighbours.

The emblematic dish of Algeria is Couscous. Couscous steamed over a rich vegetable and lamb broth is Algeria's national dish by decree, but regional variations tell the country's diversity — coastal Oran favours Spanish-influenced dishes while the south's nomadic tradition produces hearty tagines cooked in desert sand.

Football holds a special place in the heart of Algeria's national identity. Football electrifies Algeria from the Mediterranean coast to Saharan oases, and the national team's 2019 Africa Cup of Nations victory sparked celebrations that brought millions into the streets during the same year the Hirak protest movement was reshaping the country's political future.

The highest point in Algeria is Tahat, rising to 3,003 metres above sea level. The Algerian Sahara covers nearly 90% of the country's territory and contains the Tadrart Acacus plateau — a landscape of sculpted sand dunes, volcanic rock needles, and prehistoric rock art depicting elephants and crocodiles in a region that was green savanna 8,000 years ago.