Demographics of Algeria

Demographics of Algeria, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands.

This article is about the demographic features of the population of Algeria, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Ninety-one percent of the Algerian population lives along the Mediterranean coast on 12% of the country's total land mass. Forty-five percent of the population is urban, and urbanization continues, despite government efforts to discourage migration to the cities. Currently, 24,182,736 Algerians live in urban areas, and about 1.5 million nomads live in the Saharan area.

99% of the population is classified ethnically as Arab-Berber^[1] and 96% religiously as Sunni Muslim, the few non-Sunni Muslims are mainly Ibadis 1.3% from the M'Zab valley (See Islam in Algeria). A mostly foreign Roman Catholic community also about Christians especially Protestant evangelic and almost 500 Jewish, most of them live in Bejaia. 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 the last 12 years, attendance has doubled to more than 5 million students. Education is free and compulsory to age 16. Despite government allocation of substantial educational resources, population pressures and a serious shortage of teachers have severely strained the system, as have terrorist attacks against the educational infrastructure during the 1990s. Modest numbers of Algerian students study abroad, primarily in France and French-speaking areas of Canada. In 2000, the government launched a major review of the country's educational system.

Housing and medicine continue to be pressing problems in Algeria. Failing infrastructure and the continued influx of people from rural to urban areas has overtaxed both systems. According to the UNDP, Algeria has one of the world's highest per housing unit occupancy rates for housing, and government officials have publicly stated that the country has an immediate shortfall of 1.5 million housing units.

Population

Vital Statistics

Figures from National Office of Statistics Algeria^[3] and United Nations Demographic Yearbook:^[4]

Structure of the population

Structure of the population (10 000) (2011)

Structure of the population (10 000) (2012)

Population structure by age and sex (10 000) (01/07/2014)

Cities

Below is a list of the most important Algerian cities:

Largest cities or towns in Algeria ONS estimates for 2008
	Rank	Name	Province	Pop.	Rank	Name	Province	Pop.
Algiers Oran	1	Algiers	Algiers Province	2,988,145	11	Biskra	Biskra Province	205,608	Constantine Sétif
	2	Oran	Oran Province	1,224,540	12	Bou Saâda	M'sila Province	201,263
	3	Constantine	Constantine Province	943,112	13	Tébessa	Tébessa Province	196,537
	4	Sétif	Sétif Province	609,499	14	Ouargla	Ouargla Province	183,238
	5	Annaba	Annaba Province	317,206	15	Skikda	Skikda Province	178,687
	6	Blida	Blida Province	264,598	16	Béjaïa	Béjaïa Province	177,988
	7	Batna	Batna Province	246,379	17	Bordj Bou Arréridj	Bordj Bou Arréridj Province	167,230
	8	Chlef	Chlef Province	235,062	18	Béchar	Béchar Province	165,627
	9	Tlemcen	Tlemcen Province	221,231	19	Ain Beida	Oum El Bouaghi Province	155,852
	10	Sidi Bel Abbès	Sidi Bel Abbès Province	208,498	20	Médéa	Médéa Province	140,151

Ethnic groups

The Algerian Arabs are believed to be around 65% (24,7 million) of the Algerian population. The ethnic Berbers in Algeria are believed to be around 35% (13 million)^[6][7] and are the indigenous ethnic group of Algeria and are believed to be the ancestral stock on which elements from the Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Turks as well as other ethnic groups have contributed to the ethnic makeup of Algeria.^[8] Descendants of Andalusian refugees are also present in the population of Algiers and other cities.^[9] 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.^[10]

Algerians in traditional clothes

There are 600,000 to 2 million erstwhile Algerian Turks, descendants of Turk rulers, soldiers, and others who ruled the region during the Ottoman rule in North Africa.^[11] Today's Turkish descendants are often called Kouloughlis, meaning descendants of Turkish men and native Algerian women.^[12][13]

The majority of Algerians identifies with an Arabic-based culture.^[14][15] The ethnic Berbers are divided into many groups with varying languages. The largest of these are the Kabyles, who live in the Kabylie region east of Algiers, the Chaoui of North-East Algeria, the Tuaregs in the southern desert and the Shenwa people of North Algeria.^[16]

During the colonial period, there was a large (10% in 1960)^[17] 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.^[18]

Religion

Islam is the predominant religion with 99% of the population.^[20][20] There are about 150,000 Ibadis in the M'zab Valley in the region of Ghardaia.^[21]

There were an estimated 10,000 Christians in Algeria in 2008.^[22] In a 2009 study the UNO estimated there were 45,000 Catholics^[23] and 50,000–100,000 Protestants in Algeria.^[23]

Following the Revolution and Algerian independence, all but 6,500 of the country's 140,000 Jews left the country, of whom about 90% moved to France with the Pied-Noirs and 10% moved to Israel.

Languages

Traffic sign in Isser in three languages: Arabic, Berber, and French

Modern Standard Arabic is the official language.^[24] Algerian Arabic (Darja) is the language used by the majority of the population. Colloquial Algerian Arabic is heavily infused with borrowings from French and Berber.

Berber is spoken by one quarter of the population and has been recognized as a "national language" by the constitutional amendment since 8 May 2002.^[25] Kabyle, the predominant Berber language, is taught and is partially co-official (with a few restrictions) in parts of Kabylie.

Although French has no official status, Algeria is the second-largest Francophone country in the world in terms of speakers,^[26] 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.^[27] 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.^[28] Colloquial Algerian Arabic is spoken by about 72% of the population and Berber by 27–30%.^[29]

Spoken and popular languages

• Dialectal Algerian Arabic: 75% (including all dialects: Eastern, Western, Algiers dialect, Saharan)
• French: 70% (as a 2nd or 3rd language, spoken by both low and highly educated people)^[30]
• Berber language: 25% (including all dialects: Chaouia, Kabyle, Tamahaq, Chenoua, Mozabite (Tumẓabt))
• English: 10% (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, as defined in the Algerian constitution. Classical Arabic can be read and written by about 69.9% of Algerians. The language is used in writing only, not in daily conversation.
• Berber language (Tamazight): recognized as "national language" in the Algerian constitution.

Literacy

Definition: Age 15 and over can read and write

Total population: 69.9%

Male: 79.6%

Female: 60.1% (2002 est.)

Education expenditures

5.1% of GDP (1999)

CIA World Factbook demographic statistics

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.^[31]

Nationality

Noun: Algerian(s)

Adjective: Algerian

Median age

total: 27.6 years

male: 27.4 years

female: 27.8 years (2011 est.)

Net migration rate

-0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

-0.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 66% of total population (2010)

Rate of urbanization: 2.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Sex ratio

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15–64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female

Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2012 est.)

Infant mortality rate

Total: 27.73 deaths/1,000 live births

Male: 30.86 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 24.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Total: 24.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Male: 27.82 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 21.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Total population: 74.73 years

Male: 72.99 years

Female: 76.57 years (2012 est.)

HIV/AIDS

Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% ; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)

People living with HIV/AIDS: 21,000 (2007 est.)

Deaths: less than 1000 (2007 est.)

Major infectious diseases

Degree of risk: intermediate

Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

Vectorborne disease: cutaneous leishmaniasis is a high risk in some locations (2005)

Genetics

Y-Dna Haplogroup frequencies in coastal Algeria

In a recent genetic study by Semino et al. (2004), Algerian Arabs and Berbers were found to have more genetic similarities than was once believed.^[34] This led scientists to conclude that the North African population was mainly Berber in origin and that the population had been 'Arabised', by the migration of Near-Eastener people.

The Haplogroup J, common marker in Middle-Eastern population is found at near 30% in Algeria, which is one of the most common haplogroup of the country along with E1b1b .

Recent studies on the common J1 Y chromosome suggest it arrived over ten thousand 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",^[35]

References

1. ^ http://www.familytreedna.com/public/Y-DNA_J/default.aspx
2. ^ Office National des Statistiques
3. ^ "National Office of Statistics". 2015-06-09. 
4. ^ "United Nations Statistics Division - Demographic and Social Statistics". unstats.un.org. Retrieved 2015-06-09. 
5. ^ http://www.ons.dz/-Demographie-.html
6. ^ http://www.axl.cefan.ulaval.ca/afrique/berberes_Afrique.htm
7. ^ http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Berber
8. ^ UNESCO (2009). "Diversité et interculturalité en Algérie" (PDF). UNESCO. p. 9. 
9. ^ Ruedy, John Douglas (2005). Modern Algeria – The Origins and Development of a Nation. Indiana University Press. p. 22.  
10. ^ De Epalza, Mikel (2011). El español hablado en Túnez por los moriscos (siglos XVII-XVIII). Universitat de València. pp. 32–38–39–444.  
11. ^ Turkish Embassy in Algeria (2008). "Cezayir Ülke Raporu 2008". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. p. 4. 
12. ^ Ruedy, John Douglas (2005). Modern Algeria: The Origins and Development of a Nation. Indiana University Press. p. 22.  
13. ^ Stone, Martin (1997). The Agony of Algeria. C. Hurst & Co. Publishers. p. 29.  
14. ^ Stokes, Jamie (2009). Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Africa and the Middle East: L to Z. Infobase Publishing. p. 21.  
15. ^ Oxford Business Group (2011). The Report: Algeria 2011. Oxford Business Group. p. 9.  
16. ^ Marion Mill Preminger (1961). The sands of Tamanrasset: the story of Charles de Foucauld. Hawthorn Books. 
17. ^ Cook, Bernard A. (2001). Europe since 1945: an encyclopedia. New York: Garland. p. 398.  
18. ^ De Azevedo, Raimond Cagiano (1994). Migration and Development Co-Operation. Council of Europe. p. 25.  
19. ^ Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project: Algeria. Pew Research Center. 2010.
20. ^ ^{a b} "The World Factbook – Algeria".  
21. ^ "Ibadis and Kharijis". (via  
22. ^ "Algerian Christian converts fined". BBC News. 3 June 2008. 
23. ^ ^{a b} Deeb, Mary Jane. "Religious minorities" Algeria (Country Study). Federal Research Division, Library of Congress; Helen Chapan Metz, ed. December 1993. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.[2]
24. ^ "Présentation de l'Algérie". French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2013. 
25. ^ "L'Algérie crée une académie de la langue amazigh". Magharebia.com. Retrieved 17 January 2013. 
26. ^ "La mondialisation, une chance pour la francophonie". Senat.fr. Retrieved 17 January 2013.  (Archive) "L'Algérie, non-membre de l'Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, comptabilise la seconde communauté francophone au monde, avec environ 16 millions de locuteurs, suivie par la Côte d'Ivoire avec près de 12 millions de locuteurs francophones, le Québec avec 6 millions et la Belgique avec plus de 4 millions de francophones."
27. ^ "Le dénombrement des francophones" (PDF). Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.  (Archive) p. 9 "Nous y agrégeons néanmoins quelques données disponibles pour des pays n’appartenant pas à l’OIF mais dont nous savons, comme pour l’Algérie (11,2 millions en 2008¹)," and "1. Nombre de personnes âgées de cinq ans et plus déclarant savoir lire et écrire le français, d’après les données du recensement de 2008 communiquées par l’Office national des statistiques d’Algérie."
28. ^ New, The (19 November 2008). "Algeria's liberation terrorism and Arabization". blogs.nytimes.com. Retrieved 17 January 2013. 
29. ^ Leclerc, Jacques (5 April 2009). "Algérie: Situation géographique et démolinguistique". L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde (in French).  
30. ^ Langues en Algérie
31. ^ CIA - The World Factbook -- Algeria
32. ^ Robino et al. (2008), Analysis of Y-chromosomal SNP haplogroups and STR haplotypes in an Algerian population sample
33. ^ Arredi et al. (2004),A Predominantly Neolithic Origin for Y-Chromosomal DNA Variation in North Africa
34. ^ Semino et al. (2004), Origin, Diffusion, and Differentiation of Y-Chromosome Haplogroups E and J
35. ^ 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. SpringerLink - Journal Article

External links

• (ONS.dz) Official Demographics Statistics of Algeria
• Population cartogram of Algeria
• Unexpected developments in Maghrebian fertility

 This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document "2009 edition". and the As of 2003 U.S. Department of State website.