Quick facts
Algeria population overview
Algeria is the 10th most populous of 58 countries and territories in Africa. The United Nations put the population at 47,739,915 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of +1.2% the live estimate on this page rises by roughly 1,568 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 825,901 births (17.3 per 1,000 people) and 219,604 deaths (4.6 per 1,000), and net emigration of roughly 28,644 people. The infant mortality rate is 1.5 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population grew from 11,424,922 in 1960 to 47,435,312 in 2025 — a change of +315.2%, or +2.2% per year on average. The population is at its all-time high today.
Demographically, the median age is 28.8 years; life expectancy at birth is 76.9 years; women have on average 2.7 children (2024, above the 2.1 replacement level); 29.9% of residents are under 15 and 6.8% are 65 or older (2025); 75.8% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Algiers. Algeria covers 2,381,740 km², giving a population density of about 20.2 people per km². GDP was $287.03B in 2025 — about $6,051 per person (World Bank classification: upper middle income).
Algeria population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) | 48,196,771 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 47,739,915 |
| World rank | #33 of 238 |
| Rank in Africa | #10 of 58 |
| Share of world population | 0.6% |
| Annual growth rate | +1.2% |
| Births per year est. | 825,901 |
| Deaths per year est. | 219,604 |
| Net migration per year est. | -28,644 |
| Birth rate | 17.3 per 1,000 |
| Death rate | 4.6 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality | 1.5 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio | 104 males per 100 females |
| Median age | 28.8 years |
| Life expectancy | 76.9 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 | 2.7 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 | 75.8% |
| Surface area 2023 | 2,381,740 km² |
| Population density | 20.2 per km² |
| Capital | Algiers |
| GDP (current US$) 2025 | $287.03B |
| GDP per capita 2025 | $6,051 |
| Income group World Bank | Upper middle income |
Algeria population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 48,196,771 | – | – |
| 2025 | 47,435,312 | +621,004 | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 46,814,308 | +650,089 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 46,164,219 | +686,830 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 45,477,389 | +716,290 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 44,761,099 | +719,008 | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 44,042,091 | +4,022,562 | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 40,019,529 | +3,831,293 | +2% |
| 2010 | 36,188,236 | +3,078,987 | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 33,109,249 | +2,205,356 | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 30,903,893 | +2,433,702 | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 28,470,191 | +3,094,381 | +2.3% |
| 1990 | 25,375,810 | +3,367,266 | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 22,008,544 | +3,401,370 | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 18,607,174 | +2,928,578 | +3.5% |
| 1975 | 15,678,596 | +1,894,877 | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 13,783,719 | +1,417,743 | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 12,365,976 | +941,054 | +1.6% |
| 1960 | 11,424,922 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
About Algeria
Population over time
- From 11,424,922 in 1960 to 48,196,771 today — up 321.9%.
- The population is at its all-time high right now.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: +1.7% per year.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 76.5 years (2024), up 35.6 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 2.7 births per woman (2024) — above the ~2.1 replacement level.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 18.8 births vs 4.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Natural increase of 14.2 per 1,000 a year, before migration.
Age structure
- 29.9% of the population is under 15 and 6.8% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has grown from 3.1% in 1960 — the population is aging.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 186.4 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions peaked at 190.6 Mt in 2023 — down 2.2% since.
- Per person: 3.98 t in 2024, vs 1.43 t in 1970.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 1,503.4 kg of oil equivalent per person (2023), up 71.9% since 1990.
- Renewables supplied 0.1% of final energy in 2021 (-0.1 points since 1990).
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 0.8% of land area (2023).
- Cover has been essentially stable since 1990 (+0.1 points).
Urban population (% of total)
- 75.8% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 31.3% in 1960 (+44.5 points).
- Became majority-urban around 1988.
Water resources & stress
- Water stress: critical — freshwater withdrawals are 91.5% of renewable internal resources (2022, SDG 6.4.2-style bands).
- Renewable freshwater per person: 247 m³ in 2022, down 74.4% since 1961.
Economy
- GDP: $287.03B in 2025.
- Nominal GDP is up 53.1% since 2015.
- That works out to $6,051 per person.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 11.6% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: 1.4% in 2025.
Internet & mobile
- 77.4% of people used the internet in 2024.
- Mobile subscriptions: 115.5 per 100 people (2024) — more subscriptions than people.
Algeria in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Algeria in 2026?
As of October 2026, Algeria has an estimated population of 48,196,771. The United Nations estimated 47,739,915 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the +1.2% annual growth rate.
Is the population of Algeria growing or shrinking?
It is growing at +1.2% per year — roughly 1,568 more people every day. Each year there are about 825,901 births and 219,604 deaths, with net migration of -28,644.
What is the population density of Algeria?
About 20.2 people per square kilometre: 48,196,771 people living on 2,381,740 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in Algeria?
The median age is 28.8 years, and life expectancy at birth is 76.9 years. 29.9% of the population is under 15 and 6.8% is 65 or older (2025).
How does Algeria rank by population?
Algeria is the 33rd most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 10th in Africa, with 0.6% of the global population.
How has the population of Algeria changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 11,424,922; by 2025 it had grown to 47,435,312 (+315.2%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
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AfghanistanSources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (+1.2%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-19. More about our data.