Capital of Algeria: Algiers — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Algeria is Algiers. Algeria sits in Africa, has a population of 44,903,225, and uses the DZD. Official languages include Arabic, Berber.
Quick facts
- Capital: Algiers
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~44,903,225
- Area: 2,381,741 km²
- Population density: 18.9 people per km²
- Official languages: Arabic, Berber
- Currency: DZD
- ISO code: DZ
How big is Algeria?
By population, Algeria ranks 34th in the world, holding roughly 0.56% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 10th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Algeria has 18.9 people per square kilometre, which is about 3.1 times below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.
Within Africa, Algeria is the 10th most populous country of 54.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Algeria in population are Iraq (44,496,122) and Argentina (46,234,830).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Democratic Republic of the Congo (2,344,858 km²) and Saudi Arabia (2,149,690 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Arabic is spoken officially in 25 countries in this dataset, including Bahrain, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti and Egypt, and 19 others.
Algeria uses the DZD, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember Algeria
Algiers is Algeria with the ending swapped, and the city is nicknamed 'Algiers the White' and 'The White City'. For the flag, picture a page split into green and white, with a red crescent hugging a red star right across the fold.
The flag of Algeria: green, white and red
🇩🇿 The flag is two vertical stripes, green and white, with a red crescent and five-pointed star in the centre, over the line where the colours meet. Green stands for Islam, white for purity and peace and red for liberty. The crescent and star are also symbols of Islam. Algeria's crescent is more closed than on other flags, because Algerians believe its long horns bring happiness. The flag was adopted on 3 July 1962.
Region and neighbours
Algeria is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa, with a Mediterranean coast in the north and a large part of the Sahara Desert in the south. It shares land borders with 6 countries: Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Morocco. It also borders Western Sahara, a disputed territory to the southwest.
- Tunisia 🇹🇳 — capital Tunis
- Libya 🇱🇾 — capital Tripoli
- Niger 🇳🇪 — capital Niamey
- Mali 🇲🇱 — capital Bamako
- Mauritania 🇲🇷 — capital Nouakchott
- Morocco 🇲🇦 — capital Rabat
Three facts about Algeria
- Since South Sudan split from Sudan in 2011, Algeria has been the largest country in Africa. It is also the tenth-largest country in the world.
- The Algerian Desert, part of the Sahara, makes up more than 90% of the country.
- Rock paintings on the Tassili n'Ajjer plateau have been dated to between 7,000 and 10,000 years ago.
Sources: Wikipedia: Algeria, Wikipedia: Flag of Algeria, Wikipedia: Algiers, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Algeria
- African capitals quiz — match Algeria to Algiers
- African flags quiz — spot the Algeria flag among its neighbours
Algeria capital quiz
What is the capital of Algeria 🇩🇿?
- Addis Ababa
- Algiers
- Niamey
- Khartoum
Show answer
Algiers
What is the capital of Sudan 🇸🇩?
- Monrovia
- São Tomé
- Kinshasa
- Khartoum
Show answer
Khartoum
What is the capital of Uganda 🇺🇬?
- Abuja
- Kampala
- Bissau
- N'Djamena
Show answer
Kampala
What is the capital of Morocco 🇲🇦?
- Nairobi
- Rabat
- Abuja
- Brazzaville
Show answer
Rabat
What is the capital of Kenya 🇰🇪?
- Kampala
- Tripoli
- Rabat
- Nairobi
Show answer
Nairobi
Algeria in Africa
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block Algeria belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Algeria.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Algeria?
The capital of Algeria is Algiers.
What is the population of Algeria?
About 44,903,225, making it the 34th most populous country in the world.
How big is Algeria?
2,381,741 square kilometres, ranking 10th by land area, at a density of 18.9 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Algeria use?
The DZD, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the Algeria flag?
The flag of Algeria is two vertical stripes, green and white, with a red crescent and five-pointed star in the centre, over the line where the colours meet. Green stands for Islam, white for purity and peace and red for liberty. The crescent and star are also symbols of Islam. Algeria's crescent is more closed than on other flags, because Algerians believe its long horns bring happiness. The flag was adopted on 3 July 1962.
Which countries border Algeria?
Algeria shares land borders with Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Morocco. It also borders Western Sahara, a disputed territory to the southwest.
How can I remember the capital of Algeria?
Algiers is Algeria with the ending swapped, and the city is nicknamed 'Algiers the White' and 'The White City'. For the flag, picture a page split into green and white, with a red crescent hugging a red star right across the fold.
More capitals to learn
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