Facts and Figures

Covering an area of around 2,382 thousand square kilometres, the Republic of Algeria is, territorially, OPEC’s largest Member Country and the largest country in Africa. It is situated in the north of the continent, and shares borders with Morocco, the Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya and Tunisia. To the north is the Mediterranean Sea.

The country achieved political independence in 1962 after more than a century of colonial period. Algeria’s struggle for independence was one of the most bitter in Africa’s colonial history.

It has a population of more than 45 million. Arabic and Berber Tamazight are the national and official languages, while French is also spoken. The currency is the dinar.

The oil and gas sector is the backbone of the economy. The country’s other natural resources include iron ore, phosphates, uranium and lead.

Algeria joined OPEC in 1969.