The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria gained independence in 1962, after a long war against France. Located in the Maghreb region, Algeria is the largest country in Africa. Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, it borders with Tunisia and Libya to the east, Niger, Mali and Mauritania to the south, and Morocco and Western Sahara to the west. Its population is estimated to be 44 million and the official languages are Arabic and Tamaziɣt.
Algeria plays a leading role in the stabilization of the Sahel region. In recent years, it has undertaken cross-border political, military and intelligence cooperation initiatives with neighbouring countries.
The cornerstones of cooperation between Italy and Algeria have been energy, the creation of human capital, infrastructures and security. Until 2019, Italy used to be Algeria's largest trading partner globally. Since the beginning of 2022, Algeria is Italy's first gas supplier. In 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the value of Italy-Algeria trade fell to €5.83 billion, of which €3.14 billion were Italian imports (-27.6 percent compared with the previous year) and €1.94 billion were Italian exports (-33.5 percent compared with the previous year). Natural gas represents almost the totality of Italy’s imports from the country, while Italy mainly exports machinery, refined petroleum products, chemicals and iron and steel products. In 2021 the trade between the two countries reached $ 9 billion.
On March 14, Med-Or Foundation signed a Letter of Intent with the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, represented by its Ambassador to Italy, Abdelkrim Touahria. The agreement symbolizes a mutual commitment to explore and foster cooperation in various key areas.
It is no longer a secret that Algeria and Europe are extremely close – now more than ever, given the current geopolitical context.
The number of African countries thinking of developing a nuclear programme is growing, while collaboration projects with Russia and China are increasing. By Emanuele Rossi
Head of state | Abdelmadjid Tebboune |
Head of Government | Nadir Larbaoui |
Institutional Form | Presidential Republic |
Capital | Algeri |
Legislative Power | Bicameral Parliament, Nation Council (High House, 114 Members) and People’s National Assembly (Low House, 462 Members) |
Judicial Power | Supreme Court (150 judges divided in 8 Houses) |
Ambassador to Italy | Abdelkrim Touahria |
Total Area kmq | 2.381.741 km² |
Land | 2.381.741 km² |
Weather | From arid to semi-arid; dry and hot summers along the coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on the highland |
Natural resources | oil, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc |
Economic summary | The economy remains dominated by the state, an heritage of the country’s post-independence socialist development model |
GDP | € 196,8 billion (2023) |
Pro-capite GDP (Purchasing power parity) | $11.040 (Dic. 2021) |
Exports | € 53.3 billion (2023) |
Export partner | Italy 17.2%, France 14.8%, Spain 13.8%, China 4.74%, South Korea 4.27% (2020) Imports: $31.3 billion (2020) |
Imports | € 44.4 billion (2023) |
Import partner | China 17.9%, France 15%, Spain 6.89%, Italy 6.61%, Germany 5.69% (2020) |
Trade With Italy | € 16.895 billion (2023) |
Population | 44.178.884 |
Population Growth | +1,34% |
Ethnicities | Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1% |
Languages | Arabic, French, Berber or Tamazight. The dialects include Kabyle Berber (Taqbaylit), Shawiya Berber (Tacawit), Mzab Berber, Tuareg Berber (Tamahaq) |
Religions | Islam (official and predominantly Sunni) 99%, other religions (Christianity and Jews) less than 1% |
Urbanization | 74,8% |
Literacy | 81.4% |
The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria gained independence in 1962, after a long war against France. Located in the Maghreb region, Algeria is the largest country in Africa. Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, it borders with Tunisia and Libya to the east, Niger, Mali and Mauritania to the south, and Morocco and Western Sahara to the west. Its population is estimated to be 44 million and the official languages are Arabic and Tamaziɣt.
Algeria plays a leading role in the stabilization of the Sahel region. In recent years, it has undertaken cross-border political, military and intelligence cooperation initiatives with neighbouring countries.
The cornerstones of cooperation between Italy and Algeria have been energy, the creation of human capital, infrastructures and security. Until 2019, Italy used to be Algeria's largest trading partner globally. Since the beginning of 2022, Algeria is Italy's first gas supplier. In 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the value of Italy-Algeria trade fell to €5.83 billion, of which €3.14 billion were Italian imports (-27.6 percent compared with the previous year) and €1.94 billion were Italian exports (-33.5 percent compared with the previous year). Natural gas represents almost the totality of Italy’s imports from the country, while Italy mainly exports machinery, refined petroleum products, chemicals and iron and steel products. In 2021 the trade between the two countries reached $ 9 billion.