GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country, and all but essential travel to other areas. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

A nighttime cityscape of Alger Centre, featuring the illuminated Maqam Echahid in the background.Stunning aerial view of Algiers cityscape featuring the bustling port area on a sunny day.

Algeria

Africa · Northern Africa

Medium safetyVery affordable cost of livingHigh development

Few locals speak English well.

Safety

90th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.053lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#90 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
1.2per 100,000 people a yearLowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
47Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$5,850national income per person, US dollarsModerate
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
3.5New York = 100Very affordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
16.5years of median income to buy a median flatExpensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 65% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 14% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$10K$20K$18,586 PPP$6,051Inflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $3,661 a person, $12,791 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2007, $4,167 a person, $13,321 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2008, $5,181 a person, $13,666 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2009, $4,235 a person, $13,651 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2010, $4,913 a person, $14,201 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2011, $5,916 a person, $14,640 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2012, $6,034 a person, $14,441 at PPP, inflation 8.9%2013, $5,980 a person, $14,371 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2014, $6,095 a person, $14,694 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2015, $4,685 a person, $13,807 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2016, $4,425 a person, $13,438 at PPP, inflation 6.4%2017, $4,555 a person, $13,494 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2018, $4,577 a person, $13,727 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2019, $4,468 a person, $13,893 at PPP, inflation 2%2020, $3,744 a person, $12,677 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2021, $4,161 a person, $14,497 at PPP, inflation 7.2%2022, $4,960 a person, $15,834 at PPP, inflation 9.3%2023, $5,370 a person, $16,838 at PPP, inflation 9.3%2024, $5,753 a person, $17,646 at PPP, inflation 4%2025, $6,051 a person, $18,586 at PPP, inflation 1.4%$0$10K$20KInflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $3,661 a person, $12,791 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2007, $4,167 a person, $13,321 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2008, $5,181 a person, $13,666 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2009, $4,235 a person, $13,651 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2010, $4,913 a person, $14,201 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2011, $5,916 a person, $14,640 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2012, $6,034 a person, $14,441 at PPP, inflation 8.9%2013, $5,980 a person, $14,371 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2014, $6,095 a person, $14,694 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2015, $4,685 a person, $13,807 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2016, $4,425 a person, $13,438 at PPP, inflation 6.4%2017, $4,555 a person, $13,494 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2018, $4,577 a person, $13,727 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2019, $4,468 a person, $13,893 at PPP, inflation 2%2020, $3,744 a person, $12,677 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2021, $4,161 a person, $14,497 at PPP, inflation 7.2%2022, $4,960 a person, $15,834 at PPP, inflation 9.3%2023, $5,370 a person, $16,838 at PPP, inflation 9.3%2024, $5,753 a person, $17,646 at PPP, inflation 4%2025, $6,051 a person, $18,586 at PPP, inflation 1.4%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Above-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
76.5years, at birthHigh
#73 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
70WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100ModerateWHO · 2023
Air pollution
18.6PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Fast home internet

Unemployment rate
11.6%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
57 Mbpsmedian download speedFastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
468EF English Proficiency Index scoreLowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet57 MbpsFast
Mobile59 MbpsSlow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Stunning aerial view of Algiers cityscape featuring the bustling port area on a sunny day.
How it changed

Algeria's Human Development Index

0.763High human development

96th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 3rd of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #93Vietnam0.766
  2. #95Turkmenistan0.764
  3. #96Algeria0.763
  4. #97Cuba0.762
  5. #98Dominica0.761
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.595 in 1990 to 0.763 in 2023.

0.550.680.800.76319902000201020231990: 0.5951991: 0.5961992: 0.6011993: 0.6031994: 0.6031995: 0.6081996: 0.6151997: 0.6241998: 0.6341999: 0.6432000: 0.6512001: 0.6592002: 0.6692003: 0.6772004: 0.6852005: 0.6922006: 0.6982007: 0.7042008: 0.7112009: 0.7142010: 0.7182011: 0.7182012: 0.7232013: 0.7272014: 0.7322015: 0.7372016: 0.7432017: 0.7462018: 0.7492019: 0.7532020: 0.7422021: 0.7552022: 0.7612023: 0.7630.550.680.8019902000201020231990: 0.5951991: 0.5961992: 0.6011993: 0.6031994: 0.6031995: 0.6081996: 0.6151997: 0.6241998: 0.6341999: 0.6432000: 0.6512001: 0.6592002: 0.6692003: 0.6772004: 0.6852005: 0.6922006: 0.6982007: 0.7042008: 0.7112009: 0.7142010: 0.7182011: 0.7182012: 0.7232013: 0.7272014: 0.7322015: 0.7372016: 0.7432017: 0.7462018: 0.7492019: 0.7532020: 0.7422021: 0.7552022: 0.7612023: 0.763

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
76.5 years2024at birthUp 3.6 years from 72.8 years in 2005
Internet users
77%2024of people onlineUp 70 points from 7% in 2006
Urban population
76%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 11 points from 64% in 2006
Births per woman
2.722024births per womanUp 0.16 from 2.56 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
0%2021of energy usedLevel with 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 1 point from 99% in 2005
Infant mortality
202024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 10 from 29 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
4 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.9 t from 3.1 t in 2005
Forest area
1%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

North Africa's largest country: oil wealth, vast desert, visa restrictions apply. The case against is little English among locals.

About Algeria

Algeria is a vast country where the Mediterranean north gives way to the immensity of the Sahara, home to ancient Roman ruins, Berber villages, and some of the most dramatic desert landscapes on the planet. The culture blends Arab, Berber, and French influences into something distinctly its own, with a strong tradition of music, poetry, and coffee-house conversation. Independent travellers with a spirit of adventure will be rewarded, though it remains off the well-worn tourist trail.

Practical facts

  • CapitalAlgiers
  • LanguagesArabic
  • CurrencyAlgerian dinar (DZD)
  • Area2,381,740 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
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Borders

TunisiaLibyaNigerMauritaniaMaliMorocco

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Quick answers

What is Algeria's Human Development Index?

Algeria's Human Development Index is 0.763 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #96 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Algeria safe?

Algeria scores 2.05 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #90 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Algeria?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Algeria at 28.0 (New York = 100); that is #21 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Algeria?

Life expectancy at birth in Algeria is 76.5 yrs (World Bank), ranked #73 of 195 countries.