Algeria

Did you know

Algeria is the largest country by area in the African Union and the Arab world. (source)

Elders in numbers

of people are 65 or older

6.8%

people aged 65 or older

3.2M

will be 65 or older in 2050

16.2%

is how long people live after 60, on average

22.4 years

of people 65+ live alone

2.3%

women 4.2%, men 0.5%

Sources: World Bank, 2025; World Bank projection for 2050; WHO, 2023; UN, 2019

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Languages

24 languages, 12 of them endangered

• Algerian Jewish Sign LanguageSeverely endangered
• GhadamèsDefinitely endangered
• KorandjeDefinitely endangered
• TidikeltDefinitely endangered
• TugurtDefinitely endangered
• WargliDefinitely endangered
• KabyleVulnerable
• MozabiteVulnerable
• ShenwaVulnerable
• Sud Oranais-GouraraVulnerable
• TamahaqVulnerable
• TamazightVulnerable

Languages and their status: Glottolog v5.3, CC BY 4.0. Names: Wikidata.

UNESCO intangible heritage

• Henna: rituals, aesthetic and social practices2024
• The women’s ceremonial costume in the Eastern region of Algeria: knowledge and skills associated with the making and adornment of the Gandoura, the Melehfa, the Caftan, the Quat and the Lhef2024
• Arts, skills and practices associated with engraving on metals (gold, silver and copper)2023
• Raï, popular folk song of Algeria2022
• Arabic calligraphy: knowledge, skills and practices2021
• Knowledge, know-how and practices pertaining to the production and consumption of couscous2020
• Knowledge and skills of the water measurers of the foggaras or water bailiffs of Touat and Tidikelt2018
• Sbuâ, annual pilgrimage to the zawiya of Sidi El Hadj Belkacem in Gourara2015

List and years: ich.unesco.org