What is the capital of Algeria?
Algiers stretches along the Mediterranean shore of the Bay of Algiers, climbing the hills behind the port; its whitewashed buildings give it the nickname Alger la Blanche, 'Algiers the White'.
Algiers is the capital and seat of government of Algeria, a role it has held since 1962. Algeria itself has an estimated population of 47,435,312 (2025).
Algiers is also the largest city in Algeria, which is the usual arrangement, though it is far from universal: see the countries where capital and largest city differ.
Algiers at a glance
| Metropolitan area | 4,325,000 (2025 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Country | 🇩🇿 Algeria |
| Capital since | 1962 |
| Largest city in Algeria | Algiers |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| Currency | Algerian dinar (DZD) |
About Algiers
Algiers has been the capital of Algeria since 1962, when Algeria won independence from France; the city had earlier been the seat of Ottoman rule from 1516 and then French colonial rule from 1830.
Algiers is Algeria's largest city and one of the largest cities on the Mediterranean coast.
Its historic old quarter, the Casbah, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Algiers.
Frequently asked questions
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Capitals of neighbouring countries
See the full profile of Algeria on its country page, or browse every capital city.
Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.