U.S. English Foundation Research

ALGERIA

General Information

Capital:

Algiers 1,483,000 (1987 est.)

Area:

2,381,741 sq km (919,595 sq mi)

Form of government

Multiparty Republic with two legislative bodies

GDP per capita

Purchasing power parity - $4,700 (1999 est.)

Population

31,193,917 (July 2000 est.)

Ethnic composition

Arab - 80%

Berber - 19%

European (e.g. French, Jewish) - 1%

Official Language(s)

Arabic (Modern Standard Arabic)

Minority Language(s)

Amazigh (Berber) languages:

• Chaouia (pronounced "shawiya") is spoken by about 1,400,000 Algerians
• Kabyle is spoken by about 8% of the population (1987 survey)
• Tamazight is an important Amazigh language, This name is inappropriately given by non-linguists to all Amazigh languages
• Others: Tachelhit, Tadaksahak, Tagargrent, Tamahaq, Hoggar (Touareg), Tarifit, Taznatit, Temacine Tamazight, Tidikelt Tamazight, Tumzabt

French is still an important language both widely known and understood in Algeria. About 20% of the population is fully literate in French and even more speak it. The majority Berber (Amazigh)-speaking peoples in the region are bilingual in both the Arabic and Berber languages.

In all, there are 17 different languages listed for Algeria, including Algerian Sign Language for the deaf (according to the Ethnologue, Summer Institute of Linguistic 1996).

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