Algeria

Languages:

Algeria is a linguistically diverse nation with Arabic and Tamazight as its two official languages. Modern Standard Arabic is used in government, media, and education, while Algerian Arabic, a dialect known as Darja, is spoken colloquially by the majority of the population. Tamazight, the language of the indigenous Berber people, comprises several dialects, including Kabyle, Chaoui, and Tamasheq, spoken across different regions. French, a remnant of colonial rule, remains widely used in business, education, and media, while English has gained popularity as a foreign language in recent years.

Religion:

Algeria is predominantly an Islamic country, with approximately 99% of the population adhering to the Sunni branch of Islam. The nation's constitution declares Islam as the state religion, and its legal system is significantly influenced by Islamic law. Religious practices are closely intertwined with Algerian culture and daily life, with major Islamic holidays and rituals observed nationwide. The remaining 1% of the population practices Christianity, Judaism, or other faiths, but these communities tend to be small and concentrated in specific areas.

Ethnic Groups:

Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1% note: although almost all Algerians are Berber in origin (not Arab), only a minority identify themselves as primarily Berber, about 15% of the total population; these people live mostly in the mountainous region of Kabylie east of Algiers and several other communities; the Berbers are also Muslim but identify with their Berber rather than Arab cultural heritage; Berbers have long agitated, sometimes violently, for autonomy; the government is unlikely to grant autonomy but has officially recognized Berber languages and introduced them into public schools