Algerian diaspora

Algerian diaspora
الجالية الجزائرية
Algerian diaspora in the world (by Country and Canadian Province)
Total population
c. 1,780,399[1]
Regions with significant populations
 France1,405,235 (2024)[1]
 Canada96,774 (2024)[1]
 Spain83,122 (2024)[1]
 Israel53,589 (2024)[1]
 United States36,031 (2024)[2]
 Belgium30,393 (2024)[1]
 United Kingdom29,472 (2021)[3]
 Italy21,682 (2024)[1]
 Germany21 320 (2017)[4]
Turkey16,719 (2024)[1]
Portugal15,916 (2025)[5]
Morocco15,731 (2024)[1]
 Tunisia11,622 (2024)[1]
  Switzerland11,016 (2024)[1]
 Netherlands9,016 (2022)[6]
 Guinea6,542 (2024)[1]
 Senegal4,447 (2024)[1]
 Libya4,049 (2024)[1]
 Sweden3,672 (2024)[7]
 Mauritania1,922 (2024)[1]
 Australia1,643 (2024)[1]
 Finland1,194 (2024)[1]
 Norway1,427 (2024)[1]
 Luxembourg1,286 (2024)[1]
 Austria1,268 (2023)[8]
 Hungary1,096 (2024)[1]
 Denmark1,053 (2024)[1]
Languages
Arabic (Algerian Arabic, Algerian Saharan Arabic)
Berber (Kabyle, Shawiya, Mozabite)
Religion
Predominantly Sunni Islam
Minority: Ibadi Islam, Christianity, Judaism[9][10][11]

The Algerian diaspora (Arabic: الجالية الجزائرية) comprises the population of Algerian origin or nationality living outside the country, mainly in France but also in the rest of the world. It is largely the result of the high rate of emigration that Algeria has experienced since the end of World War II in 1945, and the freedom granted by the French colonial administration to Algerians to settle in metropolitan France starting from 1947. They are the largest foreign national group represented in France.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the favorable economic situation in France further amplified the phenomenon.

Demography

According to Gilles Pison, in 2000, the total number of Algerian migrants (i.e., individuals born in Algeria and living outside the country) worldwide was estimated to be over 2 million individuals, which accounted for 6.8% of the country's population.[12]

According to Aida, the International Association of the Algerian Diaspora Abroad, established in London in 2012, the number of Algerians or individuals of Algerian origin living abroad in 2012 was estimated to be 6 million.[13]

Brain drain

According to sociologist Hocine Khalfaoui, over 80% of the Algerian diaspora settled in North America (United States and Canada) consists of highly educated individuals. Fateh Ouazzani, president of Reage (Network of Algerians Graduated from French Prestigious Schools and Universities), reported in 2013 that there were between 300,000 and 400,000 Algerian executives and entrepreneurs, or individuals of Algerian origin, in France and Europe.[14]

According to economist Smail Goumeziane, a former Algerian minister of trade, skilled emigration from Algeria extends beyond academia and affects strategic sectors of the economy. He cited media reports of engineers leaving national hydrocarbon and gas companies for multinational firms in the United States and Gulf states, as well as departures from the national airline, Air Algérie, involving pilots, cabin crew, and technical staff. According to Goumeziane, engineers from Algérie Télécom have also declined to return to Algeria after completing training programs in Europe or Asia. He estimated that approximately 500,000 highly trained Algerians, educated largely at public expense, have emigrated. According to analyst Chikhoune, around 800 Algerians are employed in major technology companies in Silicon Valley, many working in research and development roles. Chikhoune further cited a report by French medical authorities indicating that Algerian doctors constitute approximately 25% of foreign physicians working in France, across multiple specialties and regions. He argued that these figures illustrate persistent challenges in retaining skilled professionals.[15]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 "International Migrant Stock". Population Division. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  2. ↑ "Countries of Birth for U.S. Immigrants, 1960-Present". migrationpolicy.org. 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  3. ↑ "Census 2021: Country of birth (extended)". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  4. ↑ "Ausländische Bevölkerung und Schutzsuchende nach Regionen und Herkunftsländern". Statistics Germany. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  5. ↑ "População residente atinge 11,4 milhões - 2025". ine.pt. INE. 22 June 2026. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  6. ↑ "CBS StatLine - Bevolking; generatie, geslacht, leeftijd en herkomstgroepering, 1 januari". statline.cbs.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  7. ↑ "Foreign-born by country of birth and year since last immigration. Year 2000". Statistikdatabasen. 2025-03-21. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  8. ↑ "Population by citizenship/country of birth". STATISTICS AUSTRIA. Retrieved 2026-06-06.
  9. ↑ Kabylia: Christian Churches Closed by Algerian Authorities, Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, 28 May 2019, Since 2000, thousands of Algerian Muslims have put their faith in Christ. Algerian officials estimate the number of Christians at 50,000, but others say it could be twice that number.
  10. ↑ "Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada". Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. 30 June 2015. Archived from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2023. there is an estimated 20,000 to 100,000 evangelical Christians in Algeria, who practice their faith in mainly unregistered churches in the Kabyle region
  11. ↑ Johnstone, Patrick; Miller, Duane Alexander (2015). "Believers in Christ from a Muslim Background: A Global Census". Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion. 11: 8. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  12. ↑ Pison, Gilles (2009). Atlas de la population mondiale. Faut-il craindre la croissance démographique et le vieillissement ?. Atlas/Monde (in French). Paris: Autrement (Editions). p. 57. ISBN 978-2-7467-1259-1.
  13. ↑ "AIDA - Algerian International Diaspora Association". aida-association.org. Retrieved 2017-02-12.
  14. ↑ "La diaspora algérienne, un atout exceptionnel inexploité - Algérie Focus". Algérie Focus (in French). 2013-06-18. Archived from the original on 2017-03-14. Retrieved 2017-02-12.
  15. ↑ Zaghlami, Laeed (14 July 2017). "Country suffers loss of locally-trained graduates". University World News. University World News. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
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