Pray for Algeria
Learn about and pray for Algeria in just 5 minutes per week!
Receive one email per week for 13 weeks about Algeria’s history, geography, persecution profile, and largest unreached people groups.
WEEK 1
Prayercast
Pray along with a local believer for their nation.
WEEK 2
Operation World
Pray through Operation World's country profile.
WEEK 3
World Watch List
Pray through the country's persecution profile.
WEEKS 4-13
People Groups
Pray for the country's 10 largest unreached people groups.
Introduction
Algeria, Africa’s largest nation, has a complex history marked by foreign influences, including Berbers, Islamic expansion, and French colonial rule. Gaining independence in 1962 after a costly struggle, Algeria initially embraced socialism and later grappled with the economic impact of fluctuating oil prices. The 1990s brought a brutal civil war, with over 100,000 lives lost in the power struggle between military forces and Islamist militants. Today, Algeria’s government identifies as Islamic, making concessions to emerging Islamist factions.
Christianity faces systematic persecution due to restrictive laws, but the Christian faith is growing, with an estimated 100,000 Algerian believers. Christians, composed of Arab, Berber, and foreign congregations, are fostering unity and a vibrant expression of faith. Pray for the continued expansion of Christianity in Algeria despite increasing opposition and for the nation’s spiritual transformation.
Photo by Taha Loukil
Fast Facts
Capital City: Algiers
Population: 45 million (99.9% unreached)
People Groups: 38
10/40 Window: Yes
Major People Groups: Algerian Arab 58%
Major Religions: Islam 99%
Language: Arabic
GDP Per Capita: $10,700
Literacy Rate: 81%
Did you know? Arabic is the official language, but French is also widely spoken and used in education and media.
Pray for the unreached people groups of Algeria
Below are the 10 largest unreached people groups in Algeria:
| Name | Religion | Population |
| 1. Algerian, Arabic-speaking | Islam | 33,118,000 |
| 2. Berber, Kabyle | Islam | 6,469,000 |
| 3. Berber, Shawiya | Islam | 2,393,000 |
| 4. Berber, Imazighen | Islam | 1,712,000 |
| 5. Deaf | Islam | 228,000 |
| 6. Berber, Mozabite | Islam | 195,000 |
| 7. Arab, Moroccan | Islam | 188,000 |
| 8. Sahrawi | Islam | 174,000 |
| 9. Bedouin, Suafa | Islam | 136,000 |
| 10. Chenoua | Islam | 106,000 |
Pray for Christians being persecuted
Algeria is ranked #15 on the 2024 World Watch List published by Open Doors.
Whether from family, the community or the state, Christians in Algeria encounter many obstacles to expressing their faith.
Most believers are converts from Islam and they can face intense pressure in all areas of life to renounce their faith. Meanwhile, Christian activities are severely hindered by laws regulating non-Muslim worship, including the prohibition of anything that would ‘shake the faith of a Muslim’. Several churches have been closed in the past year, whilst others have had to cease their activities.
World Watch List
You can learn about Christian persecution and pray for our brothers and sisters who being persecuted around the world by praying through the Open Doors’ World Watch List.
“[God] has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.”
Pray for Algeria
“Slow drip” your learning and prayers for Algeria: its history, geography, persecution profile, and largest unreached people groups.