Education in Algeria - statistics & facts

Algeria’s education system includes ten years of compulsory schooling. Usually, after one year of early education, children attend primary school for five years, from the age of six to 11, and middle (or lower-secondary) school for the following four years until the age of 15. Elementary and middle education is free for Algerian citizens, and attendance is compulsory. Afterward, students may attend three years of secondary school and obtain a high school diploma (Baccalauréat de l’Enseignement Secondaire), which is required to access tertiary education. In recent years, increased education access and quality contributed to the rising literacy levels in Algeria. The latest figures reported a literacy rate of 81 percent among adults and 97 percent among youth.

Compulsory basic education

Basic education in Algeria includes nine years of primary and middle schooling. In the 2019/2020 school year, around 4.7 million pupils attended primary school in Algeria, the highest number of enrollees among all educational levels. Boys registered a higher elementary school attendance than girls in recent years. In 2019/2020, around 2.4 million pupils were boys, while girls amounted to roughly 2.3 million. Although middle education is mandatory, the enrollment rate is lower than in primary schools. In 2020, around 3.1 million students were enrolled in middle schools.

Lower enrollment in high school

In Algeria, secondary education corresponds to high school and lasts three years. In the last two academic years, students can specialize in different fields, such as humanities, sciences, and technology. The number of students enrolled in secondary institutions amounted to around 1.3 million in the 2019/2020 school year, a lower number compared to the previous education cycles. Upon successful completion of high school, students in Algeria can access tertiary education, including universities.

More women than men in universities

Around 1.5 million students attended higher education in Algeria in 2020. Women represented the majority of the students, accounting for approximately a third of the enrollees. Indeed, the gross enrollment rate in tertiary education was higher among women than men, while the average stood at 52.5 percent in 2020. Business administration, law, arts, and humanities are among the most popular fields of study for Algerian university students. In contrast, degrees in agriculture, forestry, and veterinary subjects account for the lowest share of graduates. After graduation, entering the labor market is often challenging. Among all educational levels, people holding a higher education degree face the highest unemployment rate in the country.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Educational expenditure as share of GDP: 6.1%

Educational expenditure as share of government spending: 16.2%

Children out of school: 7.7k

Recommended statistics

Overview

Basic Statistic Duration of compulsory education in Algeria 2012-2021
Duration of compulsory education in Algeria 2012-2021
Duration of compulsory education in Algeria from 2012 to 2021 (in years)
Premium Statistic Duration of education programs in Algeria 2021, by educational level
Duration of education programs in Algeria 2021, by educational level
Duration of education programs in Algeria as of 2021, by educational level (in years)
Premium Statistic Expected years of schooling in Algeria 2010-2019
Expected years of schooling in Algeria 2010-2019
Years of schooling a child of school entrance age is expected to receive in Algeria from 2010 to 2019
Premium Statistic Number of students in Algeria 2018-2020, by educational level
Number of students in Algeria 2018-2020, by educational level
Number of students in Algeria from 2018 to 2020, by educational level
Premium Statistic Number of young illiterates in Algeria 2018, by gender
Number of young illiterates in Algeria 2018, by gender
Number of illiterate young people in Algeria in 2018, by gender

Pre-primary education

Premium Statistic Number of pupils in pre-primary school in Algeria 2015-2020
Number of pupils in pre-primary school in Algeria 2015-2020
Number of pupils in pre-primary school in Algeria from 2015 to 2020
Basic Statistic Number of pupils in pre-primary school in Algeria 2015-2020, by gender
Number of pupils in pre-primary school in Algeria 2015-2020, by gender
Number of pupils in pre-primary school in Algeria from 2015 to 2020, by gender
Premium Statistic Number of teachers in pre-primary schools in Algeria 2015-2020
Number of teachers in pre-primary schools in Algeria 2015-2020
Number of teachers in pre-primary schools in Algeria from 2015 to 2020

Primary education

Basic Statistic Number of pupils in primary schools in Algeria 2015-2020
Number of pupils in primary schools in Algeria 2015-2020
Number of pupils in primary schools in Algeria from 2015 to 2020 (in 1,000s)
Basic Statistic Number of pupils in primary schools in Algeria 2015-2020, by gender
Number of pupils in primary schools in Algeria 2015-2020, by gender
Number of pupils in primary schools in Algeria from 2015 to 2020, by gender (in 1,000s)
Premium Statistic Number of primary school pupils in Algeria 2018/2019, by school grade
Number of primary school pupils in Algeria 2018/2019, by school grade
Number of primary school pupils in Algeria in 2018/2019, by school grade
Basic Statistic Primary school enrollment rate in Algeria 2000-2020, by gender
Primary school enrollment rate in Algeria 2000-2020, by gender
Gross enrollment rate in primary school in Algeria from 2000 to 2020, by gender
Premium Statistic Number of teachers in primary school in Algeria 2015-2020
Number of teachers in primary school in Algeria 2015-2020
Number of teachers in primary school in Algeria from 2015 to 2020
Premium Statistic Pupil-to-teacher ratio in primary school in Algeria 2010-2018
Pupil-to-teacher ratio in primary school in Algeria 2010-2018
Number of pupils per teacher in primary school in Algeria from 2010 to 2018

Middle and secondary education

Basic Statistic Number of students in secondary schools in Algeria 2015-2020
Number of students in secondary schools in Algeria 2015-2020
Number of students in secondary schools in Algeria from 2015 to 2020
Basic Statistic Number of students in secondary schools in Algeria 2015-2020, by gender
Number of students in secondary schools in Algeria 2015-2020, by gender
Number of students in secondary schools in Algeria from 2015 to 2020, by gender
Premium Statistic Number of middle schools in Algeria 2015-2020
Number of middle schools in Algeria 2015-2020
Number of middle schools in Algeria from 2015 to 2020
Premium Statistic Number of secondary schools in Algeria 2015-2020
Number of secondary schools in Algeria 2015-2020
Number of secondary schools in Algeria from 2015 to 2020

Higher education

Basic Statistic Number of students in tertiary education in Algeria 2014-2021, by gender
Number of students in tertiary education in Algeria 2014-2021, by gender
Number of students enrolled in tertiary education in Algeria from 2014 to 2021, by gender
Basic Statistic Pupil-to-teacher ratio in higher education in Algeria 2010-2018
Pupil-to-teacher ratio in higher education in Algeria 2010-2018
Number of students per teacher in tertiary education in Algeria from 2010 to 2018
Basic Statistic Tertiary school enrollment rate in Algeria 2004-2021, by gender
Tertiary school enrollment rate in Algeria 2004-2021, by gender
Gross enrollment rate in tertiary school in Algeria from 2004 to 2021, by gender
Premium Statistic Graduates from tertiary education in Algeria 2018-2021, by field of study
Graduates from tertiary education in Algeria 2018-2021, by field of study
Share of students graduating from tertiary education in Algeria from 2018 to 2021, by field of study
Premium Statistic Number of teachers in tertiary education in Algeria 2013-2018
Number of teachers in tertiary education in Algeria 2013-2018
Number of teaching staff in tertiary education in Algeria from 2013/2014 to 2017/2018

Educational expenditure

Premium Statistic Share of government expenditure in education in Algeria 2013-2022
Share of government expenditure in education in Algeria 2013-2022
Educational expenditure as a share of total government spending in Algeria from 2013 to 2022
Premium Statistic Educational expenditure as a share of GDP in Algeria 2016-2019
Educational expenditure as a share of GDP in Algeria 2016-2019
Educational expenditure as a share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Algeria from 2016 to 2019
Premium Statistic Total consumer spending on education in Algeria 2013-2028
Total consumer spending on education in Algeria 2013-2028
Total consumer spending on education in Algeria from 2013 to 2028 (in million U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic Per capita consumer spending on education in Algeria 2013-2028
Per capita consumer spending on education in Algeria 2013-2028
Per capita consumer spending on education in Algeria from 2013 to 2028 (in U.S. dollars)

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Key figures

The most important key figures provide you with a compact summary of the topic of "Education in Algeria" and take you straight to the corresponding statistics.

Number of pupils
506k
Detailed statistics
Number of pupils in pre-primary school in Algeria 2015-2020
Number of female pupils
247k
Detailed statistics
Number of pupils in pre-primary school in Algeria 2015-2020, by gender
Number of teachers
18k
Detailed statistics
Number of teachers in pre-primary schools in Algeria 2015-2020

Number of pupils
4.7m
Detailed statistics
Number of pupils in primary schools in Algeria 2015-2020
Number of pupils in 1st grade
935k
Detailed statistics
Number of primary school pupils in Algeria 2018/2019, by school grade
Number of pupils per teacher
24.3
Detailed statistics
Pupil-to-teacher ratio in primary school in Algeria 2010-2018

Number of students
3.1m
Detailed statistics
Number of students in middle school in Algeria 2015-2020
Number of schools
5.6k
Detailed statistics
Number of middle schools in Algeria 2015-2020
Number of teachers
163k
Detailed statistics
Number of teachers in middle school in Algeria 2015-2020

Number of students
1.3m
Detailed statistics
Number of students in secondary schools in Algeria 2015-2020
Number of schools
2.5k
Detailed statistics
Number of secondary schools in Algeria 2015-2020
Number of teachers
105k
Detailed statistics
Number of secondary school teachers in Algeria 2015-2020

Number of students
1.5m
Detailed statistics
Number of students in tertiary education in Algeria 2015-2021
Number of teaching staff
58.6k
Detailed statistics
Number of teachers in tertiary education in Algeria 2013-2018
Number of universities
102
Detailed statistics
Number of universities in Africa 2021, by country