Definition of Youth
An international study by Euromed on youth policy in Algeria (2009) defines young people as aged between 15-29 years old but outlines the disparity of definitions amongst government institutions. It acknowledges that in Algeria, "most policy makers refer to youth as those under the age of 30."
Marriageable Age
- Opposite Sex
- Same Sex
- Without parental consent
- with parental consent
- Male
- 19
- --
- XX
Candidacy Age
- Lower House
- 28 Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union
- Upper House
- 40
Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union
Partially indirectly elected and appointed.
Criminal Responsibility
(2007)
Situation of Young People
Literacy Rates
- 95.65% Male (15-24) %
- 95.52% Female (15-24) %
- Year: 2015
- Source: UNESCO
Net Enrolment Rate
Secondary School- --Male %
- -- Female %
- Year: No data.
- Source: UNESCO
Situation of Young People
Tobacco Use
Consumed any smokeless or smoking tobacco product at least once 30 days prior to the survey.- 25.50% Male (13-15) %
- 5.70% Female (13-15) %
- Year: 2010
- Source: WHO
Policy & Legislation
While Algeria has no youth policies, it has various regulations and programmes that affect youth. The Constitution of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria provides the right to universal free education up to 16 years of age (Article 53). The National Service Code of 1974 (French) states that two years of national service is mandatory for all males over 19 years of age. In 2002, this was lowered to 18 months and since December 2011, all men over 30 years of age have been exempted from service. The Ministry of Youth and Sport has Directorates in each of the provinces that are responsible for local youth centres, youth hostels, village halls, youth camps, and sport facilities. The Ministry of Employment & Social Security and The Ministry of National Solidarity both offer programmes and incentives supporting the hiring of school and university graduates.
Public Institutions
(ministry, department or office) that is primarily responsible for youth?
Youth and Representation
Budget & Spending
According to the World Bank, Algeria spent 20.3% of its government expenditure and 4.3% of GDP on education in 2008.
- % of GDP
- % of gov. expenditure
Source: World Bank
Additional Background
Today, the Algerian youth is socially considered through the mirror of the social crisis. It is also associated with ’social evils’, such as unemployment, drugs, political violence and delinquency, urban riots and ’harragas’ (those who emigrate clandestinely).
On youth unemployment:Young people below 30 are the main victims of unemployment, representing 72% of all unemployed people. When they have jobs, nearly 77% of them do not have national insurance even though it is compulsory in Algeria.
On youth crime: Juvenile delinquency generated by the development of social inequalities and poverty is on the increase. Young Algerians have taken part in violent uprisings:In addition, the social context is marked by many urban riots in some of the Algerian cities mostly caused by young people. The riots that occurred in the city of Oran - using the pretext of the relegation of the local football club to a lower division – cannot deceive anyone. Indeed, marginalized and excluded young people are the ones reacting violently in such situations. It is therefore urgent to clarify the Algerian State’s public action in direction of the younger Algerian generations.
In response, senior politicians have acknowledged the lack of government coordination on youth:The President of the Republic acknowledged for the first time that ‘national policies have not always reached the expectations of youth. In particular, they lacked effectiveness and consistency because of the lack of operational mechanisms for consultation and coordination of the various institutions dealing with youth issues.
Youth policy in Algeria is under construction. It tends to move towards an inter-sectoral and general policy. Indeed, public action in the direction of youth intervenes in various areas: unemployment, vocational training, drug prevention, non-formal education and sports. There is not yet any inter-ministerial coordination in charge of youth issues.