Culture in Algiers

Algiers, capital of the country, central to all activities, knows a complexity of problems; urbanism and housing, public transport, water distribution, landfill and traffic requiring some exceptional and urgent measures to hoist it to the rank of metropolis radiating on the Mediterranean. The old city of Algiers is one of the worst to be found in North Africa. If you want to see real slum, this is the place. This has been one of the most dangerous places for foreigners to visit, during the upheavals the last years. Entering this place is still a suicidal act.

The population quadrupled since independence. The city had just a half million of inhabitants in 1962, but reached 2,008,663 in 1995. At the time if independence, Algiers was a colonial type city that did not have the indispensable infrastructures for effective functioning as a capital.

The most prominent and important monument among all Algerian monuments is the 100 metre tall Martyr's Monument, some three km from town centre. It's a big open square, with the monument in the middle. The whole structure can be seen from wherever you are in Algiers. But the most ideal is to view it from the sea. Unfortunately the historic fabric of the city is being torn and the dilapidation to monuments, old buildings and other constructions continue. The main reason is the insufficiency of funds that can be deployed for this purpose. Protected monuments or buildings of historical interest are occupied either by the administrative services, or by prominent individuals or by foreign diplomatic representations.

The total population of the Wilaya of Algiers was 1.689.043 inhabitants according to the general census of population and habitat of 1987, it has been estimated in December 31, 1995 to be 2.008.663 inhabitants.

The increasing density of population, in particular in the dairate (townships) of greater Algiers has resulted in over loading of the existing built up area. The heavy migration from other parts of the country has had a negative impact on education, transport and lodging; drinking water etc. More funds, effective planning and a better utilization of resources is the only solution in the long term.