Socio-economic context of urbanization in Algeria

Abstract

Since independence, a large migration movement from south to north, and from urban to rural areas has characterized Algeria, this led to an increase in urbanization rates from 31% in 1966 to 65% in the last census in 2008. . According to the latest estimates of the National Bureau of Statistics, this rate in 2018 was estimated at 70%, which is likely to rise to 85% by 2050. The most important reasons for urban growth in Algeria can be explained by the great demographic growth that Algeria experienced in the years 60 and 70, which led the population to move from rural to urban. This article aims to monitor the most important stages of urbanization in its social and economic context in Algeria from 1966 to 2008, by highlighting the most important urban imbalances, economic deficit and social deterioration in major Algerian cities, as a result of urban expansion of a backward nature, which represented a coherent response to the poor classes in order to search for work and housing, All this has faced obstacles, such as the economic crisis of 1986 and the political and security crisis of the 90s.