How Many Provinces Does Algeria Have? All 58 Listed

Algeria has 58 provinces, known as wilayas (Arabic: ولايات). The wilaya is the country's primary administrative division. Algeria expanded from 48 to 58 wilayas in a 2019 reform that promoted ten southern Saharan districts to full provinces.

As the largest country in Africa by area, Algeria spreads its 58 wilayas across Mediterranean coast, high plateaus, and vast Sahara. Below is the complete list of all 58, plus how the system works and which provinces are the largest and most populous.

How Algeria's Administrative System Works

Each wilaya is headed by a governor (wali) appointed by the president and an elected provincial assembly. Wilayas are further divided into daïras (districts) and then into communes (baladiyas) — Algeria has 553 daïras and 1,541 communes in total. Wilayas are officially numbered, originally 1–48; the ten provinces created in 2019 carry numbers 49–58.

The 2019 Reform: From 48 to 58

For decades Algeria had 48 wilayas. In 2019 the government elevated ten "delegated wilayas" in the sparsely populated south to full provincial status, improving local administration across the immense Saharan interior. The ten new wilayas are: Timimoun, Bordj Badji Mokhtar, Ouled Djellal, Béni Abbès, In Salah, In Guezzam, Touggourt, Djanet, El M'Ghair, and El Meniaa.

Complete List of All 58 Provinces (Wilayas)

1. Adrar
2. Chlef
3. Laghouat
4. Oum El Bouaghi
5. Batna
6. Béjaïa
7. Biskra
8. Béchar
9. Blida
10. Bouira
11. Tamanrasset
12. Tébessa
13. Tlemcen
14. Tiaret
15. Tizi Ouzou
16. Algiers
17. Djelfa
18. Jijel
19. Sétif
20. Saïda
21. Skikda
22. Sidi Bel Abbès
23. Annaba
24. Guelma
25. Constantine
26. Médéa
27. Mostaganem
28. M'Sila
29. Mascara
30. Ouargla
31. Oran
32. El Bayadh
33. Illizi
34. Bordj Bou Arréridj
35. Boumerdès
36. El Tarf
37. Tindouf
38. Tissemsilt
39. El Oued
40. Khenchela
41. Souk Ahras
42. Tipaza
43. Mila
44. Aïn Defla
45. Naâma
46. Aïn Témouchent
47. Ghardaïa
48. Relizane
49. Timimoun
50. Bordj Badji Mokhtar
51. Ouled Djellal
52. Béni Abbès
53. In Salah
54. In Guezzam
55. Touggourt
56. Djanet
57. El M'Ghair
58. El Meniaa

Largest and Most Populated

By area, the southern Saharan wilayas — led by Tamanrasset and Adrar — are by far the biggest, each covering hundreds of thousands of square kilometres of desert with very few inhabitants. By population, Algiers, the capital, is the most populous wilaya with over 3 million residents, followed by densely settled northern coastal provinces such as Oran, Sétif, and Tizi Ouzou.

Key Facts

• Algeria has 58 wilayas (provinces) as its primary administrative divisions.
• The number rose from 48 to 58 in a 2019 reform creating ten new southern provinces.
• Wilayas are subdivided into 553 daïras and 1,541 communes.
• Tamanrasset and Adrar are the largest by area; Algiers is the most populous.
• Algeria is the largest country in Africa, so its Saharan wilayas are vast but sparsely populated.

Fun Facts

• A single wilaya like Tamanrasset is larger than most countries on Earth.
• The 2019 reform was the first major expansion of Algeria's provinces since 1984.
• Many wilaya names — In Salah, In Guezzam, Tamanrasset — come from Tuareg and other indigenous Saharan languages.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many provinces does Algeria have?

Algeria has 58 provinces, called wilayas. This increased from 48 in 2019, when ten southern districts were promoted to full provincial status.

What is a wilaya?

A wilaya is Algeria's top-level administrative division, similar to a province or state. Each is run by a presidentially appointed governor (wali) and an elected assembly, and is subdivided into daïras and communes.

What is the largest province in Algeria?

By area, the southern Saharan wilayas such as Tamanrasset and Adrar are the largest, covering vast stretches of desert. By population, Algiers, the capital province, is the largest with over 3 million people. See how big the whole country is in our guide to Algeria's size.

Which countries border Algeria?

Algeria shares borders with seven countries plus Western Sahara. Read more in our guide to the neighbouring countries of Algeria and where Algeria is located.