Updated
Overview
Algeria has 23% more people than Morocco: 47.44 million against 38.43 million (2025).
Algeria's economy is about 55% larger than Morocco's, at $287.03B versus $182.37B.
Per person, Algeria is the wealthier of the two: $6,051 against $4,672 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Algeria | Morocco | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $287.03B | $182.37B | 2025 | $263.62B / $154.43B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $6,051 | $4,672 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 3.8% | Higher: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 1.4% | Lower: 0.7% | 2025 | 4.0% / 1.0% |
| Unemployment | 11.6% | Lower: 9.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 42 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $149 | Higher: $314 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 47.44 million | 38.43 million | 2025 | 47.74 million / 37.39 million |
| Population growth | 1.3% | 0.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.6 yrs | 29.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.67 | 2.18 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 76.5 yrs | 75.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 76% | 63% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 77% | Higher: 91% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,381,741 km² | 446,550 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 19.9/km² | 86.1/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 198 Mt | Lower: 69 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 4.2 t | Lower: 1.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $21.81B | $5.52B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 8.0% | 3.5% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 326,000 | 246,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Morocco is growing faster: 4.6% annual GDP growth versus 3.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.4% in Algeria and 0.7% in Morocco.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Algeria: a price level of 33 versus 42 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 28.6 (Algeria) and 29.8 (Morocco).
Algeria is considerably more urbanized: 76% of people live in cities, against 63%.
Internet adoption is higher in Morocco (91% vs 77% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Algeria is 5.3 times the size of Morocco: 2,381,741 km² versus 446,550 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Morocco is far more densely settled: 86 people per km² against 20.
Military
Algeria spends 4.0 times as much on defence as Morocco: $21.81B versus $5.52B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Algeria carries the heavier military burden: 8.0% of GDP versus 3.5%.
Algeria fields the larger armed forces: 326,000 personnel against 246,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Algeria bigger than Morocco?
- Algeria is larger by land area. Algeria covers 2,381,741 km² while Morocco covers 446,550 km², so Algeria is 5.3 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Algeria or Morocco?
- Algeria has the larger population: 47.44 million versus 38.43 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Algeria richer than Morocco?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Algeria is richer: $6,051 against $4,672. Total GDP tells the same story: $287.03B for Algeria versus $182.37B for Morocco.
- Who spends more on their military, Algeria or Morocco?
- Algeria spends more: $21.81B versus $5.52B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).