Algeria: more than 1.5 million abandoned houses

The fifth national census of population and housing results revealed that Algeria counts more than seven million housing units, with a maximum number of five million and 244 thousand populations. That means abandoned and empty houses in Algeria are estimated at more than million and a half.

• Some sociologists considered the fifth population census in terms of geographic criteria and discovered the presence of more than 29 million Algerians inside big cities. This proves the increased pace of rural exodus and that it has become a real danger threatening the demographic structure of Algerian society.
• Specialist in this field and professor Jamal Ben Messaoud confirmed that the rate of displacement, which increased during the past ten years, will result in no countryside in Algeria.
• He recalled the consensus data which revealed that from total of five million and 776 thousand inhabitants and 441 families. A total of 71 percent live in big or small cities, i.e. 29 million inhabitants of the total 34.8 million. Only five million of them are residents inside Algerian countryside.
• Results also revealed the penetration of nomads through 44 provinces including the capital at 15 individuals. This number is distributed in many coastal cities, such as Oran (west of Algeria) 96, Annaba 234, Skikda 64 and Bejaia 16 (east of Algeria).
• Additionally, the results revealed the presence of more than one million and a half abandoned houses. According to Mohamed Ibrahimi, a professor in sociology and demography sciences at the University of Algiers, a number of inhabitants own more than one house.
• In comments on social figures in top social growth rate, Ms. Chrifa .S, a socialist and demographist confirmed that stability of birth proportion and the high rate of marriage are not signs of high standards of living in Algeria. “The reality, which was not mentioned in the census, revealed existence of  poverty inside Algerian society,” she said.
• Doctor Abdelhamid, specialized in accounting at the statistics centre said that a future strategy was underlined to monitor reality of both rich and poor Algerians.