The Role of Smaller Towns in Algeria: An Urban and Economic Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18690/rg.20.2.5023Keywords:
smaller towns, urbanization, regional dynamics, economic activities, AlgeriaAbstract
This paper examines the vital role of smaller towns in Algeria’s urbanization, highlighting their influence on national and regional dynamics. As Algeria reflects global urbanization trends, disparities remain between the north and south. Smaller towns—urban centers with populations of 5,000 to 50,000—serve as key links between rural and urban areas, facilitating trade, services, and regional integration. Using census and economic data, the study employs quantitative analysis to evaluate their functions. Despite financial and administrative hurdles, these towns are crucial for promoting regional balance and easing urban concentration. The paper advocates policies to enhance infrastructure, economic opportunities, and services in small towns, emphasizing their significance for sustainable development and for reducing spatial inequalities in Algeria’s growing urban landscape.
Downloads
References
Annez, P. C., & Buckley, R. M. (2009). Urbanization and Growth: setting the context. In The World Bank. https://doi.org/: 10.1596/978-0-8213-7573-0
Belkhatir, A. (1999). Villes et territoires en Algérie. [Cities and territories in Algeria] Méditerranée, 91(1), 73–84. https://doi.org/10.3406/medit.1999.3089
Bousmaha Ahmed, Boulkaibet Aissa, & Kouba Yacine. (2021). Dynamique des villes en Algerie. application du critère de la taille des villes selon le modèle hiérarchique de « la loi de zipf ». [Dynamics of cities in Algeria. Application of the criterion of the size of cities according to the hierarchical model of “Zipf’s law] 2ème Colloque International: Les Villes Petites et Moyennes Dans Un Monde Globalisé. Quel Avenir Face à La Métropolisation?, 28–47. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359349189_DYNAMIQUE_DES_VILLES_EN_ALGERIE_APPLICATION_DU_CRITERE_DE_LA_TAILLE_DES_VILLES_SELON_LE_MODELE_HIERARCHIQUE_DE_LA_LOI_DE_ZIPF
Camagni, R., Capello, R., & Caragliu, A. (2014). The Rise of Second-Rank Cities: What Role for Agglomeration Economies? https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2014.904999
Cohen, B. (2006). Urbanization in developing countries: Current trends, future projections, and key challenges for sustainability. Technology in Society, 28(1–2), 63–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TECHSOC.2005.10.005
Côte, M. (1978). Alger et sa place dans la hiérarchie. [Algiers and its place in the hierarchy]. Villes En Parallèle, 2(1), 7–17. https://doi.org/10.3406/VILPA.1978.882
Côte, M. (1994). L’urbanisation en Algérie: idées reçues et réalités. [Urbanization in Algeria: preconceived ideas and realities]. Travaux de l’Institut de Géographie de Reims, 85(1), 59–72. https://doi.org/10.3406/TIGR.1994.1304
Davis, K. (2020). ""The urbanization of the human population"": Scientifc American (1965). In The City Reader (pp. 19–30). Taylor and Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429261732-4/URBANIZATION-HUMAN-POPULATION-KINGSLEY-DAVIS
Dijkstra, L., & Poelman, H. (2012.). Regional Focus A series of short papers on regional research and indicators produced by the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy CITIES IN EUROPE THE NEW OECD-EC DEFINITION. Retrieved December 10, 2021, from www.oecd.org/gov/regional/measuringurban
Elmqvist, T., Fragkias, M., Goodness, J., & Güneralp, B. (2013). Urbanization, biodiversity and ecosystem services: challenges and opportunities: a global assessment. https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/28058/2013_Book_UrbanizationBiodiversityAndEco.pdf?sequence=1
GHSL. (n.d.). Global definition of cities, urban and rural areas. Retrieved April 4, 2024, from https://human-settlement.emergency.copernicus.eu/degurba.php
Hinderink, J., & Titus, M. (2002). Small towns and regional development: Major findings and policy implications from comparative research. Urban Studies, 39(3), 379–391. https://doi.org/10.1080/00420980220112748
IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). (2014). Impacts adaptation and vulnerability.
Isserman, A. M. (1977). The Location Quotient Approach to Estimating Regional Economic Impacts. Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 43(1), 33–41. https://doi.org/10.1080/01944367708977758
Jacobs, A. J. (2013). The 'world's cities: contrasting regional, national, and global perspectives. Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/The-Worlds-Cities-Contrasting-Regional-National-and-Global-Perspectives/Jacobs/p/book/9780415894869
Jules, D. (1859). l’Algérie “tableau historique, descriptif et statistique.” [ Algeria historical table, description and statistics]
Kateb, K. (2003). Population et organisation de l’espace en Algérie. [Population and spatial organization in Algeria]. Espace Geographique, 32(4), 311–331. https://doi.org/10.3917/EG.324.0311
Kojima, R. (1996). Introduction: population migration and urbanization in developing countries. The Developing Economies, 34(4), 349–369. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1746-1049.1996.TB01176.X
Kumar, A. (2017). Urbanization, in The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social Theory. Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social Theory. https://www.academia.edu/8586061/Urbanization_in_The_Wiley_Blackwell_Encyclopedia_of_Social_Theory_
Loi n° 01-20 du 12 décembre 2001 relative à l’aménagement et au développement durable du territoire. [Territorial planning and sustainable development Law]. (2001). Journal Officiel Algérie. https://www.informea.org/fr/node/207952
Loi n° 06-06 du 20 février 2006 portant loi d’orientation de la ville. [The city Orientation Law]. (2006). Journal Officiel Algérie. https://www.interieur.gov.dz/index.php/fr/le-ministere/le-minist%C3%A8re/textes-legislatifs-et-reglementaires/40-le-dispositif-legal-regissant-la-wilaya-et-la-commune/398-la-loi-n%C2%B006-%E2%80%93-06-du-20-f%C3%A9vrier-2006-portant-loi-d%E2%80%99orientation-de-la-ville.html
Lösch, A., Woglom, W. H., & Stolper, W. F. (1954). The economics of location. Yale University Press. https://search.worldcat.org/title/268428
Macrotrends. (2025). Algeria – Population [Data set]. Retrieved November 3, 2025, from https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/dza/algeria/population
Matei G. (2024). Urban hierarchy and spatial interaction in the regional urban system in Dobrogea, Romania. Journal for Geography, 19(2), 93-116. https://doi.org/10.18690/rg.19.2.4560
McCann, E. J. (2004). Urban Political Economy Beyond the ""Global City"." Urban Studies, 41(12), 2315–2333. https://doi.org/10.1080/00420980412331297555
Mumford, L. (1938). The Culture of Cities. https://www.panarchy.org/mumford/cities.html
OECD. (2011). OECD REGIONAL TYPOLOGY. www.oecd.org/regional/regionsataglance
ONS. Office National des Statistiques. Available online: https://www.ons.dz/spip.php?rubrique33 (accessed on 02 February 2025)
O'Sullivan, Arthur. (2000). Urban economics. Irwin/McGraw-Hill. https://books.google.com/books/about/Urban_Economics.html?hl=fr&id=U5JsIgAACAAJ
Parnell, S., & Pieterse, E. (2014). 'Africa's Urban Revolution. In Urban Forum (Zed Books, Issue 1). https://doi.org/10.1007/S12132-014-9234-4
Pile, S. (1999). City Worlds: What is a city? Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/City-Worlds/Allen-Massey-Pile/p/book/9780415200707
Raham, D., Zeghiche, A., & Boukhemis, K. (2004). Essai de mesure et d’analyse des formes du maillage administratif. Le cas des wilayas de l’Est algérien. [Attempt to measure and analyze the forms of the administrative network. The case of the provinces of eastern Algeria]. L’Espace Géographique, 33(3), 256–266. https://doi.org/10.3917/EG.333.0256
Ritchie, H., Samborska, V., & Roser, M. (2018). Urbanization - The world population is moving to cities. Why is urbanization happening and what are the consequences? https://ourworldindata.org/urbanization
Saidi, F. A., Phinzi, K., & Molnár, E. (2023). Urbanization in Algeria: Toward a More Balanced and Sustainable Urban Network? Social Sciences, 12(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/SOCSCI12030174
Saidi, F. A., Saidi, I., & Molnár, E. (2024). Industrial Production Networks and Small Towns: A Case Study from Algeria. Urban Science, 8(4), 180. https://doi.org/10.3390/URBANSCI8040180
Simon, D. (2014). New evidence and thinking on urban environmental change challenges. International Development Planning Review, 36(2). https://doi.org/10.3828/IDPR.2014.9
Sudjic, Deyan. (1993). The 100 mile city. Flamingo. https://books.google.com/books/about/The_100_Mile_City.html?id=xc9PjxB_5HQC
Tisdale, H. (1941). The Process of Urbanization. Social Forces, 20. https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/josf20&id=327&div=53&collection=journals
United Nations. (2018). The Sustainable Development Goals Report. https://www.un.org/development/desa/publications/the-sustainable-development-goals-report-2018.html
US Census Bureau. (2020). Classification and Delineation of Urban Areas in a Census. www.unfpa.org
Wirth, L. (1938). Urbanism as a Way of Life. American Journal of Sociology, 44(1), 1-24.
Wisner, B., Pelling, M., Mascarenhas, A., Holloway, A., Ndong, B., Faye, P., Ribot, J., & Simon, D. (2015). Small Cities and Towns in Africa: Insights into Adaptation Challenges and Potentials. 153–196. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03982-4_5
Zinkina, J., Ilyin, I., & Korotayev, A. (2017). Globalistics and Globalization Studies. 164–172.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Feyrouz Ahlam Saidi, Ikram Saidi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.