The COVID-19 pandemic collided with a nation navigating political transition and economic vulnerability, creating a perfect storm. This is the story of that first year, told through data.
Key events that shaped Algeria's pandemic response throughout 2020.
First case of COVID-19 is confirmed in an Italian national.
"Variable geometry" lockdown begins: total quarantine for Blida, partial curfew for Algiers.
Official Case Fatality Rate peaks at 15.8%, the highest in the world at the time due to limited testing.
The second wave of infections reaches its peak with 675 new daily cases officially recorded.
The third and most severe wave of 2020 peaks with 1,133 new daily cases reported.
The progression of COVID-19 in Algeria during 2020 was marked by three waves. The official data, constrained by limited testing, shows peaks in late April, a larger one in late July, and the most significant surge in November.
The working-age population (25-49) accounted for the largest share of infections, reflecting their higher mobility and social interaction.
The burden of mortality fell overwhelmingly on the elderly, with 75% of all fatalities occurring in individuals aged 60 and over.
Algeria's economy was hit by two simultaneous crises: the internal lockdown halting domestic activity and the external collapse of global oil prices, the state's primary source of revenue.
The price of Brent crude oil, critical for Algeria's budget, crashed from ~$60 to as low as ~$20 per barrel in 2020, devastating state revenues.
(Down from $195B in 2014)
(Announced May 2020)
The pandemic response was inseparable from the country's political context, unfolding against a backdrop of protest and deep public mistrust in state institutions.
The pandemic revealed decades of underinvestment in the public healthcare system, which was ill-prepared for a crisis of this magnitude.