Algeria is a country located in North Africa, bordered by Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco, and the Mediterranean Sea. It is the largest country in Africa and the tenth largest in the world. The official language is Arabic, and the population is predominantly Muslim. Algeria is known for its diverse landscape, including the Sahara Desert, the Atlas Mountains, and the Mediterranean coastline. The country's economy is heavily reliant on oil and gas exports, and it has a history of political instability and conflict, including a decade-long civil war in the 1990s. Algeria gained independence from France in 1962.