French Algerians in 1950

[Lowtuff]

Is there a demographic map of Algeria from around 1950 showing where and in what densities French Algerians lived? I can't find much info on the topic... It would be really helpful if one of you guys could help me out with this.

[LSCatilina]

You had around 10% of the population in 1960 of europeans-issued population in Algeria. A little more than 1 million.

The population was more important on the coast and mountains than on desert of course, but the distinction between highlands and coasts wasn't that obvious.

Constantine, Bone had an important european population and even, as in Alger and even more Oran an european plurality.



White : 0 to 2%
Light blue : 2 to 5%
Blue : 2 to 5%
Dark blue : 10 to 30%
Very dark blue: more than 30%

[pearsonwright]

Originally Posted by Lowtuff

Is there a demographic map of Algeria from around 1950 showing where and in what densities French Algerians lived? I can't find much info on the topic... It would be really helpful if one of you guys could help me out with this.

I couldn't find a map (Edit LSCatilina found one), but I know that the Pied-Noirs made up roughly 16% of the Population of Algeria, being concentrated mostly on the coast, in major cities.

Oran was nearly 60% European in 1950, but most of those Europeans were Spanish (French Algeria attracted immigrants from Spain, Italy and Malta along with France)

Also, here are the divisions of French Algeria.

I suspect the Oran Department would be the only majority European inhabited area, while Algeris might have a Plurality (LSCatilina found a map on it)


EDIT: Ninja'd

[LSCatilina]

Originally Posted by pearsonwright

I don't know if there is a map, but I know that the Pied-Noirs made up roughly 16% of the Population of Algeria, being concentrated mostly on the coast, in major cities.

15% of the population was the maximum reached, in 1925.

For demographics, the population wasn't that focused on the coast : many agricultural colonies were more in the land between coast proper and highlands. I don't know the proportion of rural european population but it was important.

Oran was nearly 60% European in 1950, but most of those Europeans were Spanish (French Algeria attracted immigrants from Spain, Italy and Malta along with France)

I don't think "most" is accurate. An important part yes, but certainly not the majority.

For Oran, no. The city had an european plurality (around 49%), but the countryside proportion was less important. I don't think you had a clear majority.

[pearsonwright]

Originally Posted by LSCatilina

15% of the population was the maximum reached, in 1925.


I don't think "most" is accurate. An important part yes, but certainly not the majority.

For Oran, no. The city had an european plurality (around 49%), but the countryside proportion was less important. I don't think you had a clear majority.

I think I included French Soldiers in Algeria in my figure (fail on my part), your right, French made up about 10% of the Population

For Oran, however, I disagree

In 1950, Oran has 256,661 inhabitants. Sixty-five percent of the total of Europeans is of Spanish origin more than the total number of Muslims in the city.

In 1961, The census stated the population of Oran was about 400,000 inhabitants: 220,000 Europeans and 180,000 Muslims

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Alger it seems is about 46% European, as per the 1954 census which stated that 296,041 or 46% of the 645,479 people counted were declared to be non-Moslem

[LSCatilina]

Originally Posted by pearsonwright

I think I included French Soldiers in Algeria in my figure (fail on my part), your right, French made up about 10% of the Population

Even with soldiers, you wouldn't have 16% of the population. French Algeria had around 10 millions of inhabitants in 1950's.

For Oran, however, I disagree

These are the official statistic of 1959.

In 1950, Oran has 256,661 inhabitants. Sixty-five percent of the total of Europeans is of Spanish origin more than the total number of Muslims in the city.

65%? It's certainly slightly overestimated.

For Jordi, the proportion in Oranie is something like that.

1910 : 218 000 "Legal French" / 93 000 Spanish
1930 : 273 000 / 78 000

Of course, it doesn't count the french population of spanish origin, but as it was integrated, it would make little sense.
That said, we could count it, for sake of it.

1910 : 110 000 / 108 000 / 93 000
1930 : 120 000 / 153 000 / 78 000

In 1961, The census stated the population of Oran was about 400,000 inhabitants: 220,000 Europeans and 180,000 Muslims

Post-1960 statistics are exceptionals : you had a rural exode of european population that made cities overpopulated with non-Muslim population.

They aren't representative of the historical demographies.

EDIT : Without counting the people that was in metropole during this time : my father and part of his sisters were sent in France after some times, while the situation became really perillous. Even the 1959 Statistics could be criticised as not that representative, while they are certainly more accurate (as made before 1959 partially) than the 60's one.