M'Sila, Algeria

Capital City

The population of M'Sila, Algeria is a modest 132,975 according to the latest census. This dusty, semi-arid provincial capital is primarily known for its farming and small businesses - hardly the bustling metropolis many expats imagine. The climate is a constant headache, with baking summers and frigid winters that see around 229mm of annual rainfall. And the government's efforts to settle nomadic Algerians in purpose-built villages like Maader have created a persistent bureaucratic morass. M'Sila is a no-frills city best suited for those seeking a simple, agricultural lifestyle far from the chaos of Algeria's larger cities.