Algeria: Women account for 9% of the total number of traders registered with the CNRC

According to the same data, the number of female traders registered in the commercial register reached 218,486 in the first week of March 2026, compared to 159,807 on 31 December 2019, representing 58,679 new registrations. This number has increased by 37% in six years.

On the same date, except for liberal professions, agricultural activities, and traditional trades, which are governed by a specific legislative framework, among these registrations, 194,443 concern individuals, and 24,043 concern legal entities (company managers).

As for the activities most commonly carried out by female traders who are natural persons, the CNRC's report shows that food retail trade ranks first, accounting for 17.06% of all activities, followed by clothing, jewellery, and cosmetics (10.60%).

Services related to accommodation and catering occupy third place (7.04%), while retail trade in equipment and supplies for sports and entertainment activities, as well as office equipment and artistic items, accounts for 6.18%.

Furthermore, transport and related services account for 6.03%, and retail trade in supplies, equipment and domestic furnishings accounts for 4.22% of the activities carried out.

Among women registered as legal entities, managers of companies active in production, manufacturing, or processing related to construction materials, architectural work, major public works, and industrial thermal equipment rank highest (8.49%).

They are followed by design, consulting and assistance offices (8.04%), cultural and entertainment activities including media and advertising (5.71%), transport-related services and ancillary services (4.87%), the rental of structures and equipment for professional or domestic use (3.43%), and the installation and repair of industrial and domestic equipment (2.97%).

The NRC's assessment of the distribution of commercial registers held by women, whether natural or legal persons, shows a high concentration in the country's main economic and urban centres.

Algiers tops the ranking with 26,648 registers, representing 12.2% of the national total, followed by Oran (14,267 registers, 6.5%), Tizi Ouzou (8,713 registers, 4%), Constantine (7,627 registers, 3.5%), Blida (6,587 registers, 3%) and Sidi Bel Abbès (6,483 registers, 3%).