# Sétif

> municipality of Algeria

**Wikidata**: [Q244004](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q244004)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sétif)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/setif

## Summary
Sétif is a major municipality and big city located in the Sétif District of Algeria, serving as the capital of both the Sétif Province and the Sétif District. Situated at an elevation of 1,096 meters with coordinates 36.19°N 5.41°E, the city covers an area of 127.30 square kilometers. It has a recorded population of 288,461 people as of the 2008 census and maintains twin-city relationships with international metropolises such as Lyon, Rennes, and Miami.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Designated as a commune of Algeria, a city, and a big city.
- **Location**: Located within the Sétif District, Sétif Province, Algeria; historically part of France until July 3, 1962.
- **Area**: Covers a total area of 127.30 square kilometres.
- **Elevation**: Positioned 1,096 metres above sea level.
- **Population**: 288,461 (2008 census); other recorded figures include 232,992 (1998), 179,384 (1987), and 211,289 (1900 estimate).
- **Capital Status**: Serves as the capital of the Sétif Department, Sétif Province, and Sétif District.
- **Time Zone**: UTC+01:00.
- **Postal Code**: 19000.
- **UN/LOCODE**: DZSET.
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 36.19, Longitude 5.41.
- **Historical Entity**: Follows the historical entity known as Setifis.
- **Native Name**: سطيف (Sétif).
- **Twin Towns**: Includes Rennes (twinned 1987), Lyon (twinned 2015), Cairo, Miami, Rio de Janeiro, Shiraz, Al Ahmadi, and Villefranche-sur-Saône.

## FAQs
**What is the geographical location of Sétif?**
Sétif is situated in northeastern Algeria within the Sétif District at an elevation of 1,096 meters. Its geographical coordinates are 36.19 degrees North and 5.41 degrees East.

**How has the population of Sétif changed over time?**
The city has experienced significant growth, increasing from an estimated 21,289 residents in 1900 to 288,461 according to the 2008 census. Intermediate censuses recorded 232,992 residents in 1998 and 179,384 in 1987.

**What international relationships does Sétif maintain?**
Sétif is twinned with several international cities, including Rennes (since 1987), Lyon (since 2015), Cairo, Miami, Rio de Janeiro, and others, facilitating cross-border cooperation.

**What administrative functions does Sétif serve?**
The municipality acts as the capital for three distinct administrative divisions: the Sétif Department, the Sétif Province, and the Sétif District.

## Why It Matters
Sétif serves as a pivotal administrative and demographic hub within Algeria. As the capital of the Sétif Province and District, it functions as a central node for regional governance and infrastructure, indicated by its specific UN/LOCODE (DZSET) and postal code (19000). Its high elevation (1,096m) gives it a distinct geographical profile compared to other regional cities. Furthermore, its extensive network of twin cities—including major global centers like Lyon, Cairo, and Rio de Janeiro—highlights its role in international diplomacy and cultural exchange. The city's historical transition from French administration to independent Algeria in 1962 also marks it as a site of significant geopolitical change.

## Notable For
- **High Elevation**: At 1,096 metres above sea level, it holds a prominent topographical position.
- **Rapid Historical Growth**: Population grew over tenfold from 1900 (21,289) to 2008 (288,461).
- **Extensive Global Twinning**: Maintains active partnerships with eight cities across four continents, including specific agreements signed with Rennes (1987) and Lyon (2015).
- **Multilingual Documentation**: The entity is documented in 68 different language versions on Wikipedia, indicating high global interest.
- **Historical Continuity**: Succeeds the historical settlement known as Setifis.

## Body

### Geography and Administration
Sétif is classified as a commune of Algeria, explicitly identified as a large human settlement (city and big city). It is geographically positioned at 36.19° latitude and 5.41° longitude. The municipality occupies a land area of 127.30 square kilometres. A defining characteristic of its terrain is its high elevation, standing at 1,096 metres above sea level. Sétif serves as the administrative capital for the Sétif Department, the Sétif Province, and the Sétif District. The city operates within the UTC+01:00 time zone and utilizes the postal code 19000.

### Demographics
The population of Sétif has demonstrated consistent growth over the last century according to census and estimation data:
- **2008**: 288,461 (Census)
- **1998**: 232,992 (Census)
- **1987**: 179,384 (Census)
- **1977**: 130,156 (Census)
- **1966**: 89,302 (Census)
- **1950**: 37,235 (Estimation)
- **1900**: 21,289 (Estimation)

### International Cooperation
Sétif maintains an extensive network of twinned administrative bodies, reflecting its global integration:
- **Rennes**: Twinned since March 30, 1987.
- **Lyon**: Twinned since October 2015.
- **Other Twin Cities**: Al Ahmadi, Cairo, Villefranche-sur-Saône, Shiraz, Rio de Janeiro, and Miami.

### Historical and National Context
Historically, the region was a municipality of France until July 3, 1962. The modern city succeeds the ancient entity known as Setifis. Native and official nomenclature for the entity includes "سطيف" (Sétif), and it is also known by aliases such as Setif, Satif, and 塞蒂夫. The city is associated with the "Sétif-Algeria" topic on Quora and has a dedicated category for births, deaths, and associated people in its honor.

### Identifiers and Digital Presence
Sétif possesses a wide array of unique identifiers across global databases:
- **UN/LOCODE**: DZSET
- **Geonames ID**: 2481700
- **GND ID**: 4118608-4
- **VIAF ID**: 125575132
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n86126853
- **OpenStreetMap Node ID**: 4306315224
- **Freebase ID**: /m/0b961k
- **Great Russian Encyclopedia Online ID**: 3659499

Visual documentation of the municipality is available through panoramic aerial views and locator maps hosted on Wikimedia Commons. The entity has a sitelink count of 68 and is covered in Wikipedia languages ranging from Afrikaans and Arabic to Japanese and Chinese.

## References

1. [Source](https://services.interieur.gov.dz/index.php/fr/45-le-ministere/cooperation-et-partenariat.html?start=5#faqnoanchor)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. [Sétif (Province Capital, Sétif, Algeria) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location](http://citypopulation.de/en/algeria/setif/1901__s%C3%A9tif/)
5. GeoNames
6. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/dz.htm)
7. [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/places/inaturalist-places.csv.zip)
8. KBpedia