Ouargla is the capital city of the Ouargla Province, located in the Sahara Desert in southern Algeria. It serves as a significant regional hub characterized by its flourishing petroleum industry and its role as an educational center, hosting one of the country's universities, the University of Ouargla.
Demographic data from the 2008 census recorded a population of 133,024 for the commune of Ouargla, reflecting an annual growth rate of 1.7% since 1998. When including the neighboring commune of Rouissat within its urban area, the total population is approximately 191,136.