<p><strong>Background</strong>: Aging and lifestyle changes had led to an epidemiological transition, with a significant impact on the incidence of cardiovascular diseases in North Africa. <br /><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Objective</strong>: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its associated factors, which were unknown, among an urban population in Algeria.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> During 2007-2009, 787 individuals aged 30-64 years, randomly selected from the list of insured persons residing in the city of Oran, participated in a clinical, anthropometric and biological survey. Participants were classified according to the National Cholesterol Education Program - Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP-ATP) III definition of metabolic syndrome.<br /><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Results</strong>: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 20%, higher in women than men (25.9 vs 13.7%; P<.0001). Among the<br />components of the syndrome, the most common risk factors observed in women were a low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration (60.4% vs 44.2% in men) and abdominal obesity (46.8% vs 30.1% in men) whereas men displayed more high blood pressure (42.5% vs 34.8% in women). In men, metabolic syndrome was more frequent in married and highly educated participants. In contrast, women with a high level of education and who had an intermediate level of physical activity seemed to be protected.<br /><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Conclusions</strong>: Metabolic syndrome, prevalent in the urban population of North Algeria, is associated with a high proportion of low HDL-cholesterol and abdominal obesity, especially among women. There is a need for prevention strategies involving promotion of physical activity for the whole population and screening for hypertension among men. <em>Ethn Dis</em>. 2016;26(1):99-106; doi:10.18865/ed.26.1.99</p>