Although pastoralism is the primary economic activity in the steppe areas that occupy a large part of North Africa, very little is known about its contribution to national economies. This is partly because of the complex integration between crop and livestock sectors, and the major transformation in pastoral systems (e.g. decreased mobility, greater dependence on feed supplements), which makes it difficult to define a 'pastoral' household in North Africa in today's context.It is crucial to evaluate the contribution of the pastoral sector in national economies in order to influence government policies on livestock pastoralism and rangeland management. Future work should aim to fill the gaps in statistical data, examine long-term trends in steppe pastoral systems (which are often masked by high fluctuation in both climatic and economic conditions), and consider not only livestock production but also other environmental goods and services provided by the pastoral zones.