1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 2,381,740 sq km land: 2,381,740 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative
slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas
Climate
arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer
Coastline
998 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 m highest point: Tahat 3,003 m
Environment--current issues
soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment--international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Geographic coordinates
28 00 N, 3 00 E
Geography--note
second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)
Irrigated land
5,550 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 6,343 km border countries: Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km, Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km
Land use
arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 2% other: 82% (1993 est.)
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia
Map references
Africa
Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mud slides
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc
Terrain
mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 37% (male 5,911,910; female 5,696,538) 15-64 years: 59% (male 9,255,702; female 9,063,954) 65 years and over: 4% (male 559,570; female 645,812) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
27 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
5.52 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%
Infant mortality rate
43.82 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 69.24 years male: 68.07 years female: 70.46 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 61.6% male: 73.9% female: 49% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Algerian(s) adjective: Algerian
Net migration rate
-0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
31,133,486 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
2.1% (1999 est.)
Religions
Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.27 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
48 provinces (wilayas, singular--wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain Temouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, Jijel, Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila, Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanghasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen
Capital
Algiers
Constitution
19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976; revised 3 November 1988, 23 February 1989, and 28 November 1996; note--referendum approving the revisions of 28 November 1996 was signed into law 7 December 1996
Country name
conventional long form: Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria conventional short form: Algeria local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Shabiyah local short form: Al Jaza'ir
Data code
AG
Executive branch
chief of state: President Liamine ZEROUAL (appointed president 31 January 1994, elected president 16 November 1995) head of government: Interim Prime Minister Smail HAMDANI (since 15 December 1998); note--appointed as interim prime minister until April 1999 presidential elections cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 November 1995 (next to be held NA April 1999; note--ZEROUAL announced in September 1998 his intention to step down after early presidential elections); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Liamine ZEROUAL elected president; percent of vote--Liamine ZEROUAL 61.3%
Flag description
two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white with a red, five-pointed star within a red crescent; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam (the state religion)
Government type
republic
Independence
5 July 1962 (from France)
International organization participation
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ramtane LAMAMRA chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Cameron R. HUME embassy: 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers mailing address: B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme) Political parties and leaders: Islamic Salvation Front or FIS BENHAMOUDA, secretary general]; Socialist Forces Front or FFS note: the government established a multiparty system in September 1989 and, as of 31 December 1990, over 50 legal parties existed; a new party law was enacted in March 1997
Legal system
socialist, based on French and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials, including several Supreme Court justices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
bicameral Parliament consists of the National People's Assembly or Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani (380 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Council of Nations (144 seats; one-third of the members appointed by the president, two-thirds elected by indirect vote; members serve six-year terms; created as a result of the constitutional revision of November 1996) elections: National People's Assembly--last held 5 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2001); elections for two-thirds of the Council of Nations--last held 25 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: National People's Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA%; seats by party--RND 156, MSP 69, FLN 62, Nahda Movement 34, FFS 20, RCD 19, PT 4, Republican Progressive Party 3, Union for Democracy and Freedoms 1, Liberal Social Party 1, independents 11; Council of Nations--percent of vote by party--NA%; seats by party--RND 80, FLN 10, FFS 4, MSP 2 (remaining 48 seats appointed by the president, party breakdown NA)
National holiday
Anniversary of the Revolution, 1 November (1954)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle
Budget
revenues: $14.4 billion expenditures: $15.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $4.4 million (1998 est.)
Currency
1 Algerian dinar (DA) = 100 centimes
Debt--external
$31.4 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient
$897.5 million (1994)
Economy--overview
The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 52% of budget revenues, 25% of GDP, and over 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the fifth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the second largest gas exporter; it ranks fourteenth for oil reserves. Algiers' efforts to reform one of the most centrally planned economies in the Arab world began after the 1986 collapse of world oil prices plunged the country into a severe recession. In 1989, the government launched a comprehensive, IMF-supported program to achieve economic stabilization and to introduce market mechanisms into the economy. Despite substantial progress toward economic adjustment, in 1992 the reform drive stalled as Algiers became embroiled in political turmoil. In September 1993, a new government was formed, and one priority was the resumption and acceleration of the structural adjustment process. Burdened with a heavy foreign debt, Algiers concluded a one-year standby arrangement with the IMF in April 1994 and the following year signed onto a three-year extended fund facility which ended 30 April 1998. Progress on economic reform, a Paris Club debt rescheduling in 1995, and oil and gas sector expansion have contributed to a recovery since 1995. Investments in developing hydrocarbon resources have spurred growth, but the economy remains heavily dependent on volatile oil and gas revenues. The government has continued efforts to diversify the economy by attracting foreign and domestic investment outside the energy sector in order to reduce high unemployment and improve living standards.
Electricity--consumption
18.13 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
490 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
220 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
18.4 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 98.91% hydro: 1.09% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
Algerian dinars (DA) per US$1--61.264 (January 1999), 58.739 (1998), 57.707 (1997), 54.749 (1996), 47.663 (1995), 35.059 (1994)
Exports
$14 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities
petroleum and natural gas 97%
Exports--partners
Italy 18.8%, US 14.8%, France 11.8%, Spain 8%, Germany 7.9% (1995 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$140.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 12% industry: 51% services: 37% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$4,600 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
3.2% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 26.8% (1995)
Imports
$8.5 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities
capital goods, food and beverages, consumer goods
Imports--partners
France 29%, Spain 10.5%, Italy 8.2%, US 8%, Germany 5.6% (1995 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
-4% (1997 est.)
Industries
petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
9% (1998 est.)
Labor force
7.8 million (1996 est.)
Labor force--by occupation
government 29.5%, agriculture 22%, construction and public works 16.2%, industry 13.6%, commerce and services 13.5%, transportation and communication 5.2% (1989)
Population below poverty line
22.6% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate
30% (1998 est.)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 23, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1998 est.)
Radios
3.5 million (1998 est.)
Telephone system
domestic: good service in north but sparse in south; domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations (20 additional domestic earth stations are planned) international: 5 submarine cables; microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat
Telephones
1,381,342 (5,200 cellular telephone subscribers) (1997)
Television broadcast stations
18 (not including low-power stations) (1997)
Televisions
2 million (1998 est.)
Transportation
Airports
137 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 51 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 24 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 86 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 40 under 914 m: 19 (1998 est.)
Heliports
1 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 102,424 km paved: 70,570 km (including 608 km of expressways) unpaved: 31,854 km (1995 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 933,672 GRT/1,094,104 DWT ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 27, chemical tanker 7, liquefied gas tanker 11, oil tanker 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 13, short-sea passenger 5, specialized tanker 1 (1998 est.)
Pipelines
crude oil 6,612 km; petroleum products 298 km; natural gas 2,948 km Ports and harbors: Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Beni Saf, Dellys, Djendjene, Ghazaouet, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda, Tenes
Railways
total: 4,772 km standard gauge: 3,616 km 1.435-m gauge (301 km electrified; 215 km double track) narrow gauge: 1,156 km 1.055-m gauge
Military and Security
Military branches
National Popular Army, Navy, Air Force, Territorial Air Defense, National Gendarmerie
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$1.3 billion (1994)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
2.7% (1994)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 8,237,682 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 5,046,931 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
19 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 359,592 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
part of southeastern region claimed by Libya