2000 Edition

Background

After a century of rule by France, Algeria became independent in 1962. The surprising first round success of the fundamentalist FIS (Islamic Salvation Front) party in December 1991 balloting caused the army to intervene, crack down on the FIS, and postpone the subsequent elections. The FIS response has resulted in a continuous low-grade civil conflict with the secular state apparatus, which nonetheless has allowed elections featuring pro-government and moderate religious-based parties. FIS's armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, dissolved itself in January 2000 and many armed insurgents surrendered under an amnesty program designed to promote national reconciliation. Nevertheless, some residual fighting continues. Other concerns include large-scale unemployment and the need to diversify the petroleum-based economy.

Area

land

2,381,740 sq km

total

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

highest point

Tahat 3,003 m

lowest point

Chott Melrhir -40 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, Hazardous Wastes, 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

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

total

6,343 km

Land use

arable land

3%

forests and woodland

2%

other

82% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

13%

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 35% (male 5,591,044; female 5,389,046) 15-64 years: 61% (male 9,582,864; female 9,381,088) 65 years and over: 4% (male 577,875; female 672,000) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

23.14 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%

Infant mortality rate

41.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects

Life expectancy at birth

female

71.02 years (2000 est.)

male

68.34 years

total population

69.65 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

49% (1995 est.)

male

73.9%

total population

61.6%

Nationality

adjective

Algerian

noun

Algerian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

31,193,917 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.74% (2000 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: 0.86 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.8 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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

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

telephone

(2) 69-11-86, 69-12-55, 69-18-54, 69-38-75

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Idriss JAZAIRY

telephone

(202) 265-2800

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999)

election results

Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA elected president; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA 70%; note - six of the seven candidates withdrew sighting persistent electoral fraud

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 15 April 1999 (next to be held NA April 2004); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Ahmed BENBITOUR (since 2 December 1999)

FAX

(202) 667-2174

(2) 69-39-79

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, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

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)

election results

National People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - RND 40.8%, MSP 18.2%, FLN 16.8%, Nahda Movement 8.9%, FFS 5%, RCD 5%, PT 1.1%, Republican Progressive Party 0.8%, Union for Democracy and Freedoms 0.3%, Liberal Social Party 0.3%, independents 2.8%; 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)

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)

National holiday

Anniversary of the Revolution, 1 November (1954)

Political parties and leaders

Algerian Democratic Front or FAD ; Algerian National Front or ANF ; Algerian Renewal Party or PRA ; Democratic National Rally or RND ; Islamic Salvation Front or FIS (outlawed April 1992) [Ali BELHADJ, Dr. Abassi MADANI, Rabeh KEBIR (self-exile in Germany)]; Liberal Social Party ; Movement for Democracy in Algeria or MDA [Ahmed Ben BELLA]; Movement for Loyalty and Justice [Ahmed Taleb IBRAHIMI, president; Movement of a Peaceful Society or MSP [Mahfoud NAHNAH, chairman]; Nahda Movement or Al Nahda ; National Liberation Front or FLN [Boualem BENHAMOUDA, secretary general]; National Party for Solidarity and Development or PNSD [Rabah BENCHERIF]; National Republican Alliance or ANR ; Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD ; Republican Progressive Party ; Social Democratic Movement or MDS ; Socialist Forces Front or FFS ; Union for Democracy and Freedoms ; Workers Party or PT

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle

Budget

expenditures

$15.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)

revenues

$15.5 billion

Currency

1 Algerian dinar (DA) = 100 centimes

Debt - external

$30 billion (1999 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 stalled in 1992 as the country became embroiled in political turmoil. 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. Some progress on economic reform, Paris Club debt reschedulings in 1995 and 1996, and oil and gas sector expansion contributed to a recovery in growth since 1995. Still, 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, but has had little success in reducing high unemployment and improving living standards.

Electricity - consumption

19.882 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

313 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

312 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

21.38 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

99.77%

hydro

0.23%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

Algerian dinars (DA) per US$1 - 69.046 (January 2000), 66.574 (1999), 58.739 (1998), 57.707 (1997), 54.749 (1996), 47.663 (1995)

Exports

$13.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%

Exports - partners

Italy 21.2%, US 15.0%, France 12.9%, Spain 10.3%, Brazil 5.9%, Netherlands 5.5% (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $147.6 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

12%

industry

51%

services

37% (1997 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,700 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.9% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 26.8% (1995)

Imports

$9.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital goods, food and beverages, consumer goods

Imports - partners

France 29.5%, Italy 9.8%, US 7.2%, Spain 6.8%, Germany 6.2%, Canada 4.1% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

7% (1999 est.)

Industries

petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.2% (1999 est.)

Labor force

9.1 million (2000 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

23% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate

30% (1999 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999)

Radios

7.1 million (1997)

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 - main lines in use

1.176 million (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

33,500 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

18 (not including low-power stations) (1999)

Televisions

3.1 million (1997)

Airports

137 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

51 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

86 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 41 under 914 m: 19 (1999 est.)

Heliports

1 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

71,656 km (including 640 km of expressways)

total

104,000 km

unpaved

32,344 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 9, cargo 27, chemical tanker 7, liquified gas 11, petroleum tanker 5, roll-on/roll-off 13, short-sea passenger 5, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.)

total

78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 940,196 GRT/1,094,104 DWT

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

narrow gauge

1,156 km 1.055-m gauge (1996)

standard gauge

3,664 km 1.435-m gauge (301 km electrified; 215 km double track)

total

4,820 km (301 km electrified; 215 km double track)

Military branches

National Popular Army, Navy, Air Force, Territorial Air Defense, National Gendarmerie

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.3 billion (FY94)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.7% (FY94)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 8,523,257 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 5,220,318 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

19 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

373,547 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

part of southeastern region claimed by Libya

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