2001 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 34.21% (male 5,528,755; female 5,328,083) 15-64 years: 61.72% (male 9,901,319; female 9,687,449) 65 years and over: 4.07% (male 594,973; female 695,474) (2001 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

135 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 51 over 3,047 m: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 24 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 84 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 40 under 914 m: 18 (2000 est.)

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

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, disbanded itself in January 2000 and many armed militants surrendered under an amnesty program designed to promote national reconciliation. Nevertheless, residual fighting continues. Other concerns include large-scale unemployment and the need to diversify the petroleum-based economy. Algeria Geography

Birth rate

22.76 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Budget

revenues: $15.8 billion expenditures: $16 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.3 billion (2001 est.)

Capital

Algiers

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

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: People's Democratic Republic of Algeria conventional short form: Algeria local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Sha'biyah local short form: Al Jaza'ir

Currency

Algerian dinar (DZD)

Currency code

DZD

Death rate

5.22 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Debt - external

$25 billion (2000 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Janet A. SANDERSON embassy: 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers mailing address: B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers telephone: [213] (21) 69-11-86, 69-12-55, 69-18-54, 69-38-75

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Idriss JAZAIRY chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-2800

Disputes - international

part of southeastern region claimed by Libya; Algeria supports exiled West Saharan Polisario Front and rejects Moroccan administration of Western Sahara

Economic aid - recipient

$100 million (1999 est.)

Economy - overview

The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 60% of budget revenues, 30% 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. Algeria's financial and economic indicators improved during the mid-1990s, in part because of policy reforms supported by the IMF and debt rescheduling from the Paris Club. Algeria's finances in 2000 benefited from the spike in oil prices and the government's tight fiscal policy, leading to a large increase in the trade surplus, the near tripling of foreign exchange reserves, and reduction in foreign debt. The government continues 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

21.613 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

307 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

330 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

23.215 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 99.14% hydro: 0.86% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

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, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban

Ethnic groups

Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%

Exchange rates

Algerian dinars per US dollar - 74,813 (January 2001), 75.260 (2000), 66.574 (1999), 58.739 (1998), 57.707 (1997), 54.749 (1996)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Ali BENFLIS (since 26 August 2000) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president 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 election results: Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA elected president; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA over 70%; note - his six opposing candidates withdrew on the eve of the election citing electoral fraud

Exports

$19.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%

Exports - partners

Italy 22%, US 15%, France 12%, Spain 11%, Brazil 8%, Netherlands 5% (1999)

FAX

[1] (202) 667-2174

[213] (21) 69-39-79

Fiscal year

calendar year Algeria Communications

Flag description

two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a red, five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the two-color boundary; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam (the state religion) Algeria Economy

GDP

purchasing power parity - $171 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 11% industry: 37% services: 52% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $5,500 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5% (2000 est.)

Geographic coordinates

28 00 N, 3 00 E

Geography - note

second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan) Algeria People

Government type

republic

Heliports

1 (2000 est.) Algeria Military

Highways

total: 104,000 km paved: 71,656 km (including 640 km of expressways) unpaved: 32,344 km (1996 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.07% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$9.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital goods, food and beverages, consumer goods

Imports - partners

France 30%, Italy 9%, Germany 7%, Spain 6%, US 5%, Turkey 5% (1999)

Independence

5 July 1962 (from France)

Industrial production growth rate

7% (1999 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

40.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2% (2000 est.)

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Internet country code

.dz

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

20,000 (2000) Algeria Transportation

Irrigated land

5,550 sq km (1993 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Labor force

9.1 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

government 29%, agriculture 25%, construction and public works 15%, industry 11%, other 20% (1996 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.)

Languages

Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects

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 five-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; the constitution requires half the council to be renewed every three years) elections: National People's Assembly - last held 5 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); Council of Nations - last held 30 December 2000 (next to be held NA 2003) 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%, Progressive Republican Party 0.8%, Union for Democracy and Liberty 0.3%, Social Liberal Party 0.3%, independents 2.8%; seats by party - RND 155, MSP 69, FLN 64, Nahda Movement 34, FFS 19, RCD 19, PT 4, Progressive Republican Party 3, Union for Democracy and Liberty 1, Social Liberal Party 1, independents 11; Council of Nations - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RND 79, FLN 12, FFS 4, MSP 1 (remaining 48 seats appointed by the president, party breakdown NA)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 69.95 years male: 68.6 years female: 71.34 years (2001 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 61.6% male: 73.9% female: 49% (1995 est.) Algeria Government

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

Merchant marine

total: 73 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 896,911 GRT/1,047,991 DWT ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 25, chemical tanker 7, liquefied gas 10, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 13, short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 1 (2000 est.)

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.87 billion (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

4.1% (FY99) Algeria Transnational Issues

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 8,794,622 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 5,383,770 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age

19 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 388,939 (2001 est.)

National holiday

Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)

Nationality

noun: Algerian(s) adjective: Algerian

Natural hazards

mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mud slides

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc

Net migration rate

-0.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 6,612 km; petroleum products 298 km; natural gas 2,948 km

Political parties and leaders

Democratic National Rally or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA, chairman]; Islamic Salvation Front or FIS (outlawed April 1992) [Ali BELHADJ and Dr. Abassi MADANI (imprisoned), Rabeh KEBIR (self-exile in Germany)]; Movement of a Peaceful Society or MSP [Mahfoud NAHNAH, chairman]; National Liberation Front or FLN [Boualem BENHAMOUDA, secretary general]; Progressive Republican Party [Khadir DRISS]; Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD [Said SAADI, secretary general]; Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement [Lahbib ADAMI]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Ahmed KHELIL]; Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general (self-exile in Switzerland)]; Union for Democracy and Liberty [Mouley BOUKHALAFA]; Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUN] note: a party law banning political parties based on religion was enacted in March 1997

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

31,736,053 (July 2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

23% (1999 est.)

Population growth rate

1.71% (2001 est.)

Ports and harbors

Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Beni Saf, Dellys, Djendjene, Ghazaouet, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda, Tenes

Radio broadcast stations

AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999)

Radios

7.1 million (1997)

Railways

total: 4,820 km standard gauge: 3,664 km 1.435-m gauge (301 km electrified; 215 km double track) narrow gauge: 1,156 km 1.055-m gauge (1996)

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 (2001 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

general assessment: telephone density in Algeria is very low, not exceeding five telephones per 100 persons; the number of fixed main lines has been increased in the last few years to a little more than 2,000,000, but only about two-thirds of these have subscribers; much of the infrastructure is outdated and inefficient 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 (1998)

Telephones - main lines in use

2.3 million (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

33,500 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

46 (plus 216 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions

3.1 million (1997)

Terrain

mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Total fertility rate

2.72 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

30% (1999 est.)

Waterways

none