2003 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: 32.8% (male 5,485,197; female 5,285,434) 15-64 years: 63% (male 10,460,475; female 10,224,389) 65 years and over: 4.2% (male 624,839; female 738,166) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

136 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 914 to 1,523 m: 5

total

54

under 914 m

1 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

82 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23

under 914 m

19 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 38

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

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 the December 1991 balloting caused the army to intervene, crack down on the FIS, and postpone the subsequent elections. The fundamentalist 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. The FIS's armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded in January 2000 and many armed militants of other groups surrendered under an amnesty program designed to promote national reconciliation. Nevertheless, small numbers of armed militants persist in confronting government forces and carrying out isolated attacks on villages and other types of terrorist attacks. Other concerns include Berber unrest, large-scale unemployment, a shortage of housing, and the need to diversify the petroleum-based economy. Geography Algeria

Birth rate

21.94 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$18.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.8 billion (2001 est.)

revenues

$20.3 billion

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

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

5.09 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$21.6 billion (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Richard W. ERDMAN (as of 10 July 2003)

embassy

4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers

mailing address

B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers

telephone

[213] (21) 691-425/255/186

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2137 Wyoming Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Idriss JAZAIRY

Disputes - international

Libya claims about 32,000 sq km in a dormant dispute still reflected on its maps in southeastern Algeria; armed bandits based in Mali attack southern Algerian towns; border with Morocco remains closed over mutual claims of harboring militants, arms smuggling; Algeria supports the exiled Sahrawi Polisario Front and rejects Moroccan administration of Western Sahara This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Distribution of family income - Gini index

35.3 (1995)

Economic aid - recipient

$162 million (2000 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 14th in oil reserves. 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 2000-03 benefited from substantial trade surpluses, record foreign exchange reserves, and reductions in foreign debt. Real GDP has risen due to higher oil output and increased government spending. The government's continued efforts to diversify the economy by attracting foreign and domestic investment outside the energy sector, however, has had little success in reducing high unemployment and improving living standards.

Electricity - consumption

22.9 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

340 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

275 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

24.69 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

99.7%

hydro

0.3%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

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

Ethnic groups

Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%

Exchange rates

Algerian dinars per US dollar - 79.68 (2002), 77.22 (2001), 75.26 (2000), 66.57 (1999), 58.74 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999)

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

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 OUYAHIA (since 9 May 2003)

Exports

$19.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%

Exports - partners

Italy 18.9%, Spain 13.1%, France 13%, US 12.1%, Netherlands 6%, Brazil 5.9%, Canada 5.7%, Turkey 5.3%, Belgium 5.1% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 667-2174

[213] (21) 69-39-79

telephone

[1] (202) 265-2800

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Algeria

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) Economy Algeria

GDP

purchasing power parity - $173.8 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

8%

industry

60%

services

32% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.3% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

28 00 N, 3 00 E

Geography - note

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

Government type

republic

Heliports

1 (2002) Military Algeria

Highways

paved

71,656 km (including 640 km of expressways)

total

104,000 km

unpaved

32,344 km (1999)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% - note: no country specific models provided (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

26.8% (1995)

lowest 10%

2.8%

Imports

$10.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports - partners

France 31%, Italy 10%, US 8.3%, Germany 6.6%, Spain 5.9%, Turkey 4.2% (2002)

Independence

5 July 1962 (from France)

Industrial production growth rate

6% (2001 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

35.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

40.34 deaths/1,000 live births

total

37.74 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.dz

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

180,000 (2001) Transportation Algeria

Irrigated land

5,600 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Labor force

9.4 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

3.21%

other

96.58% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.21%

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 (389 seats - changed from 380 seats in the 2002 elections; 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)

election results

National People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FLN 199, RND 48, MRN 43, MSP 38, PT 21, FNA 8, Nahda 1, PRA 1, MEN 1, independents 29; 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)

elections

National People's Assembly - last held 30 May 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); Council of Nations - last held 30 December 2000 (next to be held NA 2003)

Life expectancy at birth

female

72.01 years (2003 est.)

male

69.14 years

total population

70.54 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

61% (2003 est.) Government Algeria

male

78.8%

total population

70%

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

Median age

female

22.6 years (2002)

male

22.3 years

total

22.5 years

Merchant marine

here as a flag of convenience

United Arab Emirates 2 (2002 est.)

ships by type

bulk 9, cargo 23, chemical tanker 6, liquefied gas 10, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 12, short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 1, includes some foreign-owned ships registered

total

69 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 884,032 GRT/1,010,777 DWT

Military branches

People's National Army (ANP), Algerian National Navy (ANN), Air Force, Territorial Air Defense, National Gendarmerie

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.87 billion (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

4.1% (FY99) Transnational Issues Algeria

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

9,243,884 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

5,646,418 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

19 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

412,545 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)

Nationality

adjective

Algerian

noun

Algerian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

22.32 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

57.98 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

80.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

4.739 trillion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides and floods in rainy season

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

209,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

1.52 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

13.1 billion bbl (37257)

Pipelines

condensate 1,344 km; gas 87,347 km; liquid petroleum gas 2,213 km; oil 6,496 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Algerian National Front or FNA [Moussa TOUATI]; Democratic National Rally or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA, chairman]; Islamic Salvation Front or FIS (outlawed April 1992) [Ali BELHADJ and Dr. Abassi MADANI, Rabeh KEBIR (self-exile in Germany)]; Society of Peace Movement or MSP [Boujerra SOLTANI]; National Entente Movement or MEN [Ali BOUKHAZNA]; National Liberation Front or FLN [Ali BENFLIS, secretary general]; National Reform Movement or MRN [Abdellah DJABALLAH]; National Renewal Party or PRA [leader NA]; 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 law banning political parties based on religion was enacted in March 1997

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

32,818,500 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

23% (1999 est.)

Population growth rate

1.65% (2003 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

narrow gauge

1,085 km 1.055-m gauge (2002)

standard gauge

2,888 km 1.435-m gauge (283 km electrified)

total

3,973 km

Religions

Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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)

general assessment

telephone density in Algeria is very low, not exceeding five telephones per 100 persons; the number of fixed main lines 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

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

2.55 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

31% (2002 est.)

Waterways

none