2015 Edition

Background

After more than a century of rule by France, Algerians fought through much of the 1950s to achieve independence in 1962. Algeria's primary political party, the National Liberation Front (FLN), was established in 1954 as part of the struggle for independence and has largely dominated politics since. The Government of Algeria in 1988 instituted a multi-party system in response to public unrest, but the surprising first round success of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the December 1991 balloting led the Algerian army to intervene and postpone the second round of elections to prevent what the secular elite feared would be an extremist-led government from assuming power. The army began a crackdown on the FIS that spurred FIS supporters to begin attacking government targets. Fighting escalated into an insurgency, which saw intense violence from 1992-98, resulting in over 100,000 deaths - many attributed to indiscriminate massacres of villagers by extremists. The government gained the upper hand by the late-1990s, and FIS's armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded in January 2000.

Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA, with the backing of the military, won the presidency in 1999 in an election widely viewed as fraudulent. He was reelected to a second term in 2004 and overwhelmingly won a third term in 2009, after the government amended the constitution in 2008 to remove presidential term limits. Longstanding problems continue to face BOUTEFLIKA, including large-scale unemployment, a shortage of housing, unreliable electrical and water supplies, government inefficiencies and corruption, and the continuing activities of extremist militants.

The Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) in 2006 merged with al-Qa'ida to form al-Qa'ida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb, which has launched an ongoing series of kidnappings and bombings targeting the Algerian Government and Western interests. The government in 2011 introduced some political reforms in response to the Arab Spring, including lifting the 19-year-old state of emergency restrictions and increasing women's quotas for elected assemblies. Parliamentary elections in May 2012 and municipal and provincial elections in November 2012 saw continued dominance by the FLN, with Islamist opposition parties performing poorly. Political protest activity in the country remained low in 2013, but small, sometimes violent socioeconomic demonstrations by disparate groups continued to be a common occurrence. Parliament in 2014 is expected to revise the constitution.

Area

land

2,381,741 sq km

total

2,381,741 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

182 cu m/yr (2005)

total

5.72 cu km/yr (26%/16%/58%)

Geographic coordinates

28 00 N, 3 00 E

Geography - note

largest country in Africa

Irrigated land

5,694 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (7)

Libya 989 km, Mali 1,359 km, Mauritania 460 km, Morocco 1,900 km, Niger 951 km, Tunisia 1,034 km, Western Sahara 41 km

total

6,734 km

Land use

arable land 3.1%; permanent crops 0.4%; permanent pasture 13.8%

agricultural land

17.3%

forest

0.6%

other

82% (2011 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; mudslides and floods in rainy season

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

11.67 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

28.75% (male 5,820,027/female 5,547,573)

15-24 years

16.64% (male 3,368,415/female 3,213,185)

25-54 years

42.84% (male 8,569,397/female 8,369,078)

55-64 years

6.42% (male 1,289,595/female 1,248,385)

65 years and over

5.35% (male 977,744/female 1,138,767) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

23.67 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

5% (2006 est.)

total number

304,358

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.7% (2005)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

61.4% (2006)

Death rate

4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

9.1%

potential support ratio

11% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

52.6%

youth dependency ratio

43.6%

Drinking water source

urban: 84.3% of population

rural: 81.8% of population

total: 83.6% of population

urban: 15.7% of population

rural: 18.2% of population

total: 16.4% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

4.3% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%

note

although almost all Algerians are Berber in origin (not Arab), only a minority identify themselves as Berber, about 15% of the total population; these people live mostly in the mountainous region of Kabylie east of Algiers; the Berbers are also Muslim but identify with their Berber rather than Arab cultural heritage; Berbers have long agitated, sometimes violently, for autonomy; the government is unlikely to grant autonomy but has offered to begin sponsoring teaching Berber language in schools

Health expenditures

6.6% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.04% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

200 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

10,500 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2004)

Infant mortality rate

female

19.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

22.7 deaths/1,000 live births

total

20.98 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic (official), French (lingua franca), Berber dialects: Kabylie Berber (Tamazight), Chaouia Berber (Tachawit), Mzab Berber, Tuareg Berber (Tamahaq)

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.96 years (2015 est.)

male

75.29 years

total population

76.59 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

73.1% (2015 est.)

male

87.2%

total population

80.2%

Major urban areas - population

ALGIERS (capital) 2.594 million; Oran 858,000 (2015)

Median age

female

27.8 years (2015 est.)

male

27.2 years

total

27.5 years

Nationality

adjective

Algerian

noun

Algerian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23.6% (2014)

Physicians density

1.21 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population

39,542,166 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.84% (2015 est.)

Religions

Muslim (official; predominantly Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian and Jewish)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 89.8% of population

rural: 82.2% of population

total: 87.6% of population

urban: 10.2% of population

rural: 17.8% of population

total: 12.4% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2011)

male

14 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.05 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.86 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.03 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.78 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

38.2% (2011 est.)

male

19.1%

total

22.4%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.77% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

70.7% of total population (2015)

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, Tamanrasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen

Capital

geographic coordinates

36 45 N, 3 03 E

name

Algiers

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

birthright citizenship

no

Constitution

adopted 8 September 1963; amended several times, last in 2008 to remove presidential term limits (2013)

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

note

the country name derives from the city of Algiers

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Joan A. POLASCHIK (since 22 September 2014)

embassy

05 Chemin Cheikh Bachir, El-Ibrahimi, El-Biar 16030 Algiers

FAX

[213] (0) 770-08-2064

mailing address

B. P. 408, Alger-Gare, 16030 Algiers

telephone

[213] (0) 770-08-2000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Madjid BOUGUERRA (since 23 February 2015)

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 986-5906

telephone

[1] (202) 265-2800

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999)

election results

Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA reelected president for a fourth term; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (FLN) 81.5%, Ali BENFLIS (FLN) 12.2%, Abdelaziz BELAID (Future Front) 3.4%, other 2.9%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 17 April 2014 (next to be held in April 2019); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Abdelmalek SELLAL (since 28 April 2014)

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 colors represent Islam (green), purity and peace (white), and liberty (red); the crescent and star are also Islamic symbols, but the crescent is more closed than those of other Muslim countries because Algerians believe the long crescent horns bring happiness

Government type

republic

Independence

5 July 1962 (from France)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BIS, CAEU, CD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of 150 judges organized into 4 divisions: civil and commercial; social security and labor; criminal; and administrative; Constitutional Council (consists of 9 members including the court president); note - Algeria's judicial system does not include sharia courts

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges appointed by the High Council of Magistracy, an administrative body presided over by the president of the republic, and includes the republic vice-president and several members; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Council members - 3 appointed by the president of the republic, 2 each by the 2 houses of the Parliament, 1 by the Supreme Court, and 1 by the Council of State; Council president and members appointed for single 6-year terms with half the membership renewed every 3 years

subordinate courts

appellate or wilaya courts; first instance or daira tribunals

Legal system

mixed legal system of French civil law and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials including several Supreme Court justices

Legislative branch

description

bicameral Parliament consists of the Council of the Nation (144 seats; one-third of members appointed by the president, two-thirds indirectly elected by simple majority vote by an electoral college composed of local council members; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 3 years) and the National People's Assembly (462 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)

election results

Council of the Nation election of 29 December 2009 - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; National People's Assembly election of 10 May 2012 - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FLN 221, RND 70, AAV 47, FFS 21, PT 17, FNA 9, El Adala 7, MPA 6, PFJ 5, FC 4, PNSD 4, other 32, independent 19

elections

Council of the Nation - last held on 29 December 2012 (next to be held in December 2017); National People's Assembly - last held on 10 May 2012 (next to be held in 2017)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Mufdi ZAKARIAH/Mohamed FAWZI

name

"Kassaman" (We Pledge)

note

adopted 1962; ZAKARIAH wrote "Kassaman" as a poem while imprisoned in Algiers by French colonial forces

National holiday

Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)

National symbol(s)

star and crescent, fennec fox; national colors: green, white, red

Political parties and leaders

Algerian National Front or FNA [Moussa TOUATI]; Algerian Popular Movement or MPA [Amara BENYOUNES]; Algerian Rally [Ali ZAGHDOUD]; Algeria's Hope Rally or TAJ [Amar GHOUL]; Dignity or El Karama [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Front for Change or FC [Abdelmadjid MENASRA]; Front for Justice and Development or El Adala [Abdallah DJABALLAH]; Future Front or El Mostakbel [Abdelaziz BELAID]; Green Algeria Alliance or AAV (includes Movement for National Reform, Islamic Renaissance Movement, and Movement of the Society of Peace or Hamas); Islamic Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement [Mohamed DHOUIBI]; Movement of the Society of Peace or MSP [Abderrazak MOKRI]; National Democratic Rally (Rassemblement National Democratique) or RND [Bensalah ABDELKADER]; National Liberation Front or FLN [Amar SAIDANI]; National Party for Solidarity and Development or PNSD; National Reform Movement or Islah [Djahid YOUNSI] (see Green Algeria Alliance); New Dawn Party or PFJ; New Generation or Jil Jadid [Soufiane DJILALI]; New Light Party [Bedreddine BELBAZ]; Oath of 1954 or Ahd 54 [Ali Fawzi REBAINE]; Party of Justice and Liberty [Mohammed SAID]; Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD [Mohcine BELABBAS]; Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Mustafa BOUCHACHI]; Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUNE]

note

a law banning political parties based on religion was enacted in March 1997

Political pressure groups and leaders

Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights or LADDH [Noureddine BENISSAD]

SOS Disparus [Nacera DUTOUR]

Youth Action Rally or RAJ

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$89.21 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$79.53 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4% (31 December 2010)

4% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8% (31 December 2014 est.)

8% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$9.289 billion (2014 est.)

$542.8 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$4.872 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$5.285 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

35.3 (1995)

Economy - overview

Algeria's economy remains dominated by the state, a legacy of the country's socialist postindependence development model. In recent years the Algerian Government has halted the privatization of state-owned industries and imposed restrictions on imports and foreign involvement in its economy. Hydrocarbons have long been the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 60% of budget revenues, 30% of GDP, and over 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the 10th-largest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the sixth-largest gas exporter. It ranks 16th in oil reserves. Strong revenues from hydrocarbon exports have brought Algeria relative macroeconomic stability, with foreign currency reserves approaching $200 billion and a large budget stabilization fund available for tapping. In addition, Algeria's external debt is extremely low at about 2% of GDP. However, Algeria has struggled to develop non-hydrocarbon industries because of heavy regulation and an emphasis on state-driven growth. The government's efforts have done little to reduce high youth unemployment rates or to address housing shortages. A wave of economic protests in February and March 2011 prompted the Algerian Government to offer more than $23 billion in public grants and retroactive salary and benefit increases, moves which continue to weigh on public finances. Long-term economic challenges include diversifying the economy away from its reliance on hydrocarbon exports, bolstering the private sector, attracting foreign investment, and providing adequate jobs for younger Algerians.

Exchange rates

Algerian dinars (DZD) per US dollar -

79.6 (2014 est.)

79.368 (2013 est.)

77.54 (2012 est.)

72.938 (2011 est.)

74.386 (2010 est.)

Exports

$62.1 billion (2014 est.)

$64.38 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97% (2009 est.)

Exports - partners

Egypt 17%, Iran 13.3%, US 10.8%, NZ 7.8%, Republic of the Congo 7.5%, UAE 7.1%, Benin 4.9%, Thailand 4.1% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

30.1%

government consumption

19.3%

household consumption

35.8%

imports of goods and services

-29.1%

investment in fixed capital

34.5%

investment in inventories

9.4%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

8.6%

industry

48.3%

services

43.1% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$14,300 (2014 est.)

$13,700 (2013 est.)

$13,300 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.1% (2014 est.)

2.8% (2013 est.)

3.3% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$214.1 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$551.8 billion (2014 est.)

$529.9 billion (2013 est.)

$515.7 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

40.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

45.3% of GDP (2013 est.)

46.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

26.8% (1995)

lowest 10%

2.8%

Imports

$55.36 billion (2014 est.)

$55.37 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports - partners

China 14.1%, France 10.8%, Italy 8.6%, Spain 8.6%, Germany 6.5%, US 4.9% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

2.8% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.9% (2014 est.)

3.2% (2013 est.)

Labor force

12.19 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

14%

construction and public works

10%

government

32%

industry

13.4%

other

16% (2003 est.)

trade

14.6%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

23% (2006 est.)

Public debt

7.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

7.1% of GDP (2013 est.)

note

data cover central government debt as well as debt issued by subnational entities and intra-governmental debt

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$193.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$195 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$164.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$152.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$1.955 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.865 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$27.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$24.97 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$27.92 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$6.398 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$115.2 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$105.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

34.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

10.6% (2014 est.)

9.8% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

133.9 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

1.097 million bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

6,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

1.762 million bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

12.2 billion bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

44 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

985 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

98% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

2.2% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

936 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

15.2 million kW (2013 est.)

Electricity - production

48.05 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

32.3 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

49 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

78.6 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

4.505 trillion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

380,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

471,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

17,270 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

571,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

state-run Radio-Television Algerienne operates the broadcast media and carries programming in Arabic, Berber dialects, and French; use of satellite dishes is widespread, providing easy access to European and Arab satellite stations; state-run radio operates several national networks and roughly 40 regional radio stations (2007)

Internet country code

.dz

Internet users

percent of population

16.7% (2014 est.)

total

6.5 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999)

Telephone system

domestic

a limited network of fixed lines with a teledensity of less than 10 telephones per 100 persons has been offset by the rapid increase in mobile-cellular subscribership; in 2011, mobile-cellular teledensity was roughly 100 telephones per 100 persons

general assessment

privatization of Algeria's telecommunications sector began in 2000; three mobile cellular licenses have been issued and, in 2005, a consortium led by Egypt's Orascom Telecom won a 15-year license to build and operate a fixed-line network in Algeria; the license will allow Orascom to develop high-speed data and other specialized services and contribute to meeting the large unfulfilled demand for basic residential telephony; Internet broadband services began in 2003

international

country code - 213; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-4 fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satellite earth stations - 51 (Intelsat, Intersputnik, and Arabsat) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

8 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

3.1 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

96 (2014 est.)

total

37.3 million

Television broadcast stations

46 (plus 216 repeaters) (1995)

Airports

157 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

17

2,438 to 3,047 m

29

914 to 1,523 m

5

over 3,047 m

12

total

64

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

34 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

18

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

39

total

93

Heliports

3 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 6, cargo 8, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 11, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 3

foreign-owned

15 (UK, 15) (2010)

total

38

Pipelines

condensate 2,600 km; gas 16,415 km; liquid petroleum gas 3,447 km; oil 7,036 km; refined products 144 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

LNG terminal(s) (export)

Arzew, Bethioua, Skikida

major seaport(s)

Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djendjene, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda

Railways

narrow gauge

1,085 km 1.055-m gauge (2014)

standard gauge

2,888 km 1.432-m gauge (283 km electrified)

total

3,973 km

Roadways

paved

87,605 km (includes 645 km of expressways)

total

113,655 km

unpaved

26,050 km (2010)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

10,114,552 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

10,273,129

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

8,626,222 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

8,622,897

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

330,098 (2010 est.)

male

342,895

Military branches

People's National Army (Armee Nationale Populaire, ANP), Land Forces (Forces Terrestres, FT), Navy of the Republic of Algeria (Marine de la Republique Algerienne, MRA), Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jaza'eriya, QJJ), Territorial Air Defense Force (2009)

Military expenditures

4.48% of GDP (2012)

4.36% of GDP (2011)

4.48% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

17 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; 19-30 years of age for compulsory service; conscript service obligation is 18 months (6 months basic training, 12 months civil projects) (2012)

Disputes - international

Algeria and many other states reject Moroccan administration of Western Sahara; the Polisario Front, exiled in Algeria, represents the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic; Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each nation accusing the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling; dormant disputes include Libyan claims of about 32,000 sq km still reflected on its maps of southeastern Algeria and the National Liberation Front's (FLN) assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

undetermined (civil war during 1990s) (2013)

refugees (country of origin)

90,000 (Western Saharan Sahrawi, mostly living in Algerian-sponsored camps in the southwestern Algerian town of Tindouf) (2014)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Algeria is a transit and, to a lesser extent, a destination and source country for women subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking and, to a lesser extent, men subjected to forced labor; criminal networks, sometimes extending to sub-Saharan Africa and to Europe, are involved in human smuggling and trafficking in Algeria; sub-Saharan adults enter Algeria voluntarily but illegally, often with the aid of smugglers, for onward travel to Europe, but some of the women are forced into prostitution, domestic service, and begging; some sub-Saharan men, mostly from Mali, are forced into domestic servitude; some Algerian women and children are also forced into prostitution domestically

tier rating

Tier 3 - Algeria does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so: some officials denied human trafficking despite evidence; no efforts were made to investigate, prosecute, or convict perpetrators of human trafficking or forced labor; victim identification remained weak, and no system existed to provide victims with protection and assistance; no anti-trafficking public awareness or educational campaigns were conducted (2014)