| Introduction |
Algeria |
| 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), has
dominated politics ever since. Many Algerians in the subsequent generation
were not satisfied, however, and moved to counter the FLN's centrality in
Algerian politics. The surprising first round success of the Islamic
Salvation Front (FIS) in the December 1991 balloting spurred 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. The government later allowed elections
featuring pro-government and moderate religious-based parties, but did not
appease the activists who progressively widened their attacks. The fighting
escalated into an insurgency, which saw intense fighting between 1992-98 and
which resulted 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. However, small numbers of armed militants persist in
confronting government forces and conducting ambushes and occasional attacks
on villages. The army placed Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA in the presidency in 1999
in a fraudulent election but claimed neutrality in his 2004 landslide
reelection victory. Longstanding problems continue to face BOUTEFLIKA in his
second term, including the ethnic minority Berbers' ongoing autonomy
campaign, large-scale unemployment, a shortage of housing, unreliable
electrical and water supplies, government inefficiencies and corruption, and
the continuing activities of extremist militants. The 2006 merger of the
Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) with al-Qaida (followed by a
name change to al-Qaida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb) signaled an
increase in bombings, including high-profile, mass-casualty suicide attacks
targeted against the Algerian government and Western interests. Algeria must
also diversify its petroleum-based economy, which has yielded a large cash reserve
but which has not been used to redress Algeria's many social and
infrastructure problems. |
| Geography |
Algeria |
| Location: |
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea,
between Morocco and Tunisia |
| Geographic coordinates: |
28 00 N, 3 00 E |
| Map references: |
Africa |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Coastline: |
998 km |
| Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm |
| exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm |
| 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 |
| Terrain: |
mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains;
narrow, discontinuous coastal plain |
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 m |
| highest point: Tahat
3,003 m |
| Natural resources: |
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates,
uranium, lead, zinc |
| Land use: |
arable land: 3.17% |
| permanent crops: 0.28% |
| other: 96.55% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: |
5,690 sq km (2003) |
| Total renewable water resources: |
14.3 cu km (1997) |
| Freshwater withdrawal
(domestic/industrial/agricultural): |
total: 6.07 cu km/yr (22%/13%/65%) |
| per capita: 185 cu m/yr
(2000) |
| Natural hazards: |
mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes;
mudslides and floods in rainy season |
| 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 |
| Geography - note: |
second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan) |
| People |
Algeria |
| Population: |
33,769,669 (July 2008 est.) |
| Age structure: |
0-14 years: 26.3% (male
4,528,919/female 4,349,746) |
| 15-64 years: 68.7% (male
11,699,701/female 11,509,619) |
| 65 years and over: 5%
(male 779,467/female 902,217) (2008 est.) |
| Median age: |
total: 26 years |
| male: 25.8 years |
| female: 26.2 years (2008
est.) |
| Population growth rate: |
1.209% (2008 est.) |
| Birth rate: |
17.03 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
| Death rate: |
4.62 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
| Net migration rate: |
-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
| Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.05 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: 1.01
male(s)/female (2008 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: |
total: 28.75 deaths/1,000 live
births |
| male: 31.95 deaths/1,000
live births |
| female: 25.39
deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 73.77 years |
| male: 72.13 years |
| female: 75.49 years
(2008 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: |
1.82 children born/woman (2008 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
0.1%; note - no country specific models provided
(2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
9,100 (2003 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
fewer than 500 (2003 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun: Algerian(s) |
| adjective: Algerian |
| Ethnic groups: |
Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1% |
| note: almost all
Algerians are Berber in origin, not Arab; the minority who identify
themselves as Berber 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 |
| Religions: |
Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and
Jewish 1% |
| Languages: |
Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects |
| Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and over can
read and write |
| total population: 69.9% |
| male: 79.6% |
| female: 60.1% (2002
est.) |
| School life expectancy (primary
to tertiary education): |
total: 13 years |
| male: 13 years |
| female: 13 years (2005) |
| Education expenditures - percent of GDP: |
5.1% (1999) |
| Government |
Algeria |
| 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 |
| Government type: |
republic |
| Capital: |
name: Algiers |
| geographic coordinates: 36 45 N, 3 03 E |
| time difference: UTC+1
(6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Administrative divisions: |
48 provinces (wilayat, 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 |
| Independence: |
5 July 1962 (from France) |
| National holiday: |
Revolution Day, 1 November (1954) |
| Constitution: |
8 September 1963; revised 19 November 1976,
effective 22 November 1976; revised 3 November 1988, 23 February 1989, and 28
November 1996 |
| 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 |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: |
chief of state: President
Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999) |
| head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed OUYAHIA (since 23 June 2008) |
| cabinet: Cabinet of
Ministers appointed by the president |
| elections: president
elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
election last held 8 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2009); prime
minister appointed by the president |
| election results: Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA reelected president for second term; percent of vote -
Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA 85%, Ali BENFLIS 6.4%, Abdellah DJABALLAH 5% |
| Legislative branch: |
bicameral Parliament consists of the National
People's Assembly or Al-Majlis Al-Shabi Al-Watani (389 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Council of Nations (Senate)
(144 seats; one-third of the members appointed by the president, two-thirds
elected by indirect vote; to serve six-year terms; the constitution requires
half the council to be renewed every three years) |
| elections: National
People's Assembly - last held 17 May 2007 (next to be held in 2012); Council
of Nations (Senate) - last held 28 December 2006 (next to be held in 2009) |
| election results: National People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
FLN 136, RND 61, MSP 52, PT 26, RCD 19, FNA 13, other 49, independents 33;
Council of Nations - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FLN 29,
RND 12, MSP 3, RCD 1, independents 3, presidential appointees (unknown
affiliation) 24; note - Council seating reflects the number of replaced
council members rather than the whole Council |
| Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court |
| Political parties and leaders: |
Ahd 54 [Ali Fauzi REBAINE]; Algerian National Front
or FNA [Moussa TOUATI]; Islamic Salvation Front or FIS (outlawed April 1992)
[Ali BELHADJ, Dr. Abassi MADANI, Rabeh KEBIR]; National Democratic Rally
(Rassemblement National Democratique) or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA]; National
Entente Movement or MEN [Ali BOUKHAZNA]; National Liberation Front or FLN
[Abdelaziz BELKHADEM, secretary general]; National Reform Movement or Islah
(formerly MRN) [Mohamed BOULAHIA]; National Renewal Party or PRA [Mohamed
BENSMAIL]; Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD [Said SADI]; Renaissance
Movement or EnNahda Movement [Fatah RABEI]; Socialist Forces Front or FFS
[Hocine Ait AHMED]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Ahmed KHELIL]; Society of
Peace Movement or MSP [Boudjerra SOLTANI]; 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: |
The Algerian Human Rights League or LADDH [Hocine
ZEHOUANE]; SOS Disparus [Nacera DUTOUR]; Somoud [Ali MERABET] |
| International organization participation: |
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BIS, FAO, G-15,
G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE
(partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) |
| Diplomatic representation in the
US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador Amine
KHERBI |
| chancery: 2118 Kalorama
Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
| telephone: [1] (202)
265-2800 |
| FAX: [1] (202) 667-2174 |
| Diplomatic representation from
the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador
Robert S. FORD |
| embassy: 5 Chemin Cheikh
Bachir, El-Ibrahimi, El-Biar 16000 Algiers |
| mailing address: B. P.
408, Alger-Gare, 16030 Algiers |
| telephone: [213]
70-08-2000 |
| FAX: [213] 21-60-7355 |
| 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 |
| note: the crescent,
star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam (the state religion) |
| Economy |
Algeria |
| 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 eighth-largest reserves of natural
gas in the world and is the fourth-largest gas exporter; it ranks 14th in oil
reserves. Sustained high oil prices in recent years have helped improve
Algeria's financial and macroeconomic indicators. Algeria is running
substantial trade surpluses and building up record foreign exchange reserves.
Algeria has decreased its external debt to less than 10% of GDP after
repaying its Paris Club and London Club debt in 2006. 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. Structural reform
within the economy, such as development of the banking sector and the construction
of infrastructure, moves ahead slowly hampered by corruption and bureaucratic
resistance. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): |
$224.7 billion (2007 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate): |
$131.6 billion (2007 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: |
4.6% (2007 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): |
$6,500 (2007 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 8.2% |
| industry: 61.4% |
| services: 30.4% (2007
est.) |
| Labor force: |
9.38 million (2007 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture 14%, industry 13.4%, construction and
public works 10%, trade 14.6%, government 32%, other 16% (2003 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: |
13% (2007 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: |
25% (2005 est.) |
| Household income or consumption
by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: 2.8% |
| highest 10%: 26.8%
(1995) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini
index: |
35.3 (1995) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
3.7% (2007 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): |
24.6% of GDP (2007 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $56.36 billion |
| expenditures: $40.8
billion (2007 est.) |
| Public debt: |
19% of GDP (2007 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: |
wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits;
sheep, cattle |
| Industries: |
petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining,
electrical, petrochemical, food processing |
| Industrial production growth rate: |
5% (2007 est.) |
| Electricity - production: |
31.91 billion kWh (2005 est.) |
| Electricity - production by
source: |
fossil fuel: 99.7% |
| hydro: 0.3% |
| nuclear: 0% |
| other: 0% (2001) |
| Electricity - consumption: |
27.52 billion kWh (2005 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: |
275 million kWh (2005 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: |
359 million kWh (2005 est.) |
| Oil - production: |
2.09 million bbl/day (2005 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: |
250,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) |
| Oil - exports: |
1.724 million bbl/day (2004 est.) |
| Oil - imports: |
12,390 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: |
14.68 billion bbl (2007 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: |
84.4 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: |
21.8 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: |
62.6 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: |
0 cu m (2005) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: |
4.359 trillion cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
| Current account balance: |
$30.58 billion (2007 est.) |
| Exports: |
$59.52 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: |
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97% |
| Exports - partners: |
US 29.4%, Italy 13.8%, Spain 9.6%, Canada 8.2%,
France 7.4%, Netherlands 5%, Brazil 4.2% (2006) |
| Imports: |
$27.52 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: |
capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods |
| Imports - partners: |
France 19.1%, China 8.9%, Italy 8.7%, Spain 6.1%, US
5.6%, Germany 5.5%, Turkey 4.2% (2006) |
| Economic aid - recipient: |
$370.6 million (2005 est.) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
$110.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.) |
| Debt - external: |
$4.392 billion (31 December 2007 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at
home: |
$10.63 billion (2007 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment -
abroad: |
$851 million (2007 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: |
$NA |
| Currency (code): |
Algerian dinar (DZD) |
| Currency code: |
DZD |
| Exchange rates: |
Algerian dinars per US dollar - 69.9 (2007), 72.647
(2006), 73.276 (2005), 72.061 (2004), 77.395 (2003) |
| Fiscal year: |
calendar year |
| Communications |
Algeria |
| Telephones - main lines in use: |
2.841 million (2006) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: |
27.563 million (2007) |
| Telephone system: |
general assessment: a weak network
of fixed-main lines, which remains low at less than 10 telephones per 100
persons, is partially offset by the rapid increase in mobile cellular
subscribership; in 2006, combined fixed-line and mobile telephone density
surpassed 70 telephones per 100 persons |
| domestic: 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
with approximately 200,000 subscribers in 2006 |
| 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) (2007) |
| Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999) |
| Radios: |
7.1 million (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: |
46 (plus 216 repeaters) (1995) |
| Televisions: |
3.1 million (1997) |
| Internet country code: |
.dz |
| Internet hosts: |
2,077 (2007) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): |
2 (2000) |
| Internet users: |
2.46 million (2006) |
| Transportation |
Algeria |
| Airports: |
150 (2007) |
| Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 52 |
| over 3,047 m: 10 |
| 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 |
| 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 |
| 914 to 1,523 m: 4 |
| under 914 m: 1 (2007) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 98 |
| 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 |
| 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 |
| 914 to 1,523 m: 44 |
| under 914 m: 25 (2007) |
| Heliports: |
2 (2007) |
| Pipelines: |
condensate 1,532 km; gas 13,861 km; liquid petroleum
gas 2,408 km; oil 6,878 km (2007) |
| Railways: |
total: 3,973 km |
| standard gauge: 2,888 km
1.435-m gauge (283 km electrified) |
| narrow gauge: 1,085 km
1.055-m gauge (2006) |
| Roadways: |
total: 108,302 km |
| paved: 76,028 km |
| unpaved: 32,274 km
(2004) |
| Merchant marine: |
total: 36 ships (1000 GRT or over)
711,624 GRT/726,711 DWT |
| by type: bulk carrier 6,
cargo 8, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 10, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum
tanker 4, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1 |
| foreign-owned: 18
(Jordan 4, UK 14) (2008) |
| Ports and terminals: |
Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djendjene, Jijel,
Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda |
| Military |
Algeria |
| Military branches: |
National Popular Army (ANP; includes Land Forces),
Algerian National Navy (MRA), Air Force (QJJ), Territorial Air Defense Force
(2005) |
| Military service age and obligation: |
19-30 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - 18 months (6 months basic training, 12 months
civil projects) (2006) |
| Manpower available for military
service: |
males age 16-49: 9,736,757 |
| females age 16-49: 9,590,978 (2008 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military
service: |
males age 16-49: 8,141,864 |
| females age 16-49: 8,215,895 (2008 est.) |
| Manpower reaching militarily
significant age annually: |
males age 16-49: 374,365 |
| females age 16-49: 360,942 (2008 est.) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: |
3.3% (2006) |
| Transnational Issues |
Algeria |
| Disputes - international: |
Algeria, and many other states, rejects 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; Algeria remains concerned
about armed bandits operating throughout the Sahel who sometimes destabilize
southern Algerian towns; dormant disputes include Libyan claims of about
32,000 sq km still reflected on its maps of southeastern Algeria and the
FLN's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco |
| Refugees and internally
displaced persons: |
refugees (country of origin): 90,000 (Western Saharan Sahrawi, mostly living in Algerian-sponsored camps in
the southwestern Algerian town of Tindouf) |
| IDPs: undetermined
(civil war during 1990s) (2007) |
| Trafficking in persons: |
current situation: Algeria is a
transit country for men and women trafficked from sub-Saharan Africa to
Europe for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and involuntary
servitude; Algerian children are trafficked internally for the purpose of
domestic servitude or street vending |
| tier rating: Tier 3 -
Algeria did not report any serious law enforcement actions to punish
traffickers who force women into commercial sexual exploitation or men into
involuntary servitude in 2007; the government again reported no
investigations of trafficking of children for domestic servitude or
improvements in protection services available to victims of trafficking;
Algeria still lacks victim protection services, and its failure to
distinguish between trafficking and illegal migration may result in the
punishment of victims of trafficking (2008) |
| This page was last updated on 21 August,
2008 |
|
*The country data above is from the Courtesy of the CIA World Fact Book Online.