Algeria

Democratic and Popular Republic of AlgeriaAl Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Shabiyah

republicIndependence 5 July 1962 (from France)

Algeria as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 77 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalAlgiers

Area2,381,740 km2

LocationNorthern Africa, along the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia

Populationas each edition published it

27.26 million July 1993 est. · 25.57m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.34% 1993 est. · 1.47% in 2025

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 22.5 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

67.35 years 1993 est. · 77.9 yrs in 2025

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.96 children per woman 1993 est. · 5.4 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

54 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 87 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,570 1992 est. · $15,400 in 2025

GDP real growth% a year

2.8% 1992 est. · 3.3% in 2025

Geography

Northern Africa, along the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia

14 fields

Land useshare of 2,381,740 km2

arable land 3%permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 13%forest and woodland 2%other 82%irrigated 3,360 km2 (1989 est.)

Area

2,381,740km2

land area: 2,381,740 km2comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas

Coastline

998km

territorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

6,343km

total · Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km, Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km

Location

Northern Africa, along the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia

International disputes

Libya claims part of southeastern Algeria; land boundary disputes with Tunisia under discussion

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

Natural resources

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

Environment

mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; desertification

Note

second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)

People

14 fields

Population

27,256,252

(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 2.34% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth

30.38Death

6.41Net migration

-0.53

Male · female(1993 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years67.35

66.32 · 68.41

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy57%

70% · 46%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1990)

Labor force

6.2million

(1992 est.)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)

Nationality

noun:: Algerian(s)
adjective:: Algerian

Religions

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

Languages

Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects

Government

Republic

20 fields

Names

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

48 provinces (wilayast, 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)

Constitution

19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976; revised February 1989

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

National holiday

Anniversary of the Revolution, 1 November (1954)

Political parties and leaders

Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), Ali BELHADJ, Dr. Abassi MADANI, Abdelkader HACHANI (all under arrest), Rabeh KEBIR;
National Liberation Front (FLN), Abdelhamid MEHRI, Secretary General;
Socialist Forces Front (FFS), Hocine Ait AHMED, Secretary General

note: the government established a multiparty system in September 1989 and, as of 31 December 1990, over 30 legal parties existed

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Elections

National People's Assembly:: first round held on 26 December 1991 (second round canceled by the military after President BENDJEDID resigned 11 January 1992);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (281 total);
the fundamentalist FIS won 188 of the 231 seats contested in the first round;
note - elections (municipal and wilaya) were held in June 1990, the first in Algerian history;
results - FIS 55%, FLN 27.5%, other 17.5%, with 65% of the voters participating
President of the High State Committee:: next election to be held December 1993

Executive branch

President of the High State Committee, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch

unicameral National People's Assembly (Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Leaders

Chief of State:: High State Committee President Ali KAFI (since 2 July 1992)
Head of Government:: Prime Minister Belaid ABDESSELAM (since 8 July 1992)

Member of

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Mohamed ZARHOUNI
chancery:: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: (202) 265-2800

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Mary Ann CASEY
embassy:: 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers
mailing address:: B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers
telephone:: [213] (2) 601-425 or 255, 186
FAX:: [213] (2) 603979
consulate:: Oran

Flag

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)

Economy

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$1,570

(1992 est.)

Real growth rate

2.8%

(1992 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

55%

(1992 est.)

Unemployment rate

35%

(1992 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$14.4 billionExpenditures

$14.6 billion

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $3.5 billion (1992 est.)

Overview

The oil and natural gas sector forms the backbone of the economy, hydrocarbons accounting for nearly all export receipts, about 30% of government revenues, and nearly 25% of GDP. In 1973-74 the sharp increase in oil prices led to a booming economy and helped to finance an ambitious program of industrialization.

Plunging oil and gas prices, combined with the mismanagement of Algeria's highly centralized economy, has brought the nation to its most serious social and economic crisis since full independence in 1988. The current government has put reform, including privatization of some public sector companies and an overhaul of the banking and financial system, on hold, but has continued efforts to admit private enterprise to the hydrocarbon industry.

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $42 billion (1992 est.)

Exports

$11.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities:: petroleum and natural gas 97%
partners:: Italy, France, US, Germany, Spain

Imports

$8.2 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities:: capital goods 39.7%, food and beverages 21.7%, consumer goods 11.8% (1990)
partners:: France, Italy, Germany, US, Spain

External debt

$26 billion (1992 est.)

Electricity

6,380,000 kW capacity; 16,834 million kWh produced, 630 kWh per capita (1992)

Industries

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

Agriculture

accounts for 10.8% of GDP (1991) and employs 22% of labor force;
products- wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits, sheep, cattle;
net importer of food - grain, vegetable oil, sugar

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-85), $1.4 billion;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $925 million;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $1.8 billion;
Communist countries (1970-89), $2.7 billion;
net official disbursements (1985-89), -$375 million

Currency

1 Algerian dinar (DA) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

Algerian dinars (DA) per US$1 - 22.787 (January 1993), 21.836 (1992), 18.473 (1991), 8.958 (1990), 7.6086 (1989), 5.9148 (1988)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

7 fields

Merchant marine, 75 ships by typeone square, one ship

short-sea passenger 5cargo 27roll-on/roll-off cargo 12oil tanker 5liquefied gas 9chemical tanker 7bulk 9specialized tanker 175 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 903,179 GRT/1,064,211 DWT

Networkskm

Highways

90,031 (1990)Railroads

4,060

Highways: ; 58,868 km concrete or bituminous, 31,163 km gravel, crushed stone, unimproved earth · Railroads: ; 2,616 km standard gauge (1.435 m), 1,188 km 1.055-meter gauge, 256 km 1.000-meter gauge; 300 km electrified; 215 km double track

Railroads

4,060 km total;
2,616 km standard gauge (1.435 m), 1,188 km 1.055-meter gauge, 256 km 1.000-meter gauge;
300 km electrified;
215 km double track

Highways

90,031 km total; 58,868 km concrete or bituminous, 31,163 km gravel, crushed stone, unimproved earth (1990)

Pipelines

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

Ports

Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djendjene, Ghazaouet, Jijel, Mers el Kebir, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda

Airports

total:: 141
usable:: 124
with permanent-surface runways:: 53
with runways over 3,659 m:: 2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:: 32
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:: 65

Telecommunications

excellent domestic and international service in the north, sparse in the south;
822,000 telephones;
broadcast stations - 26 AM, no FM, 18 TV;
1,600,000 TV sets;
5,200,000 radios;
5 submarine cables;
microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia;
coaxial cable to Morocco and Tunisia;
satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Intersputnik, l ARABSAT, and 12 domestic;
20 additional satellite earth stations are planned