Algeria

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

republicIndependence 5 July 1962 (from France)

Algeria as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 98 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

Position28 00 N, 3 00 E

Area2,381,740 sq km

LocationNorthern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between

Populationas each edition published it

30.48 million July 1998 est. · 25.57m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.14% 1998 est. · 2.34% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 22.5 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

68.93 years 1998 est. · 67.35 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.38 children per woman 1998 est. · 5.4 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

45.44 deaths per 1,000 live births 1998 est. · 87 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$4,000 1997 est. · $1,570 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.5% 1997 est. · 2.8% in 1993

Geography

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between | Morocco and Tunisia

18 fields

Land useshare of 2,381,740 sq km

arable land 3%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 13%forests and woodland 2%other 82% (1993 est.)irrigated 5,550 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

2,381,740sq km

land: 2,381,740 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmslightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas

Coastline

998km

exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

3,003m

Tahatlowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 m

Land boundaries

6,343km

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

Location

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

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

Natural hazards

mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mud slides

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

Geography-note

second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)

People

15 fields

Population

30,480,793

(July 1998 est.)growth rate: 2.14% (1998 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1998 est.)

Birth

27.51Death

5.63Net migration

-0.49

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1998 est.)68.93

67.78 · 70.12

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)61.6%

73.9% · 49%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Age structure

0-14 years:: 38% (male 5,923,087; female 5,709,614)
15-64 years:: 58% (male 8,931,896; female 8,752,014)
65 years and over:: 4% (male 542,012; female 622,170) (July 1998 est.)

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:: 0.87 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate

45.44 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Algerian(s)
adjective:: Algerian

Religions

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

Languages

Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects

Government

Republic; President Liamine ZEROUAL (appointed president 31 January 1994, elected president 16 November 1995); Prime Minister Ahmed OUYAHIA (since 31 December 1995)

20 fields

Legislature, 96 seatsone dot, one seat

RND 80FLN 10FFS 4MSP (remaining 48 seats appointed by the president, party breakdown NA) 2

Country name

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 (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

Independence

5 July 1962 (from France)

National holiday

Anniversary of the Revolution, 1 November (1954)

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

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 Liamine ZEROUAL (appointed president 31 January 1994, elected president 16 November 1995)
head of government:: Prime Minister Ahmed OUYAHIA (since 31 December 1995)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 16 November 1995 (next to be held NA 2000);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results:: Liamine ZEROUAL elected president; percent of vote-Liamine ZEROUAL 61.3%

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 four-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; created as a result of the constitutional revision of November 1996)

elections:: National People's Assembly-last held 5 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2001);
elections for two-thirds of the Council of Nations-last held 25 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results:: National People's Assembly-percent of vote by party-NA%;
seats by party-RND 156, MSP 69, FLN 62, Nahda Movement 34, FFS 20, RCD 19, PT 4, Republican Progressive Party 3, Union for Democracy and Freedoms 1, Liberal Social Party 1, independents 11;
Council of Nations-percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party-RND 80, FLN 10, FFS 4, MSP 2 (remaining 48 seats appointed by the president, party breakdown NA)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders

Islamic Salvation Front (FIS, outlawed April 1992), Ali BENHADJ, Dr. Abassi MADANI, Rabeh KEBIR (self-exile in Germany);
National Liberation Front (FLN), Boualem BENHAMOUDA, secretary general;
Socialist Forces Front (FFS), Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general (self-exile in Switzerland);
Movement of a Peaceful Society (MSP or Hamas), Mahfoud NAHNAH, chairman;
Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD), Said SAADI, secretary general;
Algerian Renewal Party (PRA), Noureddine BOUKROUH, chairman;
Nahda Movement (Al Nahda), Abdallah DJABALLAH, president;
Democratic National Rally (RND), Abdelkader BENSALAH, chairman;
Movement for Democracy in Algeria (MDA), Ahmed Ben BELLA;
Workers Party (PT), Louisa HANOUN;
Republican Progressive Party, Khadir DRISS;
Union for Democracy and Freedoms, Mouley BOUKHALAFA;
Liberal Social Party, Ahmed KHELIL

note: the government established a multiparty system in September 1989 and, as of 31 December 1990, over 50 legal parties existed; a new party law was enacted in March 1997

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Ramtane LAMAMRA
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 Cameron HUME
embassy:: 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers
mailing address:: B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers
telephone:: [213] (2) 69-11-86, 69-12-55, 69-18-54, 69-38-75

FAX

[213] (2) 69-39-79

Flag description

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

The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the | economy, accounting for roughly 57% of government revenues, 25% of | GDP, and almost all export earnings.

28 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

-$120.4billion

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

-$4,000

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

Real growth rate

2.5%

(1997 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

(1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector(1995 est.)

agriculture 12%industry 50%services 38% (1995 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$13.7 billionExpenditures

$13.1 billion (1996 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $5.1 million

Fixed lines

862,000

(1991 est.)

Economy-overview

The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 57% of government revenues, 25% of GDP, and almost all 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 began after the 1986 collapse of world oil prices plunged the country into a severe recession. In 1989, the government launched a comprehensive, IMF-supported program to achieve economic stabilization and to introduce market mechanisms into the economy.

Despite substantial progress toward economic adjustment, in 1992 the reform drive stalled as Algiers became embroiled in political turmoil. In September 1993, a new government was formed, and one priority was the resumption and acceleration of the structural adjustment process. Burdened with a heavy foreign debt, Algiers concluded a one-year standby arrangement with the IMF in April 1994 and the following year signed onto a three-year extended fund facility.

Progress on economic reform, a Paris Club debt rescheduling in 1995, and oil and gas sector expansion have contributed to a recovery since 1995. Investments in developing hydrocarbon resources are likely to maintain growth and export earnings. Continuing but gradual government efforts to attract foreign and domestic investment outside that sector seek to diversify the economy and tackle problems of high unemployment and falling living standards, problems as yet untouched by the macroeconomic turnaround.

Labor force

total:: 7.8 million (1996 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)

Unemployment rate

28% (1997 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity-capacity

6.007 million kW (1995)

Electricity-production

19.1 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

630 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products

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

Exports

total value:: $13.1 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
commodities:: petroleum and natural gas 97%
partners:: Italy 18.8%, US 14.8%, France 11.8%, Spain 8%, Germany 7.9% (1995 est.)

Imports

total value:: $10 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
commodities:: capital goods, food and beverages, consumer goods
partners:: France 29%, Spain 10.5%, Italy 8.2%, US 8%, Germany 5.6% (1995 est.)

Debt-external

$33 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $420 million (1996)

Currency

1 Algerian dinar (DA) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

Algerian dinars (DA) per US$1-58.969 (January 1998), 57.707 (1997), 54.749 (1996), 47.663 (1995), 35.059 (1994), 23.345 (1993)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

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)
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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 26, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

6 million (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations

Televisions

2 million (1993 est.)

Transportation

9 fields

Merchant marine, 78 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1997 est.)

bulk 9cargo 27chemical tanker 7liquefied gas tanker 11oil tanker 5roll-on/roll-off cargo 13short-sea passenger 5specialized tanker 1

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 24 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 4

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

total: 86 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 40

Networkskm

Highways

102,424Railways

4,772

Highways: paved: 70,570 km (including 608 km of expressways) · unpaved: 31,854 km (1995 est.) · Railways: standard gauge: 3,616 km 1.435-m gauge (301 km electrified; 215 km double track) · narrow gauge: 1,156 km 1.055-m gauge