2004 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), 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 crack down 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 1992-1998 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. A number of 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 - although significantly degraded - activities of extremist militants. 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. Algeria assumed a two-year seat on the UN Security Council in January 2004.

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

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

Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

28 00 N, 3 00 E

Geography - note

second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)

Irrigated land

5,600 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km

border countries

Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km,

total

6,343 km

Land use

arable land

3.22%

other

96.53% (2001)

permanent crops

0.25%

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 29.9% (male 4,893,971; female 4,705,933) 15-64 years: 65.5% (male 10,593,840; female 10,443,300) 65 years and over: 4.6% (male 703,420; female 788,860) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

17.76 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

4.61 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%

minority who identify themselves as Berber live mostly in the mountainous region of Kabylie east of Algeirs; 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

note

almost all Algerians are Berber in origin, not Arab; the

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

9,100 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

28.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

male

36.06 deaths/1,000 live births

total

32.16 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.34 years (2004 est.)

male

71.22 years

total population

72.74 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

61% (2003 est.)

male

78.8%

total population

70%

Median age

female

24 years (2004 est.)

male

23.7 years

total

23.8 years

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$2,196.6 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.5% (2003)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

9,311,747 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

5,675,739 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation

19-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (October 2003)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

373,235 (2004 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Algerian

noun

Algerian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

32,129,324 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

1.28% (2004 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.04 children born/woman (2004 est.)

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

Capital

Algiers

Constitution

19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976; revised 3 November 1988, 23 February 1989, and 28 November 1996

Country name

Sha'biyah

conventional long form

People's Democratic Republic of Algeria

conventional short form

Algeria

local long form

Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash

local short form

Al Jaza'ir

Diplomatic representation from the US

FAX: [213] (21) 69-39-79

chief of mission

Ambassador Richard W. ERDMAN

embassy

4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers

mailing address

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

telephone

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

FAX: [1] (202) 667-2174

chancery

2137 Wyoming Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant)

telephone

[1] (202) 265-2800

Executive branch

election last held 8 April 2004 (next to be held NA April 2009); prime minister appointed by the president

second term; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA 85%, Ali BENFLIS 6.4%, Abdallah DJABALLAH 5%

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

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;

head of government

Prime Minister Ahmed OUYAHIA (since 9 May 2003)

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)

Government type

republic

Independence

5 July 1962 (from France)

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BIS, FAO, G-15, 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, LAS, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Court Supreme

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 (Senate) (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)

to be held NA 2007); Council of Nations (Senate) - last held 30 December 2003 (next to be held NA 2009)

party - NA; seats by party - FLN 199, RND 48, Islah 43, MSP 38, PT 21, FNA 8, EnNahda 1, PRA 1, MEN 1, independents 29; Council of Nations - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party NA

election results

National People's Assembly - percent of vote by

elections

National People's Assembly - last held 30 May 2002 (next

National holiday

Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)

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-exiled in Germany)]; National Entente Movement or MEN [Ali BOUKHAZNA]; National Liberation Front or FLN [Abdelaziz BELKHADEM, secretary general (also serves as Foreign Minister)]; National Reform Movement or Islah (formerly MRN) [Abdellah DJABALLAH]; National Renewal Party or PRA [Yacine TERKMANE]; Progressive Republican Party [Khadir DRISS]; Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD [Said SAADI, secretary general]; Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement [Fatah RABEI]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Ahmed KHELIL]; Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general (self-exiled in Switzerland)]; Society of Peace Movement or MSP [Boujerra SOLTANI]; Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUN]

in March 1997

note

a law banning political parties based on religion was enacted

Political pressure groups and leaders

The Algerian Human Rights League or LADH or LADDH [Yahia Ali ABDENOUR]; SOS Disparus [Nacera DUTOUR]; Somoud [Ali MERABET]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

billion (2003 est.)

expenditures

$22.87 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.8

revenues

$25.49 billion

Currency

Algerian dinar (DZD)

Currency code

DZD

Current account balance

$7.836 billion (2003)

Debt - external

$22.71 billion (2003 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

35.3 (1995)

Economic aid - recipient

$182 million (2001 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 seventh-largest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the second-largest gas exporter; it ranks 14th in oil reserves. Economic policy reforms supported by the IMF and debt rescheduling from the Paris Club in the past decade have helped improve Algeria's financial and macroeconomic indicators. Because of sustained high oil prices in the past three years, Algeria's finances have further benefited from substantial trade surpluses and record foreign exchange reserves. 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 moves ahead slowly.

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)

Exchange rates

Algerian dinars per US dollar - 77.395 (2003), 79.6819 (2002), 77.215 (2001), 75.2598 (2000), 66.5739 (1999)

Exports

$24.96 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%

Exports - partners

Italy 19.5%, US 18.5%, France 13.6%, Spain 11.2%, Canada 6.2%, Belgium 5.1%, Brazil 4.9% (2003)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $196 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

10.2%

industry

56.5%

services

33.4% (2003)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $6,000 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7.4% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

26.8% (1995)

lowest 10%

2.8%

Imports

$12.42 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports - partners

France 30.9%, Italy 9.6%, Spain 6.1%, Germany 5.5%, China 4.6%, Turkey 4.1% (2003) Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: $33.42 billion (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

6% (2003 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.5% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

24.8% of GDP (2003)

Labor force

9.6 million (2003)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 14%, industry 13.4%, construction and public works 10%, trade 14.6%, government 32%, other 16% (2003 est.)

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 (1 January 2002)

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 (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line

23% (1999 est.)

Public debt

41.5% of GDP (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

26.2% (2003 est.)

Internet country code

.dz

Internet hosts

897 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

500,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999)

Radios

7.1 million (1997)

Telephone system

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

satellite system with 12 earth stations (20 additional domestic earth stations are planned)

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)

domestic

good service in north but sparse in south; domestic

general assessment

telephone density in Algeria is very low, not

international

country code - 213; 5 submarine cables; microwave

Telephones - main lines in use

2,199,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1,447,310 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

46 (plus 216 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions

3.1 million (1997)

Airports

137 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 914 to 1,523 m: 4

1,524 to 2,437 m: 10

over 3,047 m

10

total

52

under 914 m

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26

914 to 1,523 m: 38

total

85

under 914 m

19 (2004 est.)

Heliports

1 (2003 est.)

Highways

paved

71,656 km (including 640 km of expressways)

total

104,000 km

unpaved

32,344 km (1999)

Merchant marine

petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 9, short-sea/passenger 4, specialized tanker 1

by type

bulk 9, cargo 16, chemical tanker 6, liquefied gas 10,

foreign-owned

United Kingdom 4

registered in other countries

4 (2004 est.)

total

59 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 837,676 GRT/929,847 DWT

Pipelines

condensate 1,344 km; gas 85,946 km; liquid petroleum gas 2,213 km; oil 6,496 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Beni Saf, Dellys, Djendjene, Ghazaouet, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda, Tenes

Railways

narrow gauge

1,085 km 1.055-m gauge (2003)

standard gauge

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

total

3,973 km

Disputes - international

Algeria supports the exiled Sahrawi Polisario Front and rejects Moroccan administration of Western Sahara; Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations; each nation has accused the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling; in an attempt to improve relations afer unilaterally imposing a visa requirement on Algerians in the early 1990s, Morocco lifted the requirement in mid-2004 - a gesture not reciprocated by Algeria; 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

mostly living in Algerian-sponsored camps in the southeastern Algerian town of Tindouf) IDPs: 100,000 - 200,000 (conflict between government forces, Islamic insurgents) (2004) This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005 @American Samoa

refugees (country of origin)

165,000 (Western Saharan Sahrawi,