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 this
did not appease the activists who progressively widened their attacks.
The fighting escalated into an insurgency, which saw intense fighting
between 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 and was reelected in a landslide
victory in 2004. BOUTEFLIKA was overwhelmingly reelected to 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-Qai'da to form al-Qai'da in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb, which
has launched an ongoing series of kidnappings and bombings - including
high-profile, mass-casualty suicide attacks targeting the Algerian
Government and Western interests.
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: 2,381,741 sq km
land:
2,381,741 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:
Current Weather
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
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
65 years and over:
5.1% (male 819,997/female 956,921) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.1 years
male:
26.8 years
female:
27.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.177% (2010 est.)
Birth rate:
16.71 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
Death rate:
4.66 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 65% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
2.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 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 (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 26.75 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
29.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
23.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.26 years
male:
72.57 years
female:
76.04 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.76 children born/woman (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1%; note - no country specific models provided (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
21,000 (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 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:
5.1% of GDP (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, 28 November 1996, 10 April 2002, and 12 November 2008
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) note - the president is both
the chief of state and head of government; a November 2008
constitutional amendment separated the position of head of government
from that of the prime minister
head of government:
President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999)
cabinet:
Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
elections:
president
elected by popular vote for a five-year term; note - a November 2008
constitutional amendment abolished presidential term limits; election
last held on 9 April 2009 (next to be held in April 2014)
election results:
Abdelaziz
BOUTEFLIKA was reelected president for a third term; percent of vote -
Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA 90.2%, Louisa HANOUNE 4.2%, Moussa TOUATI 2.3%,
Djahid YOUNSI 1.4%, Ali Fawzi REBIANE less than 1%, Mohamed SAID less
than 1%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament
consists of the Council of the Nation (upper house; 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) and the National People's
Assembly (lower house; 389 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections:
Council
of the Nation - last held on 29 December 2009 (next to be held in
December 2012); National People's Assembly - last held on 17 May 2007
(next to be held in 2012)
election results:
Council
of the Nation - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA;
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;
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Ahd 54 [Ali Fauzi
REBAINE]; Algerian National Front or FNA [Moussa TOUATI]; National
Democratic Rally (Rassemblement National Democratique) or RND [Ahmed
OUYAHIA]; National Liberation Front or FLN [Abdelaziz BELKHADEM,
secretary general]; National Reform Movement or Islah [Ahmed ABDESLAM]
(formerly MRN); Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD [Said SADI];
Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement [Fatah RABEI]; Socialist Forces
Front or FFS [Hocine Ait AHMED]; 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]
mailing address:
B. P. 408, Alger-Gare, 16030 Algiers
telephone:
[213] 770-08-2000
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; 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 the Algerians believe the long
crescent horns bring happiness
Economy ::Algeria
Economy - overview:
The state dominates most areas of
the Algerian economy. Gradual liberalization since the mid-1990's has
opened up more of the economy to private domestic and foreign
participation, but recent government actions impose stricter controls on
foreign investment. Hydrocarbons are 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 15th
in oil reserves. Weak global hydrocarbon prices during 2009 contributed
to a 40% drop in government revenue, although the government continues
to enjoy a financial cushion provided by about $150 billion in foreign
currency reserves and a large hydrocarbons stabilization fund. Algeria's
external debt is only about 1% of GDP. The government's 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. A Complementary
Finance Law, enacted in July, imposed tight restrictions on imports and
required that new foreign investment must be in the form of joint
ventures with at least 51% share of ownership by Algerian partners. That
law and a January, 2009 ban on importing pharmaceutical products that
are also locally produced have contributed to some domestic goods
shortages and prompted foreign investors and businesses to reconsider
activities in Algeria. Development of the banking sector, the
construction of infrastructure, and other structural reforms are
hampered by corruption and bureaucratic resistance.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$239.6 billion (2009 est.)
$233.5 billion (2008 est.)
$227.1 billion (2007 est.)
note:data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$136.4 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.6% (2009 est.)
2.8% (2008 est.)
3.1% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,000 (2009 est.)
$6,900 (2008 est.)
$6,800 (2007 est.)
note:data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.4%
industry:
61.2%
services:
30.4% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
9.748 million (2009 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:
10.2% (2009 est.)
11.3% (2008 est.)
Population below poverty line:
23% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%
Exports - partners:
US 23.9%, Italy 15.5%, Spain 11.4%, France 8%, Netherlands 7.8%, Canada 6.8% (2008)
Imports:
$39.1 billion (2009 est.)
$37.99 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
France 16.5%, Italy 11%, China 10.3%, Spain 7.4%, Germany 6.1%, US 5.5% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$149.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
$143.5 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.389 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
$3.753 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$16.26 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
$14.56 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.485 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
$1.285 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
Algerian dinars (DZD) per US dollar - 72.5695 (2009), 63.25 (2008), 69.9 (2007), 72.647 (2006), 73.276 (2005)
Communications ::Algeria
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.314 million (2008)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
31.871 million (2008)
Telephone system:
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
domestic:
a
limited network of fixed lines with a teledensity of roughly 10
telephones per 100 persons is offset by the rapid increase in
mobile-cellular subscribership; in 2008, combined fixed-line and
mobile-cellular teledensity surpassed 100 telephones per 100 persons
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)
(2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
46 (plus 216 repeaters) (1995)
Internet country code:
.dz
Internet hosts:
510 (2009)
Internet users:
4.1 million (2008)
Transportation ::Algeria
Airports:
143 (2009)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 57
over 3,047 m:
11
2,438 to 3,047 m:
29
1,524 to 2,437 m:
11
914 to 1,523 m:
5
under 914 m:
1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 86
2,438 to 3,047 m:
3
1,524 to 2,437 m:
19
914 to 1,523 m:
41
under 914 m:
23 (2009)
Heliports:
2 (2009)
Pipelines:
condensate 1,937 km; gas 14,648 km; liquid petroleum gas 2,933 km; oil 7,579 km (2009)
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 (2008)
Roadways:
total: 108,302 km
paved:
76,028 km (includes 645 km of expressways)
unpaved:
32,274 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
total: 33
by type:
bulk carrier 6, cargo 8, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 9, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 2
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 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: 10,113,472
females age 16-49:
9,959,693 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,481,036
females age 16-49:
8,508,245 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 365,503
female:
352,009 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.3% of GDP (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; criminal networks of sub-Saharan nationals in
southern Algeria facilitate transit by arranging transportation, forged
documents, and promises of employment
tier rating:
Tier
2 Watch List - Algeria is placed on the Tier 2 Watch List because it
does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of
trafficking, however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in
January 2009, the government approved new legislation that criminalizes
trafficking in persons for the purposes of labor and sexual exploitation
representing an important step toward complying with international
standards; despite these efforts, the government did not show overall
progress in punishing trafficking crimes and protecting trafficking
victims and continued to lack adequate measures to protect victims and
prevent trafficking (2009)
