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Communications

Airports [time series]

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

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

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

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports [time series]

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

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

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

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

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

Defense Forces

Affiliation [time series]

(territory of the US)

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

National Popular Army, Navy, Air Force, Territorial Air Defense

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $1.36 billion, 2.5% of GDP (1993 est.)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 6,610,342; fit for military service 4,063,261; reach military age (19) annually 291,685 (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues $14.4 billion; expenditures $14.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.5 billion (1992 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Algerian dinar (DA) = 100 centimes

Economic aid [time series]

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

Electricity [time series]

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

Exchange rates [time series]

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)

Exports [time series]

$11.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: petroleum and natural gas 97% partners: Italy, France, US, Germany, Spain

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$26 billion (1992 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Imports [time series]

$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

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

55% (1992 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

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

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$1,570 (1992 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

2.8% (1992 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

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.

Unemployment rate [time series]

35% (1992 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 2,381,740 km2 land area: 2,381,740 km2 comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas

Climate [time series]

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 [time series]

998 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; desertification

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

3,360 km2 (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 6,343 km, Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km, Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 2% other: 82%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa, Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

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

Note [time series]

second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)

Terrain [time series]

mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Algiers

Constitution [time series]

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

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

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

Executive branch (Elections) [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Flag [time series]

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)

Independence [time series]

5 July 1962 (from France)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Executive branch (Leaders) [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

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 [time series]

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

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

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

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Anniversary of the Revolution, 1 November (1954)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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 [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

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

People

Birth rate [time series]

30.38 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.41 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

54 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Labor force [time series]

6.2 million (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)

Languages [time series]

Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 67.35 years male: 66.32 years female: 68.41 years (1993 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 57% male: 70% female: 46%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Algerian(s) adjective: Algerian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Population [time series]

27,256,252 (July 1993 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.34% (1993 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.96 children born/woman (1993 est.)