|
Länder
|
|
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 1992-98 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.
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.
|
|
Location:
|
Northern Africa,
bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia |
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
28 00 N, 3 00 E |
|
Map references:
|
Africa |
|
Area:
|
total: 2,381,740
sq km
land: 2,381,740 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:
|
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 |
|
Land use:
|
arable land: 3.22%
permanent crops: 0.25%
other: 96.53% (2001) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
5,600 sq km (1998 est.)
|
|
Natural hazards:
|
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 |
|
Geography - note:
|
second-largest country in
Africa (after Sudan) |
|
Population:
|
32,531,853 (July 2005
est.)
|
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 29%
(male 4,811,086/female 4,626,271)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 10,861,862/female 10,701,459)
65 years and over: 4.7% (male 719,460/female 811,715) (2005 est.)
|
|
Median age:
|
total: 24.36 years
male: 24.18 years
female: 24.53 years (2005 est.)
|
|
Population growth rate:
|
1.22% (2005 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
17.13 births/1,000
population (2005 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
4.6 deaths/1,000
population (2005 est.) |
|
Net migration rate:
|
-0.37 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2005 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: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.) |
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total: 31
deaths/1,000 live births
male: 34.83 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population:
73 years
male: 71.45 years
female: 74.63 years (2005 est.)
|
|
Total fertility rate:
|
1.92 children born/woman
(2005 est.)
|
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
0.1% ; note - no country
specific models provided (2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
9,100 (2003 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
less than 500 (2003 est.)
|
|
Major infectious diseases:
|
degree of risk:
intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: cutaneous leishmaniasis is a high risk in
some locations (2004) |
|
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: 70%
male: 78.8%
female: 61% (2003 est.) |
|
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:
|
Algiers |
|
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
|
|
Independence:
|
5 July 1962 (from France)
|
|
National holiday:
|
Revolution Day, 1
November (1954)
|
|
Constitution:
|
19 November 1976,
effective 22 November 1976; revised 3 November 1988, 23 February 1989,
and 28 November 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 Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed OUYAHIA (since 9 May
2003)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; election last held 8 April 2004 (next to be held NA April 2009);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA reelected president for
second term; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA 85%, Ali BENFLIS
6.4%, Abdellah DJABALLAH 5%
|
|
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)
elections: National People's Assembly - last held 30 May 2002
(next to be held NA 2007); Council of Nations (Senate) - last held 30
December 2003 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: National People's Assembly - percent of vote by
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% |
|
Judicial branch:
|
Supreme Court or Court
Supreme
|
|
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]; Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Hocine
Ait AHMED, secretary general (self-exiled in Switzerland)]; Social
Liberal Party or PSL [Ahmed KHELIL]; Society of Peace Movement or MSP
[Boujerra SOLTANI]; Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUN]
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 LADH or LADDH [Yahia Ali ABDENOUR]; SOS Disparus [Nacera
DUTOUR]; Somoud [Ali MERABET] |
|
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, WTO (observer) |
|
Diplomatic representation in the US:
|
chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 2137 Wyoming Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-2800
FAX: [1] (202) 667-2174
|
|
Diplomatic representation from the US:
|
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
FAX: [213] (21) 69-39-79 |
|
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) |
|
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. Sustained
high oil prices in recent years, along with macroeconomic policy reforms
supported by the IMF, have helped improve Algeria's financial and
macroeconomic indicators. Algeria is running substantial trade surpluses
and building up 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. |
|
GDP:
|
purchasing power parity -
$212.3 billion (2004 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
6.1% (2004 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita:
|
purchasing power parity -
$6,600 (2004 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 10.3%
industry: 57.4%
services: 32.3% (2004 est.) |
|
Labor force:
|
9.91 million (2004 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:
|
25.4% (2004 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line:
|
23% (1999 est.) |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
|
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 26.8% (1995) |
|
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
|
35.3 (1995) |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
3.1% (2004 est.) |
|
Investment (gross fixed):
|
26.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
|
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $31.47
billion
expenditures: $29.3 billion, including capital expenditures of
$5.8 billion (2004 est.) |
|
Public debt:
|
37.4% of GDP (2004 est.)
|
|
Agriculture - products:
|
wheat, barley, oats,
grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle |
|
Industries:
|
petroleum, natural gas,
light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing
|
|
Industrial production growth rate:
|
6% (2004 est.) |
|
Electricity - production:
|
25.76 billion kWh (2002)
|
|
Electricity - production by source:
|
fossil fuel: 99.7%
hydro: 0.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
|
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
23.61 billion kWh (2002)
|
|
Electricity - exports:
|
500 million kWh (2002)
|
|
Electricity - imports:
|
150 million kWh (2002)
|
|
Oil - production:
|
1.2 million bbl/day (2004
est.)
|
|
Oil - consumption:
|
209,000 bbl/day (2001
est.)
|
|
Oil - exports:
|
NA |
|
Oil - imports:
|
NA |
|
Oil - proved reserves:
|
11.87 billion bbl (2004
est.)
|
|
Natural gas - production:
|
80.3 billion cu m (2001
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 - proved reserves:
|
4.739 trillion cu m
(2004) |
|
Current account balance:
|
$11.9 billion (2004 est.)
|
|
Exports:
|
$32.16 billion f.o.b.
(2004 est.)
|
|
Exports - commodities:
|
petroleum, natural gas,
and petroleum products 97% |
|
Exports - partners:
|
US 22.5%, Italy 17.8%,
France 11.8%, Spain 10.2%, Canada 7.8%, Belgium 4.8% (2004) |
|
Imports:
|
$15.25 billion f.o.b.
(2004 est.)
|
|
Imports - commodities:
|
capital goods,
foodstuffs, consumer goods |
|
Imports - partners:
|
France 31.6%, Italy 8.5%,
Germany 6.3%, Spain 5.6%, China 5.3%, US 4.9%, Turkey 4.5% (2004) |
|
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|
$43.55 billion (2004
est.) |
|
Debt - external:
|
$21.9 billion (2004 est.)
|
|
Economic aid - recipient:
|
$122.8 million (2002
est.) |
|
Currency (code):
|
Algerian dinar (DZD)
|
|
Currency code:
|
DZD |
|
Exchange rates:
|
Algerian dinars per US
dollar - 72.061 (2004), 77.395 (2003), 79.682 (2002), 77.215 (2001),
75.26 (2000)
|
|
Fiscal year:
|
calendar year |
|
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
2,199,600 (2003) |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
1,447,310 (2003) |
|
Telephone system:
|
general assessment:
telephone density in Algeria is very low, not 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
domestic: good service in north but sparse in south; domestic
satellite system with 12 earth stations (20 additional domestic earth
stations are planned)
international: country code - 213; 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 (1998) |
|
Radio broadcast stations:
|
AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8
(1999)
|
|
Radios:
|
7.1 million (1997) |
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
46 (plus 216 repeaters)
(1995)
|
|
Televisions:
|
3.1 million (1997) |
|
Internet country code:
|
.dz |
|
Internet hosts:
|
897 (2004) |
|
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
|
2 (2000) |
|
Internet users:
|
500,000 (2002) |
|
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 (2004) |
|
Highways:
|
total: 104,000 km
paved: 71,656 km (including 640 km of expressways)
unpaved: 32,344 km (1999) |
|
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, Djendjene, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda |
|
Merchant marine:
|
total: 56 ships
(1,000 GRT or over) 837,676 GRT/929,847 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 14, chemical tanker 4, liquefied
gas 10, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 9
foreign-owned: 3 (United Kingdom 3)
registered in other countries: 1 (2005) |
|
Airports:
|
137 (2004 est.) |
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
total: 52
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total: 85
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 38
under 914 m: 19 (2004 est.) |
|
Heliports:
|
1 (2004 est.) |
|
Military branches:
|
People's National Army
(ANP; includes Land Forces), Algerian National Navy (MRA), Air Force
(QJJ), Territorial Air Defense Force (2005) |
|
Military manpower - military age and obligation:
|
19-30 years of age for
compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months
(October 2003)
|
|
Military manpower - availability:
|
males age 19-49:
8,033,049 (2005 est.) |
|
Military manpower - fit for military service:
|
males age 19-49:
6,590,079 (2005 est.) |
|
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
|
males: 374,639
(2005 est.)
|
|
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
|
$2.48 billion (2004)
|
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
3.2% (2004) |
|
Transnational Issues |
Algeria |
|
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 after
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:
|
refugees (country of
origin): 165,000 (Western Saharan Sahrawi, mostly living in
Algerian-sponsored camps in the southwestern Algerian town of Tindouf)
IDPs: 100,000 - 200,000 (conflict between government forces,
Islamic insurgents) (2004) |
|
 |
Information |
 |
|
Här hittar du information om alla världens länder. Listan fylls på efter hand
som jag har tid. Tyvärr så är informationen på engelska. |
|
-SM3VVZ |
|
|
