NationalityAlgerian(s) |
Ethnic Composition
| Arabic Berber |
99% |
| European |
less than 1% |
And smaller populations of Kabyles, Chaouias, and Mzabs |
Religious Composition
| Sunni Muslim |
99% |
| Christian and Jewish |
1% |
|
Languages SpokenArabic is the sole and official language, although French and
Berber dialects are spoken as well. |
Education and LiteracyEducation in Algeria is run by the state and continues to
follow the pattern laid down during the former French
administration. Education is compulsory for children between 6
and 15. However, adult literacy stands at only 61.6 percent.
Ten universities exist in the country. |
Labor ForceTotal:
9.4 million (2001)
By occupation:
| Government |
29% |
| Agriculture |
25% |
| Construction and public works |
15% |
| Industry |
11% |
| Commerce and services |
N/A% |
| Transportation and communication |
5.2% |
| Other |
20% |
|
Geography |
Land Mass Total2,381,740 sq km |
Land2,381,740 sq km |
Water0 km |
Land BoundariesTotal:
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 |
Coastline998 km |
Maritime claimExclusive fishing zone:
32-52 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm |
Climate/WeatherArid 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- and sand-laden wind especially common
in midsummer. |
TerrainHigh plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, discontinuous
coastal plain. |
Elevation extremesLowest:
Chott Melrhir -40 m
Highest:
Tahat 3,003 m |
Natural ResourcesPetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead,
zinc. |
Land use
| Arable land |
3% |
| Permanent crops |
0% |
| Permanent pastures |
0% |
| Forests and woodlands |
0% |
| Other |
97% |
(1998) |
Natural hazardsMountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; heavy rains
can cause major mudslides. |
Environment - current issuesSoil 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; the Mediterranean Sea,
in particular, is becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil
erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable
water. |
Demographics |
Population32,277,942 (July 2002) |
Age structure
| 0-14 years: |
33.5% |
Male: 5,512,369 |
Female: 5,311,914 |
| 15-64 years: |
62.4% |
Male: 10,175,135 |
Female: 9,950,315 |
| 65 years and over: |
4.1% |
Male: 610,643 |
Female: 717,566 |
(2002) |
Growth Rate1.68% (2002) |
Life Expectancy70.24 years (2002)
Female:
71.67 years
Male:
68.87 years |
GDP Per CapitaPurchasing power parity
US$5,600 (2001 est.) |
Infant Mortality39.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2002) |
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: |
0.85 male(s)/female |
| Total population: |
1.02 male(s)/female |
|
Net migration rate-0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002) |
Economy & Trade |
| The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy,
accounting for roughly 60 percent of budget revenues, 30
percent of GDP, and over 95 percent of export
earnings. Algeria has the fifth-largest reserves of natural gas
in the world and is the second largest gas exporter; it ranks
14th in oil reserves. Algeria's financial and economic
indicators improved during the mid-1990s, in part because of
policy reforms supported by the IMF and debt rescheduling from
the Paris Club. Algeria's finances in 2000 and 2001 benefited
from the temporary spike in oil prices and the government's
tight fiscal policy, leading to a large increase in the trade
surplus, record highs in foreign exchange reserves, and
reduction in foreign debt. The government's continued efforts
to diversify the economy by attracting foreign and domestic
investment outside the energy sector has had little success in
reducing high unemployment and improving living standards. In
2001, the government signed an Association Treaty with the
European Union that will eventually lower tariffs and increase
trade. However, ongoing political and social problems have
created an unstable economic environment that makes foreign
investors uneasy. |
Unemployment34% (2001) |
Inflation Rate3% (2001) |
IndustriesPetroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical,
petrochemical, food processing. |
ExportsUS$20 billion (f.o.b., 2001) |
ImportsUS$1 billion (f.o.b., 2001) |
Total TradeGDP US$177 billion (2001) |
Top Export PartnersItaly 23%, Spain 13%, US 13%, France 11%, Brazil 7%, (2000)
|
Top Import PartnersItaly 23%, Spain 13%, US 13%, France 11%, Brazil 7%, (2000)
|
Top ExportsPetroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97% |
Top ImportsCapital goods, food and beverages, consumer goods. |
Debt - externalUS$24.7 billion (2001) |
Economic aidUS$100 million (1999) |
Fiscal Year:Calendar year |
Business Workweek
|
| |
Saturday - Thursday
(Islamic workweek) |
Friday |
| Offices |
Saturday to Wednesday 8a.m. to 12:30p.m. and 2p.m.
to 6p.m. |
Closed |
| Retail |
Saturday to Thursday 9a.m. to noon, and 2p.m. to
7p.m.
Many shops close at 1p.m. on Saturday.
In the north, shops often close noon to 5p.m. for a
midday rest. |
Closed |
| Banks |
Sunday to Thursday 8:45a.m. or 9a.m. to 3p.m. or
4p.m. |
Closed |
| Government |
Saturday to Wednesday 8a.m. to noon and 2p.m. to
5:30p.m.
Thursday 8a.m. to noon. |
Closed |
|
Holidays |
Official Holidays
| Holidays |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
| New Year's Day |
January 1 |
January 1 |
January 1 |
| Feast of the Sacrifice (Eid Al
Adha)¹ |
February 12 |
February 2 |
February |
| Islamic New Year² |
March 5 |
February 22 |
February 10 |
| Ashoora³ |
March 4 |
March 2 |
April 21 |
| Labor Day |
May 1 |
May 1 |
May 1 |
| Birthday of the Prophet Mohammad (Mawlid
an Nabi)
*¹ |
May 14 |
May 2 |
May |
| Revolutionary Readjustment (Sursault
Revolutionaire) |
June 19 |
June 19 |
June 19 |
| Independence Day |
July 5 |
July 5 |
July 5 |
| Anniversery of the Revolution |
November 1 |
November 1 |
November 1 |
| Start of Ramadan*² |
October 27 |
October 15 |
October 4 |
| End of Ramadan (Eid Al Fitr)*³ |
December 6 |
November 26 |
November 14 |
| ¹ |
The culmination of the Haj or Holy
Pilgrimage. |
| ² |
The lunar Islamic Hijara calendar is made
up of 12 months, each month alternating between 29 and 30
days per month, culminating in a total of 354 days per
year. The Hijra calendar is based on the cycles of
the moon and annually moves 11 days backward through the
seasons. |
| ³ |
Shi'a holiday celebrating the martyrdom
of Imam Hussein. |
| *¹ |
The Birthday of the Prophet Mohammad is
celebrated on the twelfth day in the month of Rabi'l of
the Islamic calendar. |
| *² |
Ramadan (the month of fasting) begins
with the first appearance of the new moon in the ninth
month of the lunar Islamic Hijra calendar, and lasts 30
days. Dates for the start of Ramadan will vary from
country to country, depending on the first appearance of
the moon. |
| *³ |
Feasting that officially marks the end of
Ramadan, and commonly lasts for three days. |
|
