Statistical information Algeria 1989

Algeria in the World
top of pageBackground: After a century of rule by France Algeria became independent in 1962.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries:
6,343 km total
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
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
ElevationNatural resources: crude oil, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc
Land use: 3% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 13% meadows and pastures; 2% forest and woodland; 82% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: second largest country in Africa (after Sudan)
top of pagePopulation: 24,946,073 (July 1989), growth rate 3.0% (1989)
Nationality: noun - Algerian(s; adjective - Algerian
Ethnic groups: 99% Arab-Berber, less than 1% European
Languages: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Religions: 99% Sunni Muslim (state religion; 1% Christian and Jewish
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 38 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 8 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; desertification
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 73 deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 63 years male, 67 years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: 5.6 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 52%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria
Government type: republic
Capital: Algiers
Administrative divisions: 31 provinces (wilayat, singular - wilaya; Adrar, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida, Bouira, Constantine, Djelfa, El Asnam, Guelma, Jijel, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mostaganem, M'sila, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el Bouaghi, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Tamanrasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen; note - there may now be 48 provinces with El Asnam abolished, and the addition of 18 new provinces named Ain Delfa, Ain Temouchent, Bordjbou, Boumerdes, Chlef, El Bayadh, El Oued, El Tarf, Illizi, Jijel, Khenchela, Mila, Naama, Relizane, Souk Ahras, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt
Dependent areasIndependence: 5 July 1962 (from France)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 1 November (1954)
Constitution: 19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976
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; Supreme Court divided into four chambers; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal at age 18
Executive branch: Chief of State - President Chadli BENDJEDID (since 7 February 1979; Head of Government - Prime Minister Kasdi MERBAH (since 6 November 1988)
Legislative branch: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: AfDB, AIOEC, Arab League, ASSIMER, CCC, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB - Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, ILZSG, INTERPOL, IOOC, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Ambassador Mohamed SAHNOUN; Chancery at 2,118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington DC 20,008; telephone (202) 328-5,300; US - Ambassador Christopher W. S. ROSS; Embassy at 4 Chemin Cheich Bachir Brahimi, Algiers (mailing address is B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16,000 Algiers; telephone Õ213å (2) 601-425 or 255, 186; there is a US Consulate in Oran
Flag description
: 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)
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The exploitation of oil and natural gas products forms the backbone of the economy. Algeria depends on hydrocarbons for nearly all of its 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 that helped to finance an ambitious program of industrialization. Plunging oil and gas prices, combined with the mismanagement of Algeria's highly centralized economy, have brought the nation to its most serious social and economic crisis since independence. The government has promised far-reaching reforms, including the privatization of industry.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 8% of GDP and employs 24% of labor force; net importer of food - grain, vegetable oil, and sugar; farm production includes wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits, sheep, and cattle
Industries: petroleum, light industries, natural gas, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: 5.4% (1986)
Labor force:
3,700,000; 40%
industry and commerce, 30% agriculture, 17% government, 10%
services (1984)
Unemployment rate: 19% (1988)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $20.6 billion; expenditures $23.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $9.6 billion (1987 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $8.1 billion (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodities: petroleum and natural gas 98%
Partners: Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Italy, France, US
Imports: $6.1 billion (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodities: capital goods 35%, consumer goods 36%, food 20%
Partners: France 25%, Italy 8%, FRG 8%, US 6-7%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $32.1 billion (December 1988)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Algerian dinars (DA) per US$1 - 6.8537 (January 1989), 5.9148 (1988), 4.8497 (1987), 4.7023 (1986), 5.0278 (1985)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 4,196,000 kW capacity; 13,685 million kWh produced, 570 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $1.067 billion, 5.4% of central government budget (1988)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 150 total, 145 usable; 54 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over 3,660 m; 27 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 73 with runways 1,220-2,439 m; 32 with runways under 1,000 m
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil, 6,612 km; refined products, 298 km; natural gas, 2,948 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: 73 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 863,609 GRT/966,735 DWT; includes 5 passenger, 27 cargo, 2 vehicle carrier, 10 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 5 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 9 liquefied gas, 7 chemical tanker, 7 bulk, 1 specialized liquid cargo
Ports and terminalsAlgeria - Transnational issues 1989
top of pageDisputes international: Libya claims about 19,400 km² in southeastern Algeria
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs