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), was established in 1954 as part of the struggle for independence and has since largely dominated politics. The Government of Algeria in 1988 instituted a multi-party system in response to public unrest, but the surprising first round success of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the December 1991 legislative elections led 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. Fighting escalated into an insurgency, which saw intense violence from 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.

Geographic coordinates: 28 00 N, 3 00 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 2,381,740 km²
Land: 2,381,740 km²
Water: 0 km²
Rank: 11
Comparative: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas

Land boundaries
Total: 6,734 km
Border countries: (7) Libya 989 km; , Mali 1359 km; , Mauritania 460 km; , Morocco 1900 km; , Niger 951 km; , Tunisia 1034 km; , Western Sahara 41 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; Atlas Mountains in the far north and Hoggar Mountains in the south; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Elevation
Mean elevation: 800 m
Elevation extremes: -40 m
Note: lowest point: Chott Melrhir

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc

Land use
Agricultural land: 17.4% (2014 est.)
Forest: 0.82% (2014 est.)
Other: 81.8% (2014 est.)

Irrigated land: 13,600 km² (2014)

Natural hazards: mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides and floods in rainy season; droughts

Geography
Note: largest country in Africa but 80% desert; canyons and caves in the southern Hoggar Mountains and in the barren Tassili n'Ajjer area in the southeast of the country contain numerous examples of prehistoric art - rock paintings and carvings depicting human activities and wild and domestic animals (elephants, giraffes, cattle) - that date to the African Humid Period, roughly 11,000 to 5,000 years ago, when the region was completely vegetated

Population
Distribution: the vast majority of the populace is found in the extreme northern part of the country along the Mediterranean Coast: 41,657,488 (July 2018 est.)
Rank: 34
Growth rate: 1.63% (2018 est.)
Growth rate rank: 63
Below poverty line: 23% (2006 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Algerian(s)
Adjective: Algerian

Ethnic groups:

Languages: Arabic (official), French (lingua franca), Berber or Tamazight (official); dialects include Kabyle Berber (Taqbaylit), Shawiya Berber (Tacawit), Mzab Berber, Tuareg Berber (Tamahaq)

Religions: Muslim (official; predominantly Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian and Jewish) <1% (2012 est.)

Demographic profile: For the first two thirds of the 20th century, Algeria's high fertility rate caused its population to grow rapidly. However, about a decade after independence from France in 1962, the total fertility rate fell dramatically from 7 children per woman in the 1970s to about 2.4 in 2000, slowing Algeria's population growth rate by the late 1980s. The lower fertility rate was mainly the result of women's rising age at first marriage (virtually all Algerian children being born in wedlock) and to a lesser extent the wider use of contraceptives. Later marriages and a preference for smaller families are attributed to increases in women's education and participation in the labor market; higher unemployment; and a shortage of housing forcing multiple generations to live together. The average woman's age at first marriage increased from about 19 in the mid-1950s to 24 in the mid-1970s to 30.5 in the late 1990s.

Age structure
0-14 years: 29.49% (male 6,290,619 /female 5,993,733)
15-24 years: 14.72% (male 3,137,975 /female 2,994,056)
25-54 years: 42.97% (male 9,067,597 /female 8,833,238)
55-64 years: 7.01% (male 1,472,527 /female 1,446,083)
65 years and over: 5.81% (male 1,133,852 /female 1,287,808) (2018 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 52.7 (2015 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 43.8 (2015 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 9 (2015 est.)
Potential support ratio: 11.2 (2015 est.)

Median age
Total: 28.3 years
Male: 28 years
Female: 28.7 years (2018 est.)
Rank: 138

Population growth rate: 1.63% (2018 est.)
Rank: 63

Birth rate: 21.5 births/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 74

Death rate: 4.3 deaths/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 205

Net migration rate: -0.9 migrant(s)/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 135

Population distribution: the vast majority of the populace is found in the extreme northern part of the country along the Mediterranean Coast

Urbanization
Urban population: 72.6% of total population
Note: (2015-20 est.)
Rate of urbanization: 2.46% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: 2.694 million ALGIERS (capital), 881,000 Oran (2018)

Environment
Current issues: air pollution in major cities; 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
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
55-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 18.9 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Male: 20.4 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Female: 17.2 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Rank: 83

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.2 years (2018 est.)
Male: 75.8 years (2018 est.)
Female: 78.7 years (2018 est.)
Rank: 76

Total fertility rate: 2.66 children born/woman (2018 est.)
Rank: 64

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 57.1% (2012/13)

Drinking water source
Urban: 15.7% of population
Rural: 18.2% of population
Total: 16.4% of population (2015 est.)

Hospital bed density: 1.9 beds/1000 population (2015)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 10.2% of population (2015 est.)
Rural: 17.8% of population (2015 est.)
Total: 12.4% of population (2015 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate note: <.1% (2017 est.)
People living with hivaids: 14,000 (2017 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 89
Deaths note: <200 (2017 est.)

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 27.4% (2016)
Rank: 38

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3% (2012)
Rank: 99

Education expenditures: 4.3% of GDP (2008)
Rank: 101

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
Total population: 80.2% (2015 est.)
Male: 87.2% (2015 est.)
Female: 73.1% (2015 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 14 years (2011)
Male: 14 years (2011)
Female: 15 years (2011)

Country name
Conventional long form: Peoples Democratic Republic of Algeria
Conventional short form: Algeria
Local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jazairiyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Shabiyah
Local short form: Al Jazair
Etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Algiers

Government type: presidential 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): etymology: name derives from the Arabic 'al-Jazair' meaning 'the islands' and refers to the four islands formerly off the coast but joined to the mainland since 1525

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, Tamanrasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen

Independence: 5 July 1962 (from France)

National holiday: Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)

Constitution
History: several previous; latest approved by referendum 23 February 1989 (2016)
Amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or through the president with the support of three-fourths of the members of both houses of Parliament in joint session; passage requires approval by both houses, approval by referendum, and promulgation by the president; the president can forego a referendum if the Constitutional Council determines the proposed amendment does not conflict with basic constitutional principles; articles including the republican form of government, the integrity and unity of the country, and fundamental citizens’ liberties and rights cannot be amended; amended several times, last in 2016 (2016)

Legal system: mixed legal system of French civil law and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials including several Supreme Court justices

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: the mother must be a citizen of Algeria
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

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 16 August 2017)
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
Electionsappointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed for a 5-year term (2-term limit reinstated by constitutional amendment in February 2016); election last held on 17 April 2014 (next to be held in April 2019); prime minister nominated by the president after consultation with the majority party in Parliament
Election results: Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA reelected president for a fourth term; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (FLN) 81.5%, Ali BENFLIS (FLN) 12.2%, Abdelaziz BELAID (Future Front) 3.4%, other 2.9%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Suprême, (consists of 150 judges organized into 8 chambers: Civil, Commercial and Maritime,
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the High Council of Magistracy, an administrative body presided over by the president of the republic, and includes the republic vice-president and several members; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Council members - 4 appointed by the president of the republic, 2 each by the 2 houses of Parliament, 2 by the Supreme Court, and 2 by the Council of State; Council president and members appointed for single 6-year terms with half the membership renewed every 3 years
Subordinate courts: appellate or wilaya courts; first instance or daira tribunals

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BIS, CAEU, CD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Madjid BOUGUERRA (since 23 February 2015)
In the us chancery: 2,118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 265-2,800
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 986-5,906
In the us consulate: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador John P. DESROCHER (since 5 September 2017)
From the us embassy: 05 Chemin Cheikh Bachir, El Ibrahimi, El-Biar 16,030 Algeria
From the us mailing address: B. P. 408, Alger-Gare, 16,030 Algiers
From the us telephone: [213] (0) 770-08-2000
From the us FAX: [213] (0) 770-08-2,064

Flag description: two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a red, 5-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 Algerians believe the long crescent horns bring happiness

National symbols: star and crescent, fennec fox; national colors: green, white, red

National anthem
Name: Kassaman (We Pledge)
Lyricsmusic: Mufdi ZAKARIAH/Mohamed FAWZI: note: adopted 1962; ZAKARIAH wrote 'Kassaman' as a poem while imprisoned in Algiers by French colonial forces

Economy overview: Algeria's economy remains dominated by the state, a legacy of the country's socialist post-independence development model. In recent years the Algerian Government has halted the privatization of state-owned industries and imposed restrictions on imports and foreign involvement in its economy, pursuing an explicit import substitution policy.Hydrocarbons have long been the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 30% of GDP, 60% of budget revenues, and nearly 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the 10th-largest reserves of natural gas in the world - including the 3rd-largest reserves of shale gas - and is the 6th-largest gas exporter. It ranks 16th in proven oil reserves. Hydrocarbon exports enabled Algeria to maintain macroeconomic stability, amass large foreign currency reserves, and maintain low external debt while global oil prices were high. With lower oil prices since 2014, Algeria’s foreign exchange reserves have declined by more than half and its oil stabilization fund has decreased from about $20 billion at the end of 2013 to about $7 billion in 2017, which is the statutory minimum.Declining oil prices have also reduced the government’s ability to use state-driven growth to distribute rents and fund generous public subsidies, and the government has been under pressure to reduce spending. Over the past three years, the government has enacted incremental increases in some taxes, resulting in modest increases in prices for gasoline, cigarettes, alcohol, and certain imported goods, but it has refrained from reducing subsidies, particularly for education, healthcare, and housing programs.Algiers has increased protectionist measures since 2015 to limit its import bill and encourage domestic production of non-oil and gas industries. Since 2015, the government has imposed additional restrictions on access to foreign exchange for imports, and import quotas for specific products, such as cars. In January 2018 the government imposed an indefinite suspension on the importation of roughly 850 products, subject to periodic review.President BOUTEFLIKA announced in fall 2017 that Algeria intends to develop its non-conventional energy resources. Algeria has struggled to develop non-hydrocarbon industries because of heavy regulation and an emphasis on state-driven growth. Algeria has not increased non-hydrocarbon exports, and hydrocarbon exports have declined because of field depletion and increased domestic demand.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 36

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 174

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 109

Gross national saving:
Rank: 13

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 42.7% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 20.2% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 38.1% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 11.2% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 23.6% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -35.8% (2017 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 13.3% (2017 est.)
Industry: 39.3% (2017 est.)
Services: 47.4% (2017 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: 0.6% (2017 est.)
Rank: 164

Labor force: 11.82 million (2017 est.)
Rank: 50
By occupation agriculture: 10.8%
By occupation industry: 30.9%
By occupation services: 58.4% (2011 est.)

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 155

Population below poverty line: 23% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 26.8% (1995)
Highest 10: 26.8% (1995)

Distribution of family income gini index: 35.3 (1995)
Rank: 95

Budget
Revenues: 54.15 billion (2017 est.)
Expenditures: 70.2 billion (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -9.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 207

Taxes and other revenues: 32.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Rank: 67

Public debt:
Rank: 170

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 179

Central bank discount rate:
Rank: 99

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Rank: 109

Stock of narrow money:
Rank: 44

Stock of broad money:
Rank: 44

Stock of domestic credit:
Rank: 54

Market value of publicly traded shares: NA

Current account balance:
Rank: 199

Exports:
Rank: 60
Partners: Italy 17.4%, Spain 13%, France 11.9%, US 9.4%, Brazil 6.2%, Netherlands 5.5% (2017)
Commodities: petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97% (2009 est.)

Imports:
Rank: 55
Commodities: capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Partners: China 18.2%, France 9.1%, Italy 8%, Germany 7%, Spain 6.9%, Turkey 4.4% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Rank: 26

Debt external:
Rank: 128

Stock of direct foreign investment at home:
Rank: 72

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad:
Rank: 85

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Access population without electricity: 400,000 (2016)
Access electrification total population: 99% (2016)
Access electrification urban areas: 100% (2016)
Access electrification rural areas: 97% (2016)
Production: 66.89 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Production rank: 42
Consumption: 55.96 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption rank: 46
Exports: 641 million kWh (2015 est.)
Exports rank: 65
Imports: 257 million kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 91
Installed generating capacity: 19.27 million kW (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 45
Generation sources fossil fuels: 96% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 36
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 34
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 144
Generation sources other renewable sources: 2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 130

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 1.306 million bbl/day (2017 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 18
Crude oil exports: 756,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 15
Crude oil imports: 5,340 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 75
Crude oil proven reserves: 12.2 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 15

Refined petroleum
Products production: 627,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products production rank: 29
Products consumption: 405,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products consumption rank: 37
Products exports: 578,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports rank: 15
Products imports: 82,930 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports rank: 61

Natural gas
Production: 93.5 billion m³ (2017 est.)
Production rank: 10
Consumption: 41.28 billion m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption rank: 25
Exports: 53.88 billion m³ (2017 est.)
Exports rank: 7
Imports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Imports rank: 83
Proven reserves: 4.504 trillion m³ (1 January 2018 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 10

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 135.9 million Mt (2017 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 34

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 3,130,090 (2017 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2017 est.)
Fixed lines rank: 45
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 49,873,389 (2017 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2017 est.)
Mobile cellular rank: 29

Telephone system
General assessment: privatization of Algerias telecommunications sector began in 2000; three mobile-cellular licenses have been issued; regulator permits network operators to extend LTE services to additional provinces; a consortium led by Egypts Orascom Telecom won a 15-year license to build and operate a fixed-line network in Algeria; migration to 5G (2017)
Domestic: a limited network of fixed-lines with a teledensity of less than 10 telephones per 100 persons has been offset by the rapid increase in mobile-cellular subscribership; mobile-cellular teledensity was roughly 122 telephones per 100 persons (2017)
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; new submarine cables to link to the US and France; (2016)

Broadcast media: state-run Radio-Television Algerienne operates the broadcast media and carries programming in Arabic, Berber dialects, and French; use of satellite dishes is widespread, providing easy access to European and Arab satellite stations; state-run radio operates several national networks and roughly 40 regional radio stations (2009)

Internet
Country code: .dz
Users total: 17,291,463 (July 2016 est.)
Users percent of population: 42.9% (July 2016 est.)
Users rank: 37

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 3,166,907 (2017 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2017 est.)
Rank: 37

Military expenditures:
Rank: 5

Military service age and obligation: 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; 19-30 years of age for compulsory service; conscript service obligation is 18 months (6 months basic training, 12 months civil projects) (2018)

National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 4 (2015)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 74 (2015)
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 5,910,835 (2015)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 24,723,377
Note: mt-km (2015)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 7T (2016)

Airports: 157 (2016)
Rank: 36
With paved runways total: 64 (2017)
With paved runways over 3047 m: 12 (2017)
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 29 (2017)
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 17 (2017)
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 5 (2017)
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (2017)
With unpaved runways total: 93 (2013)
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2 (2013)
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 18 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 39 (2013)
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 34 (2013)

Heliports: 3 (2013)

Pipelines: 2,600 km condensate, 16,415 km gas, 3,447 km liquid petroleum gas, 7,036 km oil, 144 km refined products (2013)

Railways
Total: 3,973 km (2014)
Standard gauge: 2,888 km
Note: 1.055-m gauge (2014)
Narrow gauge: 1085 km
Rank: 49

Roadways
Total: 113,655 km (2010)
Paved: 87,605 km
Note: (includes 645 km of expressways) (2010)
Unpaved: 26,050 km (2010)
Rank: 43

Merchant marine
Total: 110 (2017)
By type: bulk carrier 3, general cargo 13, oil tanker 9, other 85 (2017)
Rank: 81

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djendjene, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda
LNG terminal: Arzew, Bethioua, Skikda

Disputes international: Algeria and many other states reject Moroccan administration of Western Sahara; the Polisario Front, exiled in Algeria, represents the Sahrawi Arab Democratic RepublicAlgeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each nation accusing the other of harboring militants and arms smugglingdormant disputes include Libyan claims of about 32,000 km² still reflected on its maps of southeastern Algeria and the National Liberation Front's (FLN) assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees: more than 100,000 (Western Saharan Sahrawi, mostly living in Algerian-sponsored camps in the southwestern Algerian town of Tindouf) (2018)