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| Algeria | Introduction | Back to Top |
Algeria (in French, Algérie), officially People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, republic of western North Africa; bordered to the north by the Mediterranean Sea; to the east by Tunisia and Libya; to the south by Niger, Mali, and Mauritania; and to the west by Morocco. Its total area is 2,381,741 sq km (919,595 sq mi). The capital and largest city is Algiers.
Official Name -People's Democratic Republic of Algeria| Algeria | Provinces | Back to Top |
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.
| Algeria | People | Back to Top |
Some 80 percent of the country's population consider themselves to be ethnically Arab, though most Algerians are descendents of ancient Berber groups who mixed with various invading peoples from the Arab Middle East, southern Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa.The population consists almost entirely of Berbers, Arabs, and people of mixed Arab and Berber ancestry. Until 1962 about 1 million European settlers, mainly French, and an indigenous population of 150,000 Jews lived in Algeria; 90 percent of this group, however, emigrated after Algeria became independent in 1962.
Arabic is the first language of the majority of the population and is understood by most others. It is also the country's official language. Berber, in several geographic dialects, is spoken by Algeria's ethnic Berbers, though most Berbers also tend to be bilingual in Arabic.
| Algeria | History | Back to Top |
The earliest inhabitants of what is now Algeria were Berbers, tribal peoples of unknown origin. Cave paintings in the Ahaggar region dating between 6500 and 1200 bc depict a people who raised cattle and hunted game in the area. During the Punic Wars (3rd-2nd century bc) between Carthage and Rome, Massinissa (reigned 202-148 bc), a Berber chief allied with Ancient Rome, established the first Algerian kingdom, Numidia. His grandson, Jugurtha, was subjugated by Rome in 106 bc.
Between the 11th and 13th centuries two successive Berber dynasties, the Almoravids and the Almohads, brought northwest Africa and southern Spain under a single central authority. Tlemcen, the capital under the Almohads, became a city of fine mosques and schools of Islamic learning, as well as a handicrafts center. In the 16th century the Christian Spaniards occupied various North African ports. Algiers was blockaded and forced to pay tribute. Other ports were captured outright. The desperate Muslims called for help from the Ottoman sultan, then the caliph of all Islam.
France annexed Algeria in 1834, and the new regime aroused fierce resistance from tribes accustomed to indirect Ottoman rule. Their leader, Abd al-Qadir, an Islamic holy man claiming descent from Muhammad, used hit-and-run tactics that were highly effective; he was not completely subdued until 1847. After World War I (1914-1918) among groups of Muslims who at first wanted only equality with the Europeans. Ferhat Abbas and Ahmed Messali Hadj, a Communist, were among the most prominent Algerian leaders in the 1920s and 1930s.
| Algeria | Culture | Back to Top |
French tradition formerly dominated the cultural life of Algeria. Even before independence, however, there was a growing movement among Algerian artists and intellectuals to revive national interest in Arab-Berber origins, a movement that, since 1962, has gained official support.
The Prehistory and Ethnographic Museum (1928), the National Museum of Antiquities (1897), and the National Museum of Fine Arts of Algiers (1930) are located in Algiers. The Museum of Cirta (1853) in Constantine contains art and archaeological collections.
| Algeria | Life | Back to Top |
Algerian culture and life have been profoundly affected by 130 years of colonial rule, by the bitter War of Independence, and by the subsequent broad mobilization policies of the postindependence era. With the resulting emergence of a mobile, often rootless society, Algeria's cultural continuity has accordingly been undermined. Only Islamic belief and populist ideology have seemingly prevented social disintegration.
Daily life of the average Algerian is permeated with the atmosphere of Islam, which, in this former colony of a Western power, has become identified with the concept of an autonomous Algerian people and of resistance to the West. Practiced here largely as a set of social prescriptions and ethical attitudes, Islam has more characteristically been identified with supporting traditional values than with serving as a revolutionary ideology.
| Algeria | Land | Back to Top |
Most of the population of Algeria lives in the northern part of the country the Tell which is the richer and the better-watered sector. The remainder of the country, the Saharan region, is uninhabited desert, with the exception of several oases. The Saharan region conceals rich mineral resources and, above all, oil and gas. Each of the country's two physical regions results from a different geologic evolution.
From north to south there are five different zones, all running from east to west. The first zone is formed by intermittent coastal folded massifs; the second is formed by the coastal plains that separate and extend south of the coastal massifs; the third zone consists of the chain of the Tell Atlas mountains; the fourth zone consists of the High Plateaus and the fifth consists of another chain of mountains, the Saharan Atlas.
Most of the natural wealth of Algeria lies in its sizable mineral deposits, notably crude petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, and iron ore. Other minerals include coal, lead, and zinc. The arable land comprises only about 3 percent of the total area and is located mainly in the valleys and plains of the coastal region.
| Algeria | Plants and Animal | Back to Top |
Trees include pines, Atlas cedar, and various oaks, including cork oak. Lower slopes are bare or covered with a scrub vegetation of juniper and other shrubs. Much of the High Plateau is barren, but tracts of steppe vegetation containing esparto grass and brushwood are present. Plant life in the Sahara is widely scattered and consists of drought-resistant grasses, acacia, and jujube trees.
Scavengers, such as jackals, hyenas, and vultures, are found in most regions. Fewer antelope, hares, gazelles, and reptiles are also present.
| Algeria | Economy | Back to Top |
Algeria's economy is dominated by its export trade in oil and natural gas. Until 1962 the economy was largely rural-based and complementary to that of France. Since independence, however, production of oil and especially natural gas has come into its own, and industrialization has proceeded rapidly.
Algeria is one of the wealthiest nations of Africa, declining oil prices reduced the annual income per capita to $1,550 in 1999, down from $2,360 in 1988. Agriculture plays a declining but still important role in the Algerian economy, while mineral production accounts for the largest part of the gross domestic product. Since the late 1960s the government has instituted major industrialization programs. The estimated annual national budget in the early 1990s included $14.4 billion in revenues and $14.6 billion in expenditures. Gross domestic product, which measures the total value of goods and services produced, was $47.9 billion in 1999.
| Algeria | Communications | Back to Top |
Telephone density in Algeria is very low, not exceeding five telephones per 100 persons; the number of fixed main lines has been increased in the last few years to a little more than 2,000,000. 5 submarine cables; microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel.
| Algeria | Languages | Back to Top |
Arabic is the official language and is spoken by about 83 percent of the population; most of the remainder speak Berber dialect. French, however, is still widely read and spoken by many educated Algerians. Islam is the official religion and is professed by the vast majority of the population.
| Algeria | Politics | Back to Top |
From independence until 1991, the National Liberation Front (FLN) dominated Algerian politics. After the 1992 elections were cancelled, the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), which sought to install an Islamic government, was banned; a 1996 constitutional amendment banned political parties based solely on religion or ethnicity. In 1997 the National Democratic Rally (RND), a pro-government party closely allied with the Algerian president, was created.
The RND won the national and local elections of 1997, in which about 40 parties participated. It won over half the seats in the National Assembly elections, far more than any other party. The RND and its coalition parties, the FLN and the Islamist Movement for Peaceful Society, one of two moderate Islamic-oriented parties allowed to participate, won over 80 percent of the seats in local elections.
Democratic National Rally or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA, chairman]; Islamic Salvation Front or FIS (outlawed April 1992) [Ali BELHADJ and Dr. Abassi MADANI (imprisoned), Rabeh KEBIR (self-exile in Germany)]; Movement of a Peaceful Society or MSP [Mahfoud NAHNAH, chairman]; National Liberation Front or FLN [Boualem BENHAMOUDA, secretary general]; Progressive Republican Party [Khadir DRISS]; Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD [Said SAADI, secretary general]; Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement [Lahbib ADAMI]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Ahmed KHELIL]; Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general (self-exile in Switzerland)]; Union for Democracy and Liberty [Mouley BOUKHALAFA]; Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUN]
| Algeria | Government | Back to Top |
Under the constitution adopted in 1976, Algeria became a socialist republic. The constitution declared the National Liberation Front (FLN) as the sole legitimate political party. A revised constitution in 1989 abandoned the commitment to socialism and allowed the formation of other political parties.
Between 1992 and 1997 Algeria was ruled by a High Council of State, headed by a president. After a constitutional referendum, the constitution was again revised in 1996, most significantly to ban political parties based solely on ethnicity, religion, or another separatist feature, and to create a new, bicameral legislature. Elections for the directly elected lower house were held in 1997.
| Algeria | organization | Back to Top |
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS, OAU, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO.
| Algeria | Education | Back to Top |
Primary education is free and compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 and 15. The Algerian educational system, long patterned after the French, was changed by a program of Arabization shortly after independence. The government introduced new teaching methods and began training Algerian teachers and bringing in foreign, Arabic-speaking teachers. In 1976 all private schools were abolished and a compulsory period of nine years of education was introduced.
| Algeria | Defence | Back to Top |
The president is commander in chief of the military forces, which numbered 124,000 in 1999. The nucleus of the 107,000-troop army was provided by the liberation forces after Algerian independence was secured. A 10,000-member air force is equipped with Soviet- and French-built jet planes and helicopters. About 7,000 people make up the naval forces.
| Algeria | International Disputes | Back to Top |
part of southeastern region claimed by Libya; Algeria supports exiled West Saharan Polisario Front and rejects Moroccan administration of Western Sahara.
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| Algeria | Time | Back to Top |
| Algeria | Currency and General Information | Back to Top |
| Countries Currency Unit | DZD/Unit | Units/DZD | |
| DZD | Algeria Dinars | 1.00000 | 1.00000 |
| USD | United States Dollars | 77.1877 | 0.0129554 |
| ARS | Argentina Pesos | 26.3436 | 0.0379599 |
| AUD | Australia Dollars | 41.1729 | 0.0242878 |
| ATS | Austria Schillings ** | 4.88296 | 0.204794 |
| BSD | Bahamas Dollars | 77.1877 | 0.0129554 |
| BBD | Barbados Dollars | 38.7878 | 0.0257813 |
| BEF | Belgium Francs ** | 1.66562 | 0.600377 |
| BMD | Bermuda Dollars | 77.1877 | 0.0129554 |
| BRL | Brazil Reals | 33.2153 | 0.0301066 |
| GBP | United Kingdom Pounds | 109.915 | 0.00909797 |
| BGL | Bulgaria Leva | 34.5255 | 0.0289641 |
| CAD | Canada Dollars | 48.4434 | 0.0206426 |
| CLP | Chile Pesos | 0.117628 | 8.50138 |
| CNY | China Yuan Renminbi | 9.32526 | 0.107236 |
| CYP | Cyprus Pounds | 115.691 | 0.00864369 |
| CZK | Czech Republic Koruny | 2.17579 | 0.459604 |
| DKK | Denmark Kroner | 9.04295 | 0.110583 |
| XCD | East Caribbean Dollars | 28.5880 | 0.0349797 |
| EGP | Egypt Pounds | 16.7706 | 0.0596280 |
| EUR | Euro | 67.1910 | 0.0148829 |
| FJD | Fiji Dollars | 34.5204 | 0.0289684 |
| FIM | Finland Markkaa ** | 11.3007 | 0.0884900 |
| FRF | France Francs ** | 10.2432 | 0.0976257 |
| DEM | Germany Deutsche Marks ** | 34.3542 | 0.0291085 |
| XAU | Gold Ounces | 23,308.89 | 0.0000429021 |
| GRD | Greece Drachmae ** | 0.197186 | 5.07137 |
| HKD | Hong Kong Dollars | 9.89662 | 0.101045 |
| HUF | Hungary Forint | 0.276653 | 3.61464 |
| ISK | Iceland Kronur | 0.771775 | 1.29571 |
| INR | India Rupees | 1.58393 | 0.631343 |
| IDR | Indonesia Rupiahs | 0.00787741 | 126.945 |
| IEP | Ireland Pounds ** | 85.3149 | 0.0117213 |
| ILS | Israel New Shekels | 16.3936 | 0.0609995 |
| ITL | Italy Lire ** | 0.0347012 | 28.8174 |
| JMD | Jamaica Dollars | 1.62125 | 0.616807 |
| JPY | Japan Yen | 0.582136 | 1.71781 |
| JOD | Jordan Dinars | 108.879 | 0.00918452 |
| LBP | Lebanon Pounds | 0.0510162 | 19.6016 |
| LUF | Luxembourg Francs ** | 1.66562 | 0.600377 |
| MYR | Malaysia Ringgits | 20.3258 | 0.0491984 |
| MXN | Mexico Pesos | 8.56834 | 0.116709 |
| NZD | New Zealand Dollars | 33.9991 | 0.0294125 |
| NOK | Norway Kroner | 8.72394 | 0.114627 |
| NLG | Netherlands Guilders ** | 30.4899 | 0.0327977 |
| PKR | Pakistan Rupees | 1.28861 | 0.776031 |
| PHP | Philippines Pesos | 1.51586 | 0.659694 |
| XPT | Platinum Ounces | 39,439.96 | 0.0000253550 |
| PLN | Poland Zlotych | 18.7942 | 0.0532078 |
| PTE | Portugal Escudos ** | 0.335147 | 2.98376 |
| ROL | Romania Lei | 0.00234213 | 426.962 |
| RUR | Russia Rubles | 2.48036 | 0.403167 |
| SAR | Saudi Arabia Riyals | 20.5835 | 0.0485826 |
| XAG | Silver Ounces | 359.457 | 0.00278197 |
| SGD | Singapore Dollars | 41.8774 | 0.0238792 |
| SKK | Slovakia Koruny | 1.60891 | 0.621539 |
| ZAR | South Africa Rand | 6.81830 | 0.146664 |
| KRW | South Korea Won | 0.0586128 | 17.0611 |
| ESP | Spain Pesetas ** | 0.403826 | 2.47631 |
| XDR | IMF Special Drawing Rights | 96.3783 | 0.0103758 |
| SDD | Sudan Dinars | 0.296876 | 3.36841 |
| SEK | Sweden Kronor | 7.44235 | 0.134366 |
| CHF | Switzerland Francs | 45.8332 | 0.0218182 |
| TWD | Taiwan New Dollars | 2.21167 | 0.452147 |
| THB | Thailand Baht | 1.77598 | 0.563068 |
| TTD | Trinidad and Tobago Dollars | 12.6124 | 0.0792873 |
| TRL | Turkey Liras | 0.0000589422 | 16,965.78 |
| VEB | Venezuela Bolivares | 0.0838996 | 11.9190 |
| ZMK | Zambia Kwacha | 0.0185147 | 54.0112 |
| Algeria : Geographic coordinates | 28 00 N, 3 00 E |
| Algeria : Population growth rate | 1.71% |
| Algeria : Birth rate | 22.76 births/1,000 population |
| Algeria : Death rate | 5.22 deaths/1,000 population |
| Algeria : People living with HIV/AIDS | N/A |
| Algeria : Independence | 5 July 1962 |
| Algeria : National holiday | Revolution Day, 1 November (1954) |
| Algeria : Constitution | 19 November 1976 |
| Algeria : GDP | purchasing power parity - $171 billion |
| Algeria : GDP - per capita | purchasing power parity - $5,500 |
| Algeria : Electricity - consumption | 21.613 billion kWh |
| Algeria : Exports | $19.6 billion petroleum, natural gas etc. |
| Algeria : Imports | $9.2 billion capital goods, consumer goods etc. |
| Algeria : Telephones | 2.3 million |
| Algeria : Mobile cellular | 33,500 |
| Algeria : Radio broadcast stations | AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 |
| Algeria : Radios | 7.1 million |
| Algeria : Television broadcast stations | 46 |
| Algeria : Televisions | 3.1 million |
| Algeria : Internet country code | .dz |
| Algeria : Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | 2 |
| Algeria : Internet users | 20,000 |
| Algeria : Railways | 4,820 km |
| Algeria : Highways | 104,000 km |
| Algeria : Waterways | N/A |
| Algeria : Pipelines | crude oil 6,612 km; petroleum products 298 km; natural gas 2,948 km |
| Algeria : Ports and harbors | Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Beni Saf, Dellys, Djendjene etc. |
| Algeria : Merchant marine | 73 ships |
| Algeria : Airports | 135 |
| Algeria : Heliports | 1 |
| Algeria : Military branches | Army, Navy, Air Force, Territorial Air Defense |
| Algeria : Military expenditures | $1.87 billion |