Algeria

 

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The new Catholic Archbishop of Algiers was appointed on 24th May 2008. He is Mgr Ghaleb Moussa Abdalla Bader, who is Jordanian by nationality. He succeeds Mgr Tessier who had been Archbishop for twenty years, including many difficult days as the Church strived to live in solidarity with the Algerian people and to be faithful to Jesus Christ.

The civil war of the 1990s caused the death of an estimated 200,000 Algerians. Since then, the situation has stabilized. During the civil war the Armed Islamic Group was a feared militant organization. From it emerged the GSPC: the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat. Recently that group claimed to have the approval of Al Qaida to change its name to "Al Qaida in the Maghreb." They are believed to be behind the December 2006 attack on Americans and Britons working for Halliburtons; the January 2007 attack on an army outpost in which five soldiers were killed; and the wave of bombings in mid-February in which six persons are reported dead. The most serious attacks of recent years came with the two massive bombs which exploded on 11th April 2007 killing 33 people, a series of bombs which killed 50 people in September 2007 and an attack on a UN building in December. Like most militant Islamists, the new group is Salafist, that is, harking back to the first three generations of Muslims.

Official Name

People's Democratic Republic of Algeria

(Al-Jumhuriya Al-Jazairiya ad-Dimucratya ash-Shabiya)
Former Name Algeria (formerly French, 1830-1962)

Capital

Algiers

Main Towns

Algiers, Annaba, Blida, Constantine, Oran, Stif, Sidi-Bel-Abbes, Skikda, Tilimsen

Subdivisions

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, Republic declared on 25 September 1962)
Constitution 19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976; revised 3 November 1988, 23 February 1989, and 28 November 1996

National Holiday

 Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)

UN Membership

8 October 1962

OAU Membership

25 May 1963 – now African Union (AU)

Commonwealth

n/a

Other Organisations

In alphabetical order according to abbreviation/acronym: Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA), African Development Bank (AfDB or AFDB), Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD), Arab League (AL or League of Arab States), Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Group of 15 (G-15), Group of 19 (G-19), Intergovernmental Group of 24 (G-24), Group of 77 at the United Nations (G-77), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International Criminal Court (ICCt - signatory), International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM), International Development Association (IDA), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS), International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Maritime Organisation (IMO), International Maritime Satellite Organisation (Inmarsat), International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation (Intelsat), International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Organisation for Migration (IOM - observer), International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), United Nations Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), Non Aligned Movement (NAM), Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), Organisation of American States (OAS - observer), Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Organisation for Co-operation and Security in Europe (OSCE - partner), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Confederation of Labour (WCL), World Customs Organization (WCO, former Customs Cooperation Council [CCC]), World Health Organisation (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), World Tourism Organisation (WToO), World Trade Organisation (WTrO - applicant).

Population

World Bank Figures: 29,950,000 (1999), 30,385,000 (2000), 30,835,000 (2001), 31,320,434 (2002), 31,832,612 (2003)
Other Sources:28,539,321 (July 1995), 31,736,053 (July 2001 est.), 32,818,500 (July 2003 est.), 32,531,853 (July 2005 est.)

Area

919,595 sq. mls. (2,381,741 sq. kms.)

Density

11 per sq.km. (1995)

Highest Point

Tahat 9,541 ft. (2,908 m.)

Lowest Point

Chott Melrhir -131 ft. (-40 m.)

Neighbours

Libya (E), Mali (SW), Mauritania (W), Morocco (NW), Niger (SE), Tunisia (NE)

Life Expectancy

70 years (1995). At birth: total population:  69.95 years, male:  68.6 years, female:  71.34 years (2001 est.).
At birth: total population: 70.54 years male: 69.14 years female: 72.01 years (2003 est.).
At birth: total population: 73 years male: 71.45 years female: 74.63 years (2005 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate

Total: 37.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) female: 35.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 40.34 deaths/1,000 live births .
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.).
HIV/AIDS

Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2001 est.) people living with HIV/AIDS: 9,100 (2003 est.) deaths: less than 500 (2003 est.)

Adult Literacy Rate

Total population:  61.6%, male:  73.9%, female:  49% (1995 est.). Total population: 70% male: 78.8% female: 61% (2003 est.).

Ethnic Groups

Arab and Berber

Languages

Arabic, French, Berber dialects, Amazigh (national but not official language)

Religions

Muslim (Sunni - state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%

Type of Government

Republic

President

Abdelaziz Bouteflika (since 28 April 1999)

Prime Minister

Abdelaziz Belkhadem since May 24, 2006

Political Parties

Algerian National Front or FNA; Democratic National Rally (RND); Islamic Salvation Front or (FIS)(outlawed April 1992); Movement of a Peaceful Society (MSP); National Entente Movement (MEN); National Liberation Front (FLN); National Reform Movement (MRN); National Renewal Party (PRA); Progressive Republican Party; Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD); Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement; Social Liberal Party (PSL); Socialist Forces Front (FFS); Union for Democracy and Liberty; Workers Party (PT).

Ruling Party

High State Council (non-party government backed by the military)

Currency

Algerian Dinar (DZD, 100 centimes)
Exchange rates: Algerian Dinars per US dollar - 72.061 (2004), 77.395 (2003), 79.682 (2002), 77.215 (2001), 75.26 (2000)

GDP

US$1,367 (1992), US$ 41,435m (1995)
US$66.0 billion (2003), US$64.3 billion (2004 est.)
real growth rate: 6.8% (2003), 6.1% (2004 est.)
composition by sector: agriculture: 10.3%, industry: 57.4%, services: 32.3% (2004 est.)
purchasing power parity - $212.3 billion (2004 est.)
per capita purchasing power parity - US$5,300 (2002 est.), US$6,600 (2004 est.)

GNP

US$ 1,950 (1992) US$ 1,600 (1995)
Per Capita Income GDP per head: US$1,890 (2003), Per capita real GDP: US$1,972 (2004 est.)
Population Below Poverty Line

23% (1999 est.)

Land Use Arable land: 3.22%, permanent crops: 0.25% , other: 96.53% (2001). Irrigated land: 5,600 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural Resources petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc
Oil and Natural Gas

Oil production: 1.52 million bbl/day (2001 est.), 1.2 million bbl/day (2004 est.)
consumption: 209,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
exports: NA (2001)
imports: NA (2001)
proved reserves:13.1 billion bbl (January 2002 est.), 11.87 billion bbl (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production: 80.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
consumption: 22.32 billion cu m (2001 est.)
exports: 57.98 billion cu m (2001 est.)
proved reserves: 4.739 trillion cu m (January 2002 est.), 4.739 trillion cu m (2004)
Pipelines: crude oil 4,108 mls (6,612 kms); petroleum products 185 mls (298 kms); natural gas 1,832 mls (2,948 kms)(2003)
condensate 1,344 km; gas 85,946 km; liquid petroleum gas 2,213 km; oil 6,496 km (2004)

Military

Branches: People's National Army (ANP), Algerian National Navy (MRA), Air Force (QJJ), Territorial Air Defense, National Gendarmerie
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 9,243,884 (2003 est.), males age 19-49: 8,033,049 (2005 est.)
Expenditures - US$1.87 billion, 4.1% of GDP (FY99), US $2.48 billion, 3.2% of GDP (2004)

Economic Aid Received

US$162 million (2000 est.), US $122.8 million (2002 est.)
Aid per Capita (World Bank): US$5 (1999), US$7 (2000), US$7 (2001), US$10 (2002), US$7 (2003)

Debt

Less indebted
World Bank Figures: US$25,374,099,456 (2000), US$21,694,500,864 (2001), US$21,871,499,264 (2002), US$22,750,799,872 (2003)
Other Sources: US$32,610m (1995) US$25 billion (2000 est.), US$21.6 billion (2002 est.), US$21.9 billion (2004 est.)
37.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Major Imports

Capital goods 24-26% semi finished goods 24-26% food & tobacco 20% consumer goods 15-17% transport equipment 14-16% raw materials 5-8%

Imports from

France 37.3%, US 11.3%, Italy 10.0%, Germany 7.6%, Spain (2001).
France 22.5%, U.S. 9.6%, Italy 9.5%, Germany 6.5%, Spain 5.2%, Turkey 4.1%, Canada 3.1% (2003 est.).
France 31.6%, Italy 8.5%, Germany 6.3%, Spain 5.6%, China 5.3%, US 4.9%, Turkey 4.5% (2004)
US$12.3 billion (f.o.b., 2003 est.), US$15.25 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Major Exports

Hydrocarbons 25% Condensates 25% crude petroleum 24% petroleum products 20% total 96-98% wine, tobacco & foodstuffs.
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97% (2004).
US$32.16 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports to

Italy 22.8%, France 14.6%, Spain 13.9%, US 13.9%, Brazil (2001).
US 22.5%, Italy 17.8%, France 11.8%, Spain 10.2%, Canada 7.8%, Belgium 4.8% (2004)

We try to have each fact sheet up to date and as accurate as possible.
If you notice any mistakes, or have suggestions on items which could be added, please let us know by emailing us: suttonlink@dial.pipex.com

The White Fathers, Sutton Coldfield, 4 June, 2008

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