Algeria

The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria is situated in North Africa. It is the 2nd largest country in Africa and 11th largest country in the world, capturing total 2,381,740 sq km area. It borders Tunisia in the northeast, Libya in the east, Niger in the southeast, Mali and Mauritania in the southwest, a portion of Western Sahara in the west, Morocco in the northwest, and it is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea in the north. The capital is Algiers (36 45 N, 3 03 E). It shares the memberships of United Nations, African Union, Arab League, and OPEC. The country also has contributed a great deal to form Arab Maghreb Union.


HISTORY:- Algeria was inhabited by the Berbers. In 200 BC, Roman Republic invaded the land, followed by the Vandals, the Byzantine Empire and Arabs in 18th century. In 1536 Ottoman Empire took over the land. During Ottoman rule, Algeria served as the headquarters of the Barbary pirates. The French occupied Algeria in 1830. Algeria remained a part of France until the downfall of the Fourth republic. Struggle for independence went on until 1962, when French president Charles de Gaulle indulged in peace negotiation. Algeria became independent on 5th July, 1962 with Ahmed Ben Bella as elected President. Col. Houari Boumédienne overthrew Bella in 1965. With Chadli Bendjedid, the country became bureaucratic. The fundamentalist Islamic Salvation Front won the in the first ever parliamentary elections in 1991. But the army’s dismissal of the election resulted into an undeclared brutal civil war in 1992. In 1999, Abdelaziz Bouteflika was elected as President. In spite of the democracy, Algeria is still marked by the military dictatorship.

 

GEOGRAPHY:- Algeria is situated at 28 00 N, 3 00 E in Northern Africa. The total land area occupied by the country is 2,381,740 sq km. The coastline is 998 km long along with the Mediterranean Sea. The lowest point is Chott Melrhir (-40 m) and the highest point is Tahat (3,003 m). The country is mostly made of high plateau and desert, with hilly to mountainous, narrow, disjoined coastal plain. Some natural harbours can be found in Algeria. The mountain areas are affected by severe earthquakes, and mud slides.

 

CLIMATE:- Algerian climate is mainly arid to semiarid, with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers along the coastal areas, and cold drier winters and hot summers on high plateau. In summer, sirocco, a hot, dusty, sand-laden wind is very common.

 

GOVERNMENT:- Algeria is a Presidential Republican country. According to the constitution, Algeria is an Islamic, Arab, and Amazigh country. The constitution was adopted on 22nd November, 1976. The three branches of the government are:

Executive branch consists of the President (chief of state), the Prime minister (head of government), and cabinet.

Legislative branch consists of the bicameral Parliament- National People's Assembly (389 seats), and the Council of Nations (144 seats).

Judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court.

Major political parties to represent in the parliament are National Liberation Front, National Democratic Rally, Movement for National Reform, Movement of Society for Peace, Workers' Party, Algerian National Front, Islamic Renaissance Movement, Party of Algerian Renewal. Suffrage is given universally at 18.

President  Abdelaziz Bouteflika

Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem

 

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Algeria is divided into 48 provinces, which are again decomposed into 553 districts and 1541 municipalities.

 

CULTURE:- Algerian literature can be mainly divided into Arabic and French. Mohammed Dib, Albert Camus, Kateb Yacine, Assia Djebar, Rachid Mimouni are the popular Algerian novelists. Jacques Derrida, the father of deconstruction comes of Algeria. Malek Bennabi and Frantz Fanon, Ibn Khaldun are the notable philosophers. Mohammed Khadda and M'Hamed Issiakhem are famous Algerian painters. Algerian culture mainly resolves around Islam. Algerian music is best known as raï. Many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are located in Algeria.

 

ECONOMY:- The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of Algerian economy. Algeria is 14th country in petroleum reserves, containing 11.8 billion barrels of oil reserves and 8th  country in natural gas reserves in the world.

GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $268.9 billion; per capita $8,100.

Real growth rate: 4.6%.

Inflation: 4.6%.

Unemployment: 14.1%.

Arable land: 3.17%.

Agriculture: wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle.

Labor force: 9.38 million; agriculture 14%, industry 13.4%, construction and public works 10%, trade 14.6%, government 32%, other 16% (2003 est.).

Industries: petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing.

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

Budget:  

Revenues: $58.5 billion

Expenditures: $41.35 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt: 9.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Exports: $63.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%.

Imports: $26.08 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods.

Major trading partners: France, Italy, China, Germany, Spain, U.S., Turkey (2006)

Monetary unit: Dinar

 

LANGUAGE:- The official language is Arabic. French, and other Berber dialects are also spoken.

 

CITIES:- Algiers is the capital and largest city. Other large cities are Oran , Constantine, Batna, and Annaba.

 

POPULATION:-  The estimated population of Algeria is 33,739,635 with the growth of rate 1.2%.

Density per sq mi: 36

Literacy rate: 69.9%

RACE:-

Arab-Berber 99%

European less than 1%

 

RELIGION:- Sunni is the state religion.

Islam 99% (Sunni-97%) (non Sunni- 2%)

European (Christian and Jewish) 1%

 

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 17.03 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 4.62 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 28.75 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.77 years

Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 500 (2003 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 175

 

UNICEF:- UNICEF with the help of the government works on setting up a protective environment after the devastating civil war. Apart from that, UNICEF focuses on reducing Infant and maternal mortality rates, immunization against primary childhood diseases, conservation of water in arid regions. UNICEF has gained great success to lessen mortality rates and in giving immunization coverage to 80% children. In education sector, UNICEF has shown great progress of girl education in last few years. With the help of the Ministry of Education, UNICEF introduces childhood education programmes for the age group of 3 to 6. Child friendly schools are being setting up in 40 schools. Over 650 educators are being trained. Algerian National Radio is assisting UNICEF in several educational programmes. With the Ministry of Family and Women and the Ministry of Justice, UNICEF works against violence on women and establishes a new Child Protection law.

 

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 3,973 km (2006).

Highways: total: 108,302 km (2004).

Ports and harbors: Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djendjene, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda.

Airports: 150 (2007).

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