The World Factbook (1982)/Algeria

by the Central Intelligence Agency

ALGERIA

(See reference map VII)

LAND

2,460,500 km²; 3% cultivated, 16% pasture and meadows, 1% forested, 80% desert, waste, or urban

Land boundaries: 6,260 km

WATER

Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 12 nm

Coastline: 1,183 km

PEOPLE

Population: 20,030,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 3.1%

Nationality: noun—Algerian(s); adjective—Algerian

Ethnic divisions: 99% Arab-Berbers, less than 1% Europeans

Religion: 99% Muslim; 1% Christian and Hebrew

Language: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects

Literacy: 25% (5% Arabic, 9% French, 11% both)

Labor force: 4.0 million; 19% agriculture, 17% industry, 64% other (military, police, civil service, transportation workers, teachers, merchants, construction workers); at least 19% of urban labor unemployed

Organized labor: 25% of labor force claimed; General Union of Algerian Workers (UGTA) is the only labor organization and is subordinate to the National Liberation Front

GOVERNMENT

Official name: Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria

Type: republic

Capital: Algiers

Political subdivisions: 31 Wilayas (departments or provinces)

Legal system: based on French and Islamic law, with socialist principles; new constitution adopted by referendum November 1976; 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; legal education at Universities of Algiers, Oran, and Constantine; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: 1 November

Branches: executive dominant; unicameral legislature; judiciary

Government leader: President, Col. Chadli BENDJEDID, elected 7 February 1979 as successor to deceased President Boumediene

Suffrage: universal over age 19

Elections (latest): presidential 7 February 1979; departmental assemblies 2 June 1974; local assemblies 30 March 1975; legislative elections held 25 February 1977

Political parties and leaders: National Liberation Front (FLN), Secretary General Chadli Bendjedid

Communists: 400 (est.); Communist Party illegal (banned 1962)

Member of: AFDB, AlOEC, Arab League, ASSIMER, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, International Lead and Zinc Study Group, IMCO, IMF, IOOC, ISCON, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OPEC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

ECONOMY

GDP: $41.0 billion (1981 est.), $1,720 per capita; 6.2% real growth in 1981

Agriculture: main crops—wheat, barley, grapes, citrus fruits

Major industries: petroleum, light industries, natural gas, mining, petrochemical, electrical, and automotive plants under construction

Electric power: 1,780,000 kW capacity (1980); 6,400 million kWh produced (1980), 336 kWh per capita

Exports: $14.0 billion (f.o.b., 1981 est.); major items—petroleum and gas 98.0%; US 52.0%, France 23.0%

Imports: $11.0 billion (f.o.b., 1981 est.); major items—capital goods 32.0%, semifinished goods 25.0%, foodstuffs 19.0%; France 23.0%, US 7.4%

Major trade partners: US, West Germany, France, Italy

Monetary conversion rate: 1 Algerian dinar (DA)=US$0.23

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS

Railroads: 3,950 km total; 2,690 km standard gauge (1.435 m), 1,140 km 1.055-meter gauge, 120 km meter gauge (1.000 m); 302 km electrified; 193 km double track

Highways: 78,410 km total; 45,070 km concrete or bituminous, 33,340 km gravel, crushed stone, unimproved earth Ports: 9 major, 8 minor Pipelines: crude oil, 6,612 km; refined products, 298 km; natural gas, 2,398 km

Civil air: 35 major transport aircraft, including 4 leased in

Airfields: 185 total, 172 usable; 52 with permanent-surface runways; 27 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 85 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

DEFENSE FORCES

Military manpower: males 15-49, 4,159,000; 2,568,000 fit for military service; 218,000 reach military age (19) annually

Military budget: for fiscal year ending 31 December 1981, $1,779 million; 11% of central government budget