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Algeria |
Capital: Algiers
Languages: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Currency: Algerian dinar (DZD)
Background: After a century of rule by France, Algeria became independent in 1962. Concerns about the country include large-scale unemployment and the need to diversify the petroleum-based economy. The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 52% of budget revenues, 25% of GDP, and over 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the fifth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the second largest gas exporter; it ranks fourteenth for oil reserves.
PEOPLE
Population: 33,333,216 (July 2007 est.); 34,586,184 (July 2010)
Life expectancy at birth:
2007
Total population: 73 years
Male: 72 years
Female: 75 years (2007 est.)
2010
Total population: 74.26 years
Male: 72.6 years
Female: 76 years (2010 est.)
Age structure:
2007
0-14 years: 27.2% (male 4,627,479/female 4,447,468)
15-64 years: 67.9% (male 11,413,121/female 11,235,096)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 752,058/female 857,994) (2007 est.)
2010
0-14 years: 25.4% (male 4,436,591/female 4,259,729)
15-64 years: 69.5% (male 11,976,965/female 11,777,618)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 798,576/female 928,709) (2010 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.216% (2007 est.); 1.177% (2010 est.)
Population below poverty line: 25% (2005 est.); 23% (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: 0.1%; note - no country specific models provided (2006 & 2007 est.)
People living with HIV/AIDS: 19,000 (2006 est.); 21,000 (2007 est.)
Literacy: definition age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 70%
Male: 79%
Female: 61% (2003 est.)
Refugees and Internally Displaced People: Refugees (country of origin): 90,000 (Western Saharan Sahrawi, mostly living in Algerian-sponsored camps in the southwestern Algerian town of Tindouf) IDPs: 400,000-600,000 (conflict between government forces, Islamic insurgents) (2006)
ECONOMY
Unemployment rate: 15.7% (2006 est.); 10.2% (2009 est.)
Labour force by Occupation: Agriculture 14%, industry 13.4%, construction and public works 10%, trade 14.6%, government 32%, other 16% (2003 est.)
Agricultural Products: wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle
Industries: petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing
Exports - Commodities: petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%
Exports - Partners:
US 26.7%, Italy 16.6%, Spain 9.1%, France 8.6%, Canada 7.9%, Brazil 6.5%, Belgium 4.2% (2006)
US 23.2%, Italy 17.23%, Spain 10.83%, France 7.97%, Canada 7.65%, Netherlands 5.19%, Turkey 4.22% (2009)
Imports - Commodities: capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - Partners:
France 22.1%, Italy 8.6%, China 8.5%, Germany 5.9%, Spain 5.6%, US 4.8%, Turkey 4.5% (2006)
France 19.7%, China 11.72%, Italy 10.19%, Spain 8.13%, Germany 5.77%, Turkey 5.05% (2009)
ENVIRONMENT
Current issues: 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.
Natural hazards: Mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides and floods in rainy season
Source: CIA World Fact book
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