Official Name: Al-Jumhuriyah al-Jazairiyah al-Dimuqratiyah al-Sha ‘biyah (Arabic) People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria)
Currency: Algerian dinar
Current Exchange Rate: |
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Hemisphere: Northern
Continent: Africa
Location: In NW Africa from Medit. Sea into Sahara desert
Area: 919,595 sq mi, 2,381,741 sq km
Form of Government: Multiparty republic with a two legislative bodies (Council of the Nation 144), includes 48 nonelected seats appointed by the president (National People’s Assembly 389)
Population: (2007) 33,858,000
Population Density: (2007) persons per sq mi 36.8, persons per sq km 14.2
Principal Language(s): Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Religions: Sunni Muslim (official) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Capital: Algiers
Capital Population: 1,519,570
Capital Average Temperature: Maximum: 16.8 degrees Celsius, 62.2 degrees Fahrenheit
Major Cities: Oran 692,526, Constantine 462,187, Annaba 348,554, Batna 242,514
Topography: The Tell located on the coast, comprises fertile plains 50-100 mi wide, with a moderate climate and adequate rain. Two major chains of Atlas Mts. running roughly E-W and reaching 7,000 ft enclose a dry plateau region. Below lies the Sahara mostly desert with major mineral resources.
Economy: G.D.P. $268.9 billion
G.D.P. per Capita: $ 8,100
Vital Statistics: Birth rate per 1,000 population (2006): 17.1 (world avg. 20.3). Death rate per 1,000 population (2006); 1.89 (world avg. 8.6) Total fertility rate (avg. births per childbearing woman 2005) 1.38. Life expectancy at birth (2006) male 71.7 years; female 74.9 years
Government Website: www.algeria-us.org
Reference Sources: The World Almanac 2009, The New York Times Almanac 2009, Time Almanac 2009, World Climate website.
