ag.json

{"code":"ag","name":"Algeria","region":"Africa","background":"After more than a century of rule by France, Algerians fought through much of the 1950s to achieve independence in 1962. Algeria's primary political party, the National Liberation Front (FLN), was established in 1954 as part of the struggle for independence and has largely dominated politics since. The Government of Algeria in 1988 instituted a multi-party system in response to public unrest, but the surprising first round success of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the December 1991 balloting spurred the Algerian army to intervene and postpone the second round of elections to prevent what the secular elite feared would be an extremist-led government from assuming power. The army began a crackdown on the FIS that spurred FIS supporters to begin attacking government targets, and fighting escalated into an insurgency, which saw intense violence between 1992-98 resulting in over 100,000 deaths - many attributed to indiscriminate massacres of villagers by extremists. The government gained the upper hand by the late-1990s, and FIS's armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded in January 2000. Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA, with the backing of the military, won the presidency in 1999 in an election widely viewed as fraudulent. He was reelected to a second term in 2004, and overwhelmingly won a third term in 2009 after the government amended the constitution in 2008 to remove presidential term limits. Longstanding problems continue to face BOUTEFLIKA, including large-scale unemployment, a shortage of housing, unreliable electrical and water supplies, government inefficiencies and corruption, and the continuing activities of extremist militants. The Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) in 2006 merged with al-Qai'da to form al-Qai'da in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb, which has launched an ongoing series of kidnappings and bombings targeting the Algerian Government and Western interests. The Arab uprising across the Near Eastern and North African region beginning in December 2010, coupled with a sudden rise in the cost of food staples, triggered a wave of protests across Algeria during early 2011. Organizers of many of these protests included opposition political parties, labor and trade unions, and human rights organizations. The government's initial response to protester demands included lifting the 19-year state of emergency laws and temporarily cutting taxes and duties on selected food items, but demonstrators continued to attempt to organize protests. An overwhelming Algerian police response managed to contain most demonstrations with some reports of violence. In mid-April 2011, President BOUTEFLIKA said he would seek to amend the nation's constitution to reinforce representative democracy, propose changes to the election laws, and submit the proposals for national referendum.","geo":{"Location":"Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia","Geographic coordinates":{"N":{"deg":28,"min":0},"E":{"deg":3,"min":0}},"Map references":{},"Area":{"total":{"quantity":2381,"unit":"sq km"},"country comparison to the world":"","land":{"quantity":2381,"unit":"sq km"},"water":{"quantity":0,"unit":"sq km"}},"Area - comparative":"slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas","Land boundaries":{"total":{"quantity":6343,"unit":"km"},"border countries":"Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km, Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km"},"Coastline":{"quantity":998,"unit":"km"},"Maritime claims":{"territorial sea":{"quantity":12,"unit":"nm"},"exclusive fishing zone":"32-52 nm"},"Terrain":"mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain","Elevation extremes":{"lowest point":"Chott Melrhir -40 m","highest point":"Tahat 3,003 m"},"Land use":{"arable land":{"quantity":3.17,"unit":"%"},"permanent crops":{"quantity":0.28,"unit":"%"},"other":{"quantity":96.55,"unit":"%"}},"Irrigated land":{"quantity":5700,"unit":"sq km"},"Total renewable water resources":{"quantity":14.3,"unit":"cu km"},"Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)":{"total":{"quantity":6.07,"unit":"cu km/yr"},"per capita":{"quantity":185,"unit":"cu m/yr"}},"Natural hazards":"mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides and floods in rainy season","internationalEnvironmentAgreements":{"signed, but not ratified":"none of the selected agreements","partyTo":["Biodiversity","Climate Change","Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol","Desertification","Endangered Species","Environmental Modification","Hazardous Wastes","Law of the Sea","Ozone Layer Protection","Ship Pollution","Wetlands"]},"naturalResources":["petroleum","natural gas","iron ore","phosphates","uranium","lead","zinc"],"environmentalIssues":["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"],"climate":["arid to semiarid","mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast","drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau","sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer"],"geographyNote":["second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)"]},"people":{"Population":34994,"Age structure":{"0-14 years":{"quantity":24.2,"unit":"%"},"15-64 years":{"quantity":70.6,"unit":"%"},"65 years and over":"5.2% (male 845,116/female 987,681) (2011 est.)"},"Median age":{"total":{"quantity":27.6,"unit":"years"},"male":{"quantity":27.4,"unit":"years"},"female":{"quantity":27.8,"unit":"years"}},"Population growth rate":{"quantity":1.173,"unit":"%"},"Birth rate":{"quantity":16.69,"unit":"births/1,000 population"},"Death rate":{"quantity":4.69,"unit":"deaths/1,000 population"},"Net migration rate":"-0.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)","Urbanization":{"urban population":{"quantity":66,"unit":"% of total population"},"rate of urbanization":{"quantity":2.3,"unit":"% annual rate of change"}},"Major cities - population":"ALGIERS (capital) 2.74 million; Oran 770,000 (2009)","Sex ratio":{"at birth":{"quantity":1.05,"unit":"male(s)/female"},"under 15 years":{"quantity":1.04,"unit":"male(s)/female"},"15-64 years":{"quantity":1.02,"unit":"male(s)/female"},"65 years and over":{"quantity":0.86,"unit":"male(s)/female"},"total population":{"quantity":1.01,"unit":"male(s)/female"}},"Infant mortality rate":{"total":{"quantity":25.81,"unit":"deaths/1,000 live births"},"country comparison to the world":"","male":{"quantity":28.8,"unit":"deaths/1,000 live births"},"female":{"quantity":22.67,"unit":"deaths/1,000 live births"}},"Life expectancy at birth":{"total population":{"quantity":74.5,"unit":"years"},"country comparison to the world":"","male":{"quantity":72.78,"unit":"years"},"female":{"quantity":76.31,"unit":"years"}},"Total fertility rate":{"quantity":1.75,"unit":"children born/woman"},"HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate":"0.1%; 0.1% note - no country specific models provided (2009 est.)","HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS":18000,"HIV/AIDS - deaths":"fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)","Drinking water source":{},"Sanitation facility access":{},"Nationality":{"noun":"Algerian(s)","adjective":"Algerian"},"Ethnic groups":{"Ethnic groups":"Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%"},"Literacy":{"definition":"age 15 and over can read and write","total population":{"quantity":69.9,"unit":"%"},"male":{"quantity":79.6,"unit":"%"},"female":{"quantity":60.1,"unit":"%"}},"School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)":{"total":{"quantity":13,"unit":"years"},"male":{"quantity":13,"unit":"years"},"female":{"quantity":13,"unit":"years"}},"Education expenditures":{"quantity":4.3,"unit":"% of GDP"},"religions":["Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%","Christian and Jewish 1%"],"languages":["Arabic (official)","French","Berber dialects"]},"government":{"Country name":{"conventional long form":"People's Democratic Republic of Algeria","conventional short form":"Algeria","local long form":"Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Sha'biyah","local short form":"Al Jaza'ir"},"Government type":"republic","Capital":{"name":"Algiers","geographic coordinates":{"N":{"deg":36,"min":45},"E":{"deg":3,"min":3}},"time difference":"UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)"},"Independence":"5 July 1962 (from France)","National holiday":"Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)","Legal system":"mixed legal system of French civil law and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials including several Supreme Court justices","International law organization participation":"has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt","Suffrage":"18 years of age; universal","Executive branch":{"chief of state":"President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; a November 2008 constitutional amendment separated the position of head of government from that of the prime minister","head of government":"President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999)","cabinet":"Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president","elections":"president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; note - a November 2008 constitutional amendment abolished presidential term limits; election last held on 9 April 2009 (next to be held in April 2014)","election results":"Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA was reelected president for a third term; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA 90.2%, Louisa HANOUNE 4.2%, Moussa TOUATI 2.3%, Djahid YOUNSI 1.4%, Ali Fawzi REBIANE less than 1%, Mohamed SAID less than 1%"},"Legislative branch":{"Legislative branch":"bicameral Parliament consists of the Council of the Nation (upper house; 144 seats; one-third of the members appointed by the president, two-thirds elected by indirect vote to serve six-year terms; the constitution requires half the Council to be renewed every three years) and the National People's Assembly (lower house; 389 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)","elections":"Council of the Nation - last held on 29 December 2009 (next to be held in December 2012); National People's Assembly - last held on 17 May 2007 (next to be held in 2012)","election results":"Council of the Nation - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; National People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FLN 136, RND 61, MSP 52, PT 26, RCD 19, FNA 13, other 49, independents 33;"},"Judicial branch":"Supreme Court","Political parties and leaders":{"Political parties and leaders":"Ahd 54 [Ali Fauzi REBAINE]; Algerian National Front or FNA [Moussa TOUATI]; Movement of the Society of Peace or MSP [Boudjerra SOLTANI]; National Democratic Rally (Rassemblement National Democratique) or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA]; National Liberation Front or FLN [Abdelaziz BELKHADEM, secretary general]; National Reform Movement or Islah [Ahmed ABDESLAM] (formerly MRN); Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD [Said SADI]; Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement [Fatah RABEI]; Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Hocine Ait AHMED]; Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUNE]"},"Political pressure groups and leaders":"The Algerian Human Rights League or LADDH [Hocine ZEHOUANE]; SOS Disparus [Nacera DUTOUR]","Diplomatic representation in the US":{"chief of mission":"Ambassador Abdallah BAALI","chancery":"2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008","telephone":"[1] (202) 265-2800","FAX":"[1] (202) 667-2174"},"Diplomatic representation from the US":{"chief of mission":"Ambassador David D. PEARCE","embassy":"05 Chemin Cheikh Bachir, El-Ibrahimi, El-Biar 16000 Algiers","mailing address":"B. P. 408, Alger-Gare, 16030 Algiers","telephone":"[213] 770-08-2000","FAX":"[213] 21-60-7355"},"Flag description":"two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a red, five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the two-color boundary; the colors represent Islam (green), purity and peace (white), and liberty (red); the crescent and star are also Islamic symbols, but the crescent is more closed than those of other Muslim countries because the Algerians believe the long crescent horns bring happiness","National anthem":{"name":"\"Kassaman\" (We Pledge)","lyrics/music":"Mufdi ZAKARIAH/Mohamed FAWZI"},"internationalOrganizations":["ABEDA","AfDB","AFESD","AMF","AMU","AU","BIS","FAO","G-15","G-24","G-77","IAEA","IBRD","ICAO","ICC","ICRM","IDA","IDB","IFAD","IFC","IFRCS","IHO","ILO","IMF","IMO","IMSO","Interpol","IOC","IOM","IPU","ISO","ITSO","ITU","ITUC","LAS","MIGA","MONUSCO","NAM","OAPEC","OAS (observer)","OIC","OPCW","OPEC","OSCE (partner)","UN","UNCTAD","UNESCO","UNHCR","UNIDO","UNITAR","UNWTO","UPU","WCO","WHO","WIPO","WMO","WTO (observer)"],"administrativeDivisions":["48 provinces (wilayat","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"]},"economy":{"Economy - overview":"Algeria's economy remains dominated by the state, a legacy of the country's socialist post-independence development model. Gradual liberalization since the mid-1990s has opened up more of the economy, but in recent years Algeria has imposed new restrictions on foreign involvement in its economy and largely halted the privatization of state-owned industries. Hydrocarbons have long been the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 60% of budget revenues, 30% of GDP, and over 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the eighth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the fourth-largest gas exporter. It ranks 16th in oil reserves. Thanks to strong hydrocarbon revenues, Algeria has a cushion of $150 billion in foreign currency reserves and a large hydrocarbon stabilization fund. In addition, Algeria's external debt is extremely low at about 1% of GDP. Algeria has struggled to develop industries outside of hydrocarbons in part because of high costs and an inert state bureaucracy. The government's efforts to diversify the economy by attracting foreign and domestic investment outside the energy sector have done little to reduce high poverty and youth unemployment rates. In 2010, Algeria began a five-year, $286 billion development program to update the country's infrastructure and provide jobs. The costly program will boost Algeria's economy in 2011 but worsen the country's budget deficit. Long-term economic challenges include diversification from hydrocarbons, relaxing state control of the economy, and providing adequate jobs for younger Algerians.","GDP (purchasing power parity)":{"GDP (purchasing power parity)":{"usd":251100000000},"country comparison to the world":""},"GDP (official exchange rate)":{"usd":160300000000},"GDP - real growth rate":{"quantity":3.3,"unit":"%"},"GDP - per capita (PPP)":{"GDP - per capita (PPP)":{"usd":null},"country comparison to the world":""},"GDP - composition by sector":{"agriculture":{"quantity":8.3,"unit":"%"},"industry":{"quantity":61.5,"unit":"%"},"services":{"quantity":30.2,"unit":"%"}},"Labor force":9877000,"Labor force - by occupation":{"agriculture":{"quantity":14,"unit":"%"},"industry":{"quantity":13.4,"unit":"%"},"construction and public works":{"quantity":10,"unit":"%"},"trade":{"quantity":14.6,"unit":"%"},"government":{"quantity":32,"unit":"%"}},"Unemployment rate":{"quantity":9.9,"unit":"%"},"Population below poverty line":{"quantity":23,"unit":"%"},"Household income or consumption by percentage share":{"lowest 10%":{"quantity":2.8,"unit":"%"},"highest 10%":{"quantity":26.8,"unit":"%"}},"Distribution of family income - Gini index":35.3,"Investment (gross fixed)":{"quantity":27.5,"unit":"% of GDP"},"Budget":{"revenues":{"usd":66480000000.00001},"expenditures":{"usd":85570000000}},"Public debt":{"quantity":25.7,"unit":"% of GDP"},"Inflation rate (consumer prices)":{"quantity":5,"unit":"%"},"Central bank discount rate":{"quantity":4,"unit":"%"},"Commercial bank prime lending rate":{"quantity":8,"unit":"%"},"Stock of narrow money":{"usd":79070000000},"Stock of broad money":{"usd":109700000000},"Stock of domestic credit":{"usd":12290000000},"Market value of publicly traded shares":"$NA","Industrial production growth rate":{"quantity":4.8,"unit":"%"},"Electricity - production":{"quantity":34980000000,"unit":"kWh"},"Electricity - consumption":{"quantity":28340000000,"unit":"kWh"},"Electricity - exports":{"quantity":273000000,"unit":"kWh"},"Electricity - imports":{"quantity":279000000,"unit":"kWh"},"Oil - production":{"quantity":2125000,"unit":"bbl/day"},"Oil - consumption":{"quantity":325000,"unit":"bbl/day"},"Oil - exports":{"quantity":1891000,"unit":"bbl/day"},"Oil - imports":{"quantity":14320,"unit":"bbl/day"},"Oil - proved reserves":{"quantity":13420000000,"unit":"bbl"},"Natural gas - production":{"quantity":86500000000,"unit":"cu m"},"Natural gas - consumption":{"quantity":26830000000,"unit":"cu m"},"Natural gas - exports":{"quantity":59670000000,"unit":"cu m"},"Natural gas - imports":{"quantity":0,"unit":"cu m"},"Natural gas - proved reserves":{"quantity":4502000000000,"unit":"cu m"},"Current account balance":{"usd":3959000000},"Exports":{"usd":52660000000},"Imports":{"usd":37070000000},"Reserves of foreign exchange and gold":{"usd":150100000000},"Debt - external":{"usd":4138000000},"Stock of direct foreign investment - at home":{"usd":19340000000},"Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad":{"usd":1844000000},"Exchange rates":"Algerian dinars (DZD) per US dollar -","industries":["petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing"],"agricultureProducts":["wheat","barley","oats","grapes","olives","citrus","fruits","sheep","cattle"],"exportCommodities":["petroleum","natural gas","and petroleum products 97%"],"exportPartners":["US 23.2%","Italy 17.23%","Spain 10.83%","France 7.97%","Canada 7.65%","Netherlands 5.19%","Turkey 4.22%"],"importCommodities":["capital goods","foodstuffs","consumer goods"],"importPartners":["France 19.7%","China 11.72%","Italy 10.19%","Spain 8.13%","Germany 5.77%","Turkey 5.05%"]},"communications":{"Telephones - main lines in use":2576000,"Telephones - mobile cellular":32729999.999999996,"Telephone system":{"general assessment":"privatization of Algeria's telecommunications sector began in 2000; three mobile cellular licenses have been issued and, in 2005, a consortium led by Egypt's Orascom Telecom won a 15-year license to build and operate a fixed-line network in Algeria; the license will allow Orascom to develop high-speed data and other specialized services and contribute to meeting the large unfulfilled demand for basic residential telephony; Internet broadband services began in 2003","domestic":"a limited network of fixed lines with a teledensity of less than 10 telephones per 100 persons is offset by the rapid increase in mobile-cellular subscribership; in 2009, combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity was roughly 100 telephones per 100 persons","international":"country code - 213; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-4 fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satellite earth stations - 51 (Intelsat, Intersputnik, and Arabsat) (2009)"},"Broadcast media":"state-run Radio-Television Algerienne operates the broadcast media and carries programming in Arabic, Berber dialects, and French; use of satellite dishes is widespread, providing easy access to European and Arab satellite stations; state-run radio operates several national networks and roughly 40 regional radio stations (2007)","Internet country code":".dz","Internet hosts":572,"Internet users":4700000},"transport":{"Airports":143,"Airports - with paved runways":{"total":57,"over 3,047 m":12,"2,438 to 3,047 m":28,"1,524 to 2,437 m":11,"914 to 1,523 m":5},"Airports - with unpaved runways":{"total":86,"2,438 to 3,047 m":3,"1,524 to 2,437 m":19,"914 to 1,523 m":41,"under 914 m":23},"Heliports":2,"Pipelines":"condensate 2,600 km; gas 16,360 km; liquid petroleum gas 3,447 km; oil 7,611 km; refined products 144 km (2010)","Railways":{"total":{"quantity":3973,"unit":"km"},"country comparison to the world":"","standard gauge":"2,888 km 1.435-m gauge (283 km electrified)","narrow gauge":"1,085 km 1.055-m gauge (2008)"},"Roadways":{"total":{"quantity":108302,"unit":"km"},"country comparison to the world":"","paved":{"quantity":76028,"unit":"km"},"unpaved":{"quantity":32274,"unit":"km"}},"Merchant marine":{"total":35,"country comparison to the world":"","by type":"bulk carrier 6, cargo 8, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 9, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 3","foreign-owned":"12 (UK 12) (2010)"},"Ports and terminals":"Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djendjene, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda"},"military":{"Military branches":"People's National Army (Armee Nationale Populaire, ANP), Land Forces (Forces Terrestres, FT), Navy of the Republic of Algeria (Marine de la Republique Algerienne, MRA), Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jaza'eriya, QJJ), Territorial Air Defense Force (2009)","Military service age and obligation":"19-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (6 months basic training, 12 months civil projects) (2006)","Manpower available for military service":{"males age 16-49":10273,"females age 16-49":10114},"Manpower fit for military service":{"males age 16-49":8622,"females age 16-49":8626},"Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually":{"male":342895,"female":330098},"Military expenditures":{"quantity":3.3,"unit":"% of GDP"}},"issues":{"Refugees and internally displaced persons":{"refugees (country of origin)":90000,"IDPs":"undetermined (civil war during 1990s) (2007)"},"Trafficking in persons":{"current situation":"Algeria is a transit country for men and women trafficked from sub-Saharan Africa to Europe for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude; criminal networks of sub-Saharan nationals in southern Algeria facilitate transit by arranging transportation, forged documents, and promises of employment","tier rating":"Tier 2 Watch List - Algeria is placed on the Tier 2 Watch List because it does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in January 2009, the government approved new legislation that criminalizes trafficking in persons for the purposes of labor and sexual exploitation representing an important step toward complying with international standards; despite these efforts, the government did not show overall progress in punishing trafficking crimes and protecting trafficking victims and continued to lack adequate measures to protect victims and prevent trafficking (2009)"},"internationalDisputes":["Algeria, and many other states, rejects Moroccan administration of Western Sahara","the Polisario Front, exiled in Algeria, represents the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic","Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each nation accusing the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling","dormant disputes include Libyan claims of about 32,000 sq km still reflected on its maps of southeastern Algeria and the FLN's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco"]}}