28°C | 17°C
Country information: Algeria
| Official Name: | People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria |
| Population: | 35 million |
| Capital: | Algiers |
| Government: | Republic |
| Leaders: | President Abdelaziz Bouteflika |
| Religion: | 99% Sunni Muslim |
| Languages: | Arabic (official), French, Berber |
| GDP: | $251.1 billion (2010 est. CIA World Factbook) |
| GDP/Capita: | $7,300 (CIA World Factbook) |
| Main exports: | petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97% |
| Time zone: | CET |
| International dialing code: | +213 |
| Currency: | 1 Algerian Dinar (DZD) = USD 0.0134 |
Country briefing
Like neighbouring Morocco, Algeria was inhabited by Berbers but eventually became dominated by Arabs as they conquered North Africa in the 7th century. The Berber minority remains a strong force in the country and make up roughly 15% of the population. However, almost all Algerians today are of Berber origin.
Algeria has a Mediterranean coastline and borders with Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. It is a vast country, second only to Sudan on the African continent (with the division of Sudan, Algeria will become the largest African state in terms of territory). More than four fifths of that land is covered by the Sahara desert.
Algeria was under French rule from 1830 to 1962, gaining its independence after a bloody conflict that cost more than 1 million Algerian lives. The post-independence period was dominated by state driven socialism under the leadership of the National Liberation Front (FLN). A multi-party political system was introduced in 1989.
The 1990s saw more violent conflict, and was partly underpinned by the emergence of the Islamist group the Islamic Salvation Front. Fighting continued between the government and the extremists until the late 1990s. Abdelaziz Bouteflika was elected president in 1999 and has remained in power ever since. Extremists have continued to pose a challenge to the regime, alongside endemic problems with corruption, high unemployment and poverty.
Mass protests spread across the country in early 2011 but was met with a powerful response from the police. However, Bouteflika found himself forced to let go of the state of emergency law that had been in place for 19 years.
Despite widespread poverty, Algeria sits on vast oil and gas resources and has close links with the European Union. It is the world’s 4th largest exporter of gas, and hydrocarbons account for roughly 60% of government revenue. Algeria has a very low external debt at only 1% of GDP.
