| Algeria lies in central North Africa, between Morocco to the west, Tunisia and Libya to the east, Mauritania, Mali and Niger to the south, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. It is the second biggest country in Africa (after Sudan) and the tenth biggest in the world. | |
| Capital | Algiers (El Djazair) |
| Population | 31.15 million |
| Size | 2,381,740 square km |
| Languages | Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects |
| Average life expectancy | Male 68, female 70 |
| Currency | Algerian dinar |
| Literacy rate | 74% male, 49% female |
| Infant deaths per 1,000 births | 44 |
| No. of people per doctor | 1,204 |
| Major industries | Hydrocarbons, minerals, cork, fruit, vegetables, and tobacco |
| Major exports | Natural gas, petroleum, iron ore, fruit and vegetables, tobacco, cork |
| Time | GMT plus one hour |
| Total external debt | c.$31.4 billion |
| Percentage of population with access to safe water | c.65% |
Climate |
Mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers in the far north; drier, with cold winters on the high plateau; semi-arid or arid in the south |
| Places on the line | Tidia, Mohammadia |
Sources: CIA World Factbook; The World Guide 1999-2000
Algerian facts and figures page | Algerian virtual journey home page | On the Line home page