constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government
Independence date
5 July 1962 (from France)
1 November 1981 (from UK)
Religions
Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Anglican 25.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.3%, Pentecostal 10.6%, Moravian 10.5%, Roman Catholic 10.4%, Methodist 7.9%, Baptist 4.9%, Church of God 4.5%, other Christian 5.4%, other 2%, none or unspecified 5.8% (2001 census)
Languages
Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
English (official), local dialects
Exports
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%
petroleum products, bedding, handicrafts, electronic components, transport equipment, food and live animals
External Debt
$4,344,000,000 $
$441,200,000 US
Exchange Rate
Algerian dinars (DZD) per US dollar - 63.25 (2008 est.), 69.9 (2007), 72.647 (2006), 73.276 (2005), 72.061 (2004)
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003) note: fixed rate since 1976
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
4.300%
3.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
2
0
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
Area
2,381,741 km sq
443 km sq
Coastline
998 km
153 km
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
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation
