Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor-general. Prime minister : Freundel Stuart
Population
37,367,226
287,733
Life Expectancy
74.730 years
74.520 years
Capital City
Algiers
Bridgetown
Largest city
Algiers (population: 1,977,660)
Bridgetown (population: 98,511)
Human Development Index
0.748
0.889
GDP per capita
$7,400 US
$23,700 US
Literacy Rate
69.9%
99.7%
Corruption Perception Index
3.2
7
Percentage of Women in Parliament
6.5%
13.7%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
10.000%
12.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
Legal
Political System
republic
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
5 July 1962 (from France)
30 November 1966 (from UK)
Religions
Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Protestant 63.4% (Anglican 28.3%, Pentecostal 18.7%, Methodist 5.1%, other 11.3%), Roman Catholic 4.2%, other Christian 7%, other 4.8%, none or unspecified 20.6% (2008 est.)
Languages
Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
English
Exports
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%
manufactures, sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components
External Debt
$4,699,000,000 $
$668,000,000 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)
Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
3.300%
0.800%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
2
0
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Area
2,381,741 km sq
430 km sq
Coastline
998 km
97 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
