Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Roman Catholic 89.8% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox 1.3%, Protestant 0.3%, other 0.3%, unspecified 8.3% (2002)
Languages
Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Polish 97.8%, other and unspecified 2.2% (2002 census)
Exports
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%
machinery and transport equipment 37.8%, intermediate manufactured goods 23.7%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 17.1%, food and live animals 7.6% (2003)
External Debt
$4,699,000,000 $
$320,000,000,000 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)
zlotych (PLN) per US dollar - 2.3 (2008 est.), 2.81 (2007), 3.1032 (2006), 3.2355 (2005), 3.6576 (2004) note: zlotych is the plural form of zloty
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
3.300%
1.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
2
10
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia
Central Europe, east of Germany
Area
2,381,741 km sq
312,685 km sq
Coastline
998 km
440 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
temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
