Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor Prime minister: Ralph Gonsalves
Population
37,367,226
103,537
Life Expectancy
74.730 years
74.390 years
Capital City
Algiers
Largest city
Algiers (population: 1,977,660)
Kingstown (population: 24,518)
Human Development Index
0.748
0.766
GDP per capita
$7,400 US
Literacy Rate
69.9%
96%
Corruption Perception Index
3.2
6.5
Percentage of Women in Parliament
6.5%
18.2%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
10.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
Legal
Political System
republic
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
5 July 1962 (from France)
Religions
Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%, other (includes Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant) 12%
Languages
Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
English, French patois
Exports
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%
External Debt
$4,699,000,000 $
Exchange Rate
Algerian dinars (DZD) per US dollar - 63.25 (2008 est.), 69.9 (2007), 72.647 (2006), 73.276 (2005), 72.061 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
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 North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Area
2,381,741 km sq
389 km sq
Coastline
998 km
84 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; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
