Algeria

Country name conventional long form: People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Capital Algiers Population 37,367,226 (July 2012 est.) Sex ratio: at birth 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2011 est.) Religions Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1% Nationality Algerian(s) National holiday Revolution Day, 1 November (1954) Independence 5 July 1962 (from France) Languages Arabic (official), French (lingua franca), Berber dialects: Kabylie Berber (Tamazight), Chaouia Berber (Tachawit), Mzab Berber, Tuareg Berber (Tamahaq) Literacy age 15 and over can read and write total population: 69.9% male: 79.6% female: 60.1% (2002 est.) Location Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia Geographic coordinates 28 00 N, 3 00 E Map references Africa Area total: 2,381,741 sq km land: 2,381,741 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas Land boundaries total: 6,343 km border countries: Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km, Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km Coastline 998 km Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm 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 Terrain mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain Elevation extremes lowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 m highest point: Tahat 3,003 m Natural resources petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc Imports - commodities capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods Exports - commodities petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97% Land use arable land: 3.17% permanent crops: 0.28% other: 96.55% (2005) Irrigated land 5,700 sq km (2003) Total renewable water resources 14.3 cu km (1997) Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) total: 6.07 cu km/yr (22%/13%/65%) per capita: 185 cu m/yr (2000) Natural hazards mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides and floods in rainy season Environment - current issues soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - note largest country in Africa