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Algeria
The Algerian Rebuplic
Arabic'al-jumhuriyyatu l-jaza'iriyya
Status
Independent republic, divided into 48 provinces (wilaya(t)). Algeria is the largest of the three countries (including Morocco and
Tunisia) which form the region of western North Africa known traditionally as Al Maghrib ("the West"). It is also the second largest
country in Africa and the tenth largest country in the world in terms of land area, equal in size to Western Europe. The name Algeria
derives from the Arabic Jaza'ir which is the plural for the word meaning "island" or "peninsula". The name Jaza'ir comes from the
ancient regional descriptive, Barr al Jaza'ir (Lands of the Islands), indicating the three countries of the Magreb region.
Major Cities
Algiers 1.7 million
Oran 800,000
Constantine 530,000
Annaba 390,000
Batna 270,000
Blida 260,000
Setif 230,000
Ech Cheliff 200,000
Sidi Bel
Abbes 200,000
Biskra 190,000
Tlemcen 180,000
Bejaļa 170,000
Djelfa 170,000
Skikda 170,000
Tebessa 170,000
Tiaret 160,000
Bechar 150,000
Mostagenem
150,000
Ouargla 140,000
Bordj Bou Arreridj 140,000
Touggourt 140,000
Guelma 130,000
Medea 130,000
Ghardaļa 120,000
Laghouat 120,000
Saļda
115,000
Bou-Saada 110,000
Jijel 110,000
Khenchela 110,000
El Oued 110,000
Relizane 110,000
Aļn Beļda 100,000
M'sila 100,000
All figures are
2005 estimates
Government
Head of state: President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Prime minister: Abdelaziz Belkhadem
The government consists of 31 ministers, plus 9 delegated
ministers. National Assembly: 380 members
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Geography
Inhabitants: 33 million (2003 estimate).
Population growth rate: 1.7%
Total area: 2,381,740 km²
Density: 14 per km²
Border: 6,643
km (Morocco 1,559 km, Western Sahara 42 km, Mauritania 463 km, Mali 1,376 km, Niger 956 km, Libya 982 km, Tunisia 965 km).
Coastline:
998 km
Highest point: Tahat 3,003 m
Capital: Algiers
Human Development Index
World rank (of 177): 108
Index (1.0 max): 0.704
Demography
Languages:
Arabic (official), Berber, French.
Religions: Sunni Islam
Economy
Currency: Algerian Dinars