Algeria

The Sahara desert covers more than four-fifths of the land. Oil and gas reserves were discovered in the 1950s, but most Algerians live along the northern coast. The country supplies large amounts of natural gas to Europe and energy exports are the backbone of the economy.
Source: World Statistics Pocket Book - United Nations  
                                                                                                    Summary Statistics
Full Name The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria  
RegionNorthern Africa
Capital Algiers  
Surface Area 2.4 million sq km (919,595 sq miles)  
Population 36.5 million (UN, 2012)  
Major Languages Arabic, French, Berber  
Major Religion Islam  
Currency Dinar (DZD) 
Main Exports Oil, gas  
International Dialing Code +213  
                                                                                                    Economic Indicators
GDP (Million Current US $)2011 198,735
GDP – Growth Rate at Constant 2005 prices (Annual %)2011 2.9
GDP per Capita (Current US $)2011 5,523.0
Gross Fixed Capital Formation (% of GDP)2011 26.1
BOP – Current Account (Million US $)2011 19,393
CPI (2000 = 100)2011 154
Labor force participation, adult female pop. (%)2011 15.0
Labor force participation, adult male pop. (%)2011 71.9
Internet users (per 100 inhabitants)2011 14.0
Exports (Million US$)2011 73,436.3
Imports (Million US$)2011 47,219.7
Major trading partners (% of exports)2011 United States (20.6), Italy (14.2), Spain (9.8)
Major trading partners (% of imports)2011 France (15.1), China (10.0), Italy (9.9)
                                                                                                    Social Indicators
Population growth rate (Average annual %) 2010-2015 1.4
Urban population growth rate (Average annual %) 2010-2015 2.5
Rural population growth rate (Average annual %) 2010-2015 -1.9
Urban population (%) 2012 73.8
Life expectancy at birth (Females and Males, years) 2010-2015 75.0/71.9
Infant mortality rate (Per 1 000 live births) 2010-2015 21.5
Fertility rate, total (Live births per woman) 2010-2015 2.1
Education: Government expenditure (% of GDP) 2006-2012 4.3
                                                                                                    Environment  
Threatened species 2012 110
Forested area (% of land area) 2010 1.0
CO2 emission estimates (000 metric tons and metric tons per capita) 2009 121,213/3.5