Country Guide

India Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan


Geographic coordinates:
20 00 N, 77 00 E


Map references:
Asia


Area:
total:3,287,263 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 7
land:2,973,193 sq km
water:314,070 sq km


Area - comparative:
Area comparison map: '>


Land boundaries:
total:13,888 km
border countries:Bangladesh 4,142 km, Bhutan 659 km, Burma 1,468 km, China 2,659 km, Nepal 1,770 km, Pakistan 3,190 km


Coastline:
7,000 km


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin


Climate:
varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north


Terrain:
upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north


    Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:Kanchenjunga 8,598 m


Natural resources:
coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, rare earth elements, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone, arable land


Land use:
arable land:47.87%
permanent crops:3.74%
other:48.39% (2011)


Irrigated land:
663,340 sq km (2008)


Total renewable water resources:
1,911 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
1,911 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes


Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing population is overstraining natural resources


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes; Kanchenjunga, third tallest mountain in the world, lies on the border with Nepal

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Indian(s)
adjective:Indian


Ethnic groups:
Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3% (2000)


Languages:
Hindi 41%, Bengali 8.1%, Telugu 7.2%, Marathi 7%, Tamil 5.9%, Urdu 5%, Gujarati 4.5%, Kannada 3.7%, Malayalam 3.2%, Oriya 3.2%, Punjabi 2.8%, Assamese 1.3%, Maithili 1.2%, other 5.9%


Religions:
Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)


Population:
1,236,344,631 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 2


Age structure:
0-14 years:28.5% (male 187,016,401/female 165,048,695)
15-24 years:18.1% (male 118,696,540/female 105,342,764)
25-54 years:40.6% (male 258,202,535/female 243,293,143)
55-64 years:7% (male 43,625,668/female 43,175,111)
65 years and over:5.7% (male 34,133,175/female 37,810,599) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:51.8 %
youth dependency ratio:43.6 %
elderly dependency ratio:8.1 %
potential support ratio:12.3 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:27 years
male:26.4 years
female:27.7 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.25% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 94


Birth rate:
19.89 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 86


Death rate:
7.35 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 118


Net migration rate:
-0.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 112


Urbanization:
urban population:31.3% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:2.47% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
NEW DELHI (capital) 22.654 million; Mumbai 19.744 million; Kolkata 14.402 million; Chennai 8.784 million; Bangalore 8.614 million; Hyderabad 7.837 million (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.12 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.13 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.13 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.06 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.91 male(s)/female
total population:1.08 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
19.9 (2005-06 est.)


Maternal mortality rate:
200 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:43.19 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 50
male:41.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female:44.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:67.8 yearscountry comparison to the world: 163
male:66.68 years
female:69.06 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.51 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 81


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
54.8% (2007/08)


Health expenditures:
3.9% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.65 physicians/1,000 population (2009)


Hospital bed density:
0.9 beds/1,000 population (2005)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 96.7% of population
rural: 90.7% of population
total: 92.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3.3% of population
rural: 9.3% of population
total: 7.4% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 60.2% of population
rural: 24.7% of population
total: 36% of population
unimproved:
urban: 39.8% of population
rural: 75.3% of population
total: 64% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 101


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2.085 million (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 3


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
135,500 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 3


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
1.9% (2008)country comparison to the world: 184


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
43.5% (2006)country comparison to the world: 2


Education expenditures:
3.2% of GDP (2011)country comparison to the world: 134

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:62.8%
male:75.2%
female:50.8% (2006 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:12 years
male:12 years
female:11 years (2011)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:10.7%country comparison to the world: 107
male:10.4%
female:11.6% (2012)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of India
conventional short form:India
local long form:Republic of India/Bharatiya Ganarajya
local short form:India/Bharat


Government type:
federal republic


Capital:
name:New Delhi
geographic coordinates:28 36 N, 77 12 E
time difference:UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
29 states and 7 union territories*; Andaman and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli*, Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Puducherry*, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal


Independence:
15 August 1947 (from the UK)


National holiday:
Republic Day, 26 January (1950)


Constitution:
previous 1935 (preindependence); latest draft completed 4 November 1949, adopted 26 November 1949, effective 26 January 1950; amended many times, last in 2013 (2013)


Legal system:
common law system based on the English model; separate personal law codes apply to Muslims, Christians, and Hindus; judicial review of legislative acts


International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Pranab MUKHERJEE (since 22 July 2012); Vice President Mohammad Hamid ANSARI (since 11 August 2007)
head of government:Prime Minister Narendra MODI (since 26 May 2014)
cabinet:Union Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections:president elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both houses of Parliament and the legislatures of the states for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held in July 2012 (next to be held in July 2017); vice president elected by both houses of Parliament for a five-year term; election last held in August 2012 (next to be held in August 2017); prime minister chosen by parliamentary members of the majority party following legislative elections
election results:Pranab MUKHERJEE elected president; percent of vote - Pranab MUKHERJEE 69.31%, Purno SANGMA - 30.69%


Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Sansad consists of the Council of States or Rajya Sabha (a body consisting of 245 seats up to 12 of which are appointed by the president, the remainder chosen in staggered elections by the elected members of the state and territorial assemblies; members serve six-year terms) and the People's Assembly or Lok Sabha (545 seats; 543 members elected by popular vote, 2 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
elections:People's Assembly - last held April-May 2014 in 9 phases; (next election must be held by May 2019)
election results:People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA, ; seats by party - BJP 282, INC 44, AIADMK 37, AITC 34, BJD 20, SS 18, TDP 16, TRS 11, CPI(M) 9, YSRC 9, LJP 6, NCP 6, SP 5, AAP 4, RJD 4, SAD 4, independents 3, other 31


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court (the chief justice and 25 associate justices); note - parliament approved an additional 5 judges in 2008
note - in mid-2011 India’s Cabinet approved the program, National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reform, to eliminate judicial corruption and reduce the backlog of cases
judge selection and term of office:justices appointed by the president to serve until age 65
subordinate courts:High Courts; District Courts; Labour Court


Political parties and leaders:
Aam Aadmi Party or AAP [Arvind KEJRIWAL]
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or AIADMK [J. JAYALALITHAA]
All India Trinamool Congress or AITC [Mamata BANERJEE]
Bahujan Samaj Party or BSP [MAYAWATI]
Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP [Rajnath SINGH]
Biju Janata Dal or BJD [Naveen PATNAIK]
Communist Party of India or CPI [Suravaram Sudhakar REDDY, Secretary-General]
Communist Party of India-Marxist or CPI(M) [Prakash KARAT]
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or DMK [M.KARUNANIDHI]
Indian National Congress or INC [Sonia GANDHI]
Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) [Sharad YADAV]
Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) [Ram Vilas PASWAN]
Nationalist Congress Party or NCP [Sharad PAWAR]
Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD [Lalu Prasad YADAV]
Rashtriya Lok Dal or RLD [Ajit SINGH]
Samajwadi Party or SP [Mulayam Singh YADAV]
Shiromani Akali Dal or SAD [Parkash Singh BADAL]
Shiv Sena or SS [Uddhav THACKERAY]
Telugu Desam Party or TDP [Chandrababu NAIDU]
Telegana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) [K. Chandrashekar RAO]
YSR Congress(YSRC) [Jaganmohan REDDY]
note:India has dozens of national and regional political parties


    Political pressure groups and leaders:
All Parties Hurriyat Conference in the Kashmir Valley (separatist group)


International organization participation:
ABEDA, ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIMSTEC, BIS, BRICS, C, CD, CERN (observer), CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC, SACEP, SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNSC (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Subrahmanyam JAISHANKAR (since 10 March 2014)
chancery:2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; note - Consular Wing located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 939-7000
FAX:[1] (202) 265-4351
consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Nancy J. POWELL (since 19 April 2012)
embassy:Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021
mailing address:use embassy street address
telephone:[91] (11) 2419-8000
FAX:[91] (11) 2419-0017
consulate(s) general:Chennai (Madras), Hyderabad; Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay)


Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange) (top), white, and green, with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; saffron represents courage, sacrifice, and the spirit of renunciation; white signifies purity and truth; green stands for faith and fertility; the blue chakra symbolizes the wheel of life in movement and death in stagnation


National symbol(s):
the Lion Capital of Ashoka, which depicts four Asiatic lions standing back to back mounted on a circular abacus, is the official emblem; the Bengal tiger is the national animal; the lotus is the national flower


National anthem:
name:'Jana-Gana-Mana' (Thou Art the Ruler of the Minds of All People)

lyrics/music:Rabindranath TAGORE
note:adopted 1950; Rabindranath TAGORE, a Nobel laureate, also wrote Bangladesh's national anthem

Economy

Economy - overview:
India is developing into an open-market economy, yet traces of its past autarkic policies remain. Economic liberalization measures, including industrial deregulation, privatization of state-owned enterprises, and reduced controls on foreign trade and investment, began in the early 1990s and served to accelerate the country's growth, which averaged under 7% per year from 1997 to 2011. India's diverse economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of services. Slightly less than half of the work force is in agriculture, but, services are the major source of economic growth, accounting for nearly two-thirds of India's output with less than one-third of its labor force. India has capitalized on its large educated English-speaking population to become a major exporter of information technology services, business outsourcing services, and software workers. India's economic growth began slowing in 2011 because of a decline in investment, caused by high interest rates, rising inflation, and investor pessimism about the government's commitment to further economic reforms and about the global situation. In late 2012, the Indian Government announced additional reforms and deficit reduction measures, including allowing higher levels of foreign participation in direct investment in the economy. The outlook for India's long-term growth is moderately positive due to a young population and corresponding low dependency ratio, healthy savings and investment rates, and increasing integration into the global economy. However, India has many challenges that it has yet to fully address, including poverty, corruption, violence and discrimination against women and girls, an inefficient power generation and distribution system, ineffective enforcement of intellectual property rights, decades-long civil litigation dockets, inadequate transport and agricultural infrastructure, limited non-agricultural employment opportunities, high spending and poorly-targeted subsidies, inadequate availability of quality basic and higher education, and accommodating rural-to-urban migration. Growth in 2013 fell to a decade low, as India's economic leaders struggled to improve the country's wide fiscal and current account deficits. Rising macroeconomic imbalances in India and improving economic conditions in Western countries, led investors to shift capital away from India, prompting a sharp depreciation of the rupee. However, investors' perceptions of India improved in early 2014, due to a reduction of the current account deficit and expectations of post-election economic reform, resulting in a surge of inbound capital flows and stabilization of the rupee.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.99 trillion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
$4.833 trillion (2012 est.)
$4.63 trillion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.67 trillion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
5.1% (2012 est.)
7.5% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,000 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
$3,900 (2012 est.)
$3,800 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
33.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
28.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
30.3% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:56.4%
government consumption:12.4%
investment in fixed capital:29.6%
investment in inventories:8.2%
exports of goods and services:25.2%
imports of goods and services:-31.8%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:17.4%
industry:25.8%
services:56.9% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, lentils, onions, potatoes; dairy products, sheep, goats, poultry; fish


Industries:
textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software, pharmaceuticals


Industrial production growth rate:
0.9% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152

Labor force:
487.3 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:49%
industry:20%
services:31% (2012 est.)


Unemployment rate:
8.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
8.5% (2012 est.)


Population below poverty line:
29.8% (2010 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:3.6%
highest 10%:31.1% (2005)


    Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.8 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 80
37.8 (1997)


Budget:
revenues:$181.3 billion
expenditures:$281.6 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
10.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-5.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175


Public debt:
51.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
51.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
note:data cover central government debt, and exclude debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions


Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
9.7% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
7.75% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
8% (31 December 2010 est.)
note:this is the Indian central bank's policy rate - the repurchase rate


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.6% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
10.63% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$303.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
$317.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$1.376 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
$1.396 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$1.379 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$1.401 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.263 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
-$74.79 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
-$91.47 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$313.2 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$296.8 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
petroleum products, precious stones, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, vehicles, apparel


Exports - partners:
UAE 12.3%, US 12.2%, China 5%, Singapore 4.9%, Hong Kong 4.1% (2012)


Imports:
$467.5 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$488.9 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
crude oil, precious stones, machinery, fertilizer, iron and steel, chemicals


Imports - partners:
China 10.7%, UAE 7.8%, Saudi Arabia 6.8%, Switzerland 6.2%, US 5.1% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$295 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$296 billion (28 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$412.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$378.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$310 billion (30 November 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$225.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$120.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$118.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
Indian rupees (INR) per US dollar -
58.68 (2013 est.)
53.437 (2012 est.)
45.726 (2010 est.)
48.405 (2009)
43.319 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
871 billion kWh (FY11/12 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6


Electricity - consumption:
698.8 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6


Electricity - exports:
62 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81


Electricity - imports:
5.7 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
199.9 million kW (31 March 2012 est)
country comparison to the world: 6


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
65.8% of total installed capacity (31 March 2012 est)
country comparison to the world: 118


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
2.4% of total installed capacity (31 March 2012 est)
country comparison to the world: 25


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
19.5% of total installed capacity (31 March 2012 est)
country comparison to the world: 91


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
12.3% of total installed capacity (31 March 2012 est)
country comparison to the world: 21


Crude oil - production:
990,200 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130


Crude oil - imports:
3.272 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
5.476 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23


Refined petroleum products - production:
4.216 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
3.292 million bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5


Refined petroleum products - exports:
1.247 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6


Refined petroleum products - imports:
379,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16


Natural gas - production:
40.38 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22


Natural gas - consumption:
64.49 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119


Natural gas - imports:
16.39 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23


Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.241 trillion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
1.726 billion Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
31.08 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 10


Telephones - mobile cellular:
893.862 million (2013)
country comparison to the world: 2


Telephone system:
general assessment:supported by recent deregulation and liberalization of telecommunications laws and policies, India has emerged as one of the fastest growing telecom markets in the world; total telephone subscribership base exceeded 900 million in 2011, an overall teledensity of roughly 75%, and subscribership is currently growing more than 20 million per month; urban teledensity now exceeds 100% and rural teledensity is steadily growing
domestic:mobile cellular service introduced in 1994 and organized nationwide into four metropolitan areas and 19 telecom circles each with multiple private service providers and one or more state-owned service providers; in recent years significant trunk capacity added in the form of fiber-optic cable and one of the world's largest domestic satellite systems, the Indian National Satellite system (INSAT), with 6 satellites supporting 33,000 very small aperture terminals (VSAT)
international:country code - 91; a number of major international submarine cable systems, including Sea-Me-We-3 with landing sites at Cochin and Mumbai (Bombay), Sea-Me-We-4 with a landing site at Chennai, Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) with a landing site at Mumbai (Bombay), South Africa - Far East (SAFE) with a landing site at Cochin, the i2i cable network linking to Singapore with landing sites at Mumbai (Bombay) and Chennai (Madras), and Tata Indicom linking Singapore and Chennai (Madras), provide a significant increase in the bandwidth available for both voice and data traffic; satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region); 9 gateway exchanges operating from Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta), Chennai (Madras), Jalandhar, Kanpur, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, and Ernakulam (2011)



    Broadcast media:
Doordarshan, India's public TV network, operates about 20 national, regional, and local services; a large and increasing number of privately owned TV stations are distributed by cable and satellite service providers; by 2011, more than 100 million homes had access to cable and satellite TV offering more than 700 TV channels; government controls AM radio with All India Radio operating domestic and external networks; news broadcasts via radio are limited to the All India Radio Network; since 2000, privately-owned FM stations have been permitted and their numbers have increased rapidly (2007)


Internet country code:
.in


Internet hosts:
6.746 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 17


Internet users:
61.338 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 6

Transportation

Airports
346 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 21


Airports - with paved runways
total:253
over 3,047 m:22
2,438 to 3,047 m:59
1,524 to 2,437 m:76
914 to 1,523 m:82
under 914 m:14 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:93
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:3
1,524 to 2,437 m:6
914 to 1,523 m:38
under 914 m:
45 (2013)


Heliports
45 (2013)


Pipelines
condensate/gas 9 km; gas 13,581 km; liquid petroleum gas 2,054 km; oil 8,943 km; oil/gas/water 20 km; refined products 11,069 km (2013)


Railways
total:63,974 kmcountry comparison to the world: 4
broad gauge:54,257 km 1.676-m gauge (18,927 km electrified)
narrow gauge:7,180 km 1.000-m gauge; 2,537 km 0.762-m gauge and 0.610-m gauge (2009)


    Roadways
total:4,689,842 kmcountry comparison to the world: 2
note:includes 79,116 km of national highways and expressways, 155,716 km of state highways, and 4,455,010 km of other roads (2013)


Waterways
14,500 km (5,200 km on major rivers and 485 km on canals suitable for mechanized vessels) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 9


Merchant marine
total:340country comparison to the world: 29
by type:bulk carrier 104, cargo 78, chemical tanker 22, container 14, liquefied gas 11, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 92
foreign-owned:10 (China 1, Hong Kong 2, Jersey 2, Malaysia 1, UAE 4)
registered in other countries:76 (Cyprus 4, Dominica 2, Liberia 8, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 10, Nigeria 1, Panama 24, Saint Kitts and Nevis 2, Singapore 21, unknown 1) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Chennai, Jawaharal Nehru Port, Kandla, Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay), Sikka, Vishakhapatnam
container port(s) (TEUs):Chennai (1,558,343), Jawaharal Nehru Port (4,307,622)

Military

Military branches
Army; Navy (includes naval air arm); Air Force; Coast Guard (2011)


Military service age and obligation
16-18 years of age for voluntary military service (Army 17 1/2, Air Force 17, Navy 16 1/2); no conscription; women may join as officers, but for noncombat roles only (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:319,129,420
females age 16-49:296,071,637 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:249,531,562
females age 16-49:240,039,958 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:12,151,065
female:10,745,891 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
2.43% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 31
2.58% of GDP (2011)
2.43% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
since China and India launched a security and foreign policy dialogue in 2005, consolidated discussions related to the dispute over most of their rugged, militarized boundary, regional nuclear proliferation, Indian claims that China transferred missiles to Pakistan, and other matters continue; Kashmir remains the site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); India and Pakistan resumed bilateral dialogue in February 2011 after a two-year hiatus, have maintained the 2003 cease-fire in Kashmir, and continue to have disputes over water sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries; UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek technical resolution of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show its Junagadh claim in Indian Gujarat State; Prime Minister Singh's September 2011 visit to Bangladesh resulted in the signing of a Protocol to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh, which had called for the settlement of longstanding boundary disputes over undemarcated areas and the exchange of territorial enclaves, but which had never been implemented; Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea; Joint Border Committee with Nepal continues to examine contested boundary sections, including the 400 sq km dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India maintains a strict border regime to keep out Maoist insurgents and control illegal cross-border activities from Nepal


    Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):100,003 (Tibet/China); 65,674 (Sri Lanka); 11,122 (Burma); 10,328 (Afghanistan) (2013)
IDPs:at least 531,000 (about 250,000 are Kashmiri Pandits from Jammu and Kashmir) (2014)



Illicit drugs
world's largest producer of licit opium for the pharmaceutical trade, but an undetermined quantity of opium is diverted to illicit international drug markets; transit point for illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries and throughout Southwest Asia; illicit producer of methaqualone; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering through the hawala system; licit ketamine and precursor production
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook

LookForAttorney.com | Country Guide of Algeria

Country Guide

Algeria Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

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 kmcountry comparison to the world: 10
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:6,734 km
border countries:Libya 989 km, Mali 1,359 km, Mauritania 460 km, Morocco 1,900 km, Niger 951 km, Tunisia 1,034 km, Western Sahara 41 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


Land use:
arable land:3.15%
permanent crops:0.38%
other:96.46% (2011)


Irrigated land:
5,694 sq km (2003)


Total renewable water resources:
11.67 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
11.67 cu km (2011)

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

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Algerian(s)
adjective:Algerian


Ethnic groups:
Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%


Languages:
Arabic (official), French (lingua franca), Berber dialects: Kabylie Berber (Tamazight), Chaouia Berber (Tachawit), Mzab Berber, Tuareg Berber (Tamahaq)


Religions:
Muslim (official; predominantly Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian and Jewish) <1% (2012 est.)


Population:
38,813,722 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 34


Age structure:
0-14 years:28.4% (male 5,641,148/female 5,378,207)
15-24 years:17.4% (male 3,451,069/female 3,291,166)
25-54 years:42.8% (male 8,398,770/female 8,209,634)
55-64 years:6.2% (male 1,230,865/female 1,186,832)
65 years and over:5.2% (male 931,769/female 1,094,262) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:48.5 %
youth dependency ratio:41.6 %
elderly dependency ratio:6.8 %
potential support ratio:14.6 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:27.3 years
male:27 years
female:27.5 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.88% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 61


Birth rate:
23.99 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 63


Death rate:
4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 205


Net migration rate:
-0.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 148


Urbanization:
urban population:73% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:2.49% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
ALGIERS (capital) 2.916 million; Oran 783,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.84 male(s)/female
total population:1.03 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Maternal mortality rate:
97 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:21.76 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 82
male:23.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female:19.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:76.39 yearscountry comparison to the world: 80
male:75.12 years
female:77.72 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.78 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 69


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
61.4% (2006)


Health expenditures:
3.9% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
1.21 physicians/1,000 population (2007)


Hospital bed density:
1.7 beds/1,000 population (2004)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 85.5% of population
rural: 79.5% of population
total: 83.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: 14.5% of population
rural: 20.5% of population
total: 16.1% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 97.6% of population
rural: 88.4% of population
total: 95.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2.4% of population
rural: 11.6% of population
total: 4.8% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1%; note - no country specific models provided (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 124


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
18,000 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 84


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 75


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
16% (2008)country comparison to the world: 116


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
3.7% (2005)country comparison to the world: 101


Education expenditures:
4.3% of GDP (2008)country comparison to the world: 97

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:72.6%
male:81.3%
female:63.9% (2006 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:14 years
male:12 years
female:14 years (2011)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:28.4%country comparison to the world: 30
male:19.1%
female:38.2% (2011)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
conventional short form:Algeria
local long form:Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Sha'biyah
local short form:Al Jaza'ir


Government type:
republic


Capital:
name:Algiers
geographic coordinates:36 45 N, 3 03 E
time difference:UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
48 provinces (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain Temouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, Jijel, Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila, Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanrasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen


Independence:
5 July 1962 (from France)


National holiday:
Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)


Constitution:
adopted 8 September 1963; amended several times, last in 2008 (2013)


Legal system:
mixed legal system of French civil law and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials including several Supreme Court justices


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
hief of state:President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999)
head of government:Prime Minister Abdelmalek SELLAL (since 28 April 2014)
cabinet:Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president; note - on 5 May 2014, a new cabinet was announced
elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 17 April 2014 (next to be held in April 2019)
election results:Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA reelected president for a fourth term; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA 81.5%, Ali BENFLIS 12.2%, Abdelaziz ELAID 3.4%, other 2.9%; voter turnout - 51.7%


Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Council of the Nation (upper house; 144 seats; one-third of the members appointed by the president, two-thirds elected by indirect vote to serve six-year terms; the constitution requires half the Council to be renewed every three years) and the National People's Assembly (lower house; 462 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:Council of the Nation - last held on 29 December 2012 (next to be held in December 2017); National People's Assembly - last held on 10 May 2012 (next to be held in 2017)
election results:Council of the Nation election of 29 December 2009 - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; National People's Assembly election of 10 May 2012 - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FLN 221, RND 70, AAV 47, FFS 21, PT 17, FNA 9, El Adala 7, MPA 6, PFJ 5, FC 4, PNSD 4, other 32, independents 19


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of 150 judges organized into four divisions: civil and commercial; social security and labor; criminal; and administrative; Constitutional Council (consists of 9 members including the court president)
note - Algeria's judicial system does not include sharia courts
judge selection and term of office:Supreme Court judges appointed by the High Council of Magistracy, an administrative body presided over by the president of the republic, and includes the republic vice-president and several members; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Council members - 3 appointed by the president of the republic, 2 each by the two houses of the Parliament, 1 by the Supreme Court, and 1 by the Council of State; Council president and members appointed for single 6-year terms with half of the membership renewed every 3 years
subordinate courts:appellate or wilaya courts; first instance or daira tribunals


    Political parties and leaders:
Algerian National Front or FNA [Moussa TOUATI]; Algerian Popular Movement or MPA [Amara BENYOUNES]; Algerian Rally [Ali ZAGHDOUD]; Algeria's Hope Rally or TAJ [Amar GHOUL]; Dignity or El Karama [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Front for Change or FC [Abdelmadjid MENASRA]; Front for Justice and Development or El Adala [Abdallah DJABALLAH]; Future Front or El Mostakbel [Abdelaziz BELAID]; Green Algeria Alliance or AAV (includes Movement for National Reform, Islamic Renaissance Movement, and Movement of the Society of Peace or Hamas); Islamic Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement [Mohamed DHOUIBI]; Movement of the Society of Peace or MSP [Abderrazak MOKRI]; National Democratic Rally (Rassemblement National Democratique) or RND [Bensalah ABDELKADER]; National Liberation Front or FLN [Amar SAIDANI]; National Party for Solidarity and Development or PNSD; National Reform Movement or Islah [Djahid YOUNSI] (see Green Algeria Alliance); New Dawn Party or PFJ; New Generation or Jil Jadid [Soufiane DJILALI]; New Light Party [Bedreddine BELBAZ]; Oath of 1954 or Ahd 54 [Ali Fawzi REBAINE]; Party of Justice and Liberty [Mohammed SAID]; Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD [Mohcine BELABBAS]; Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Mustafa BOUCHACHI]; Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUNE]
note:a law banning political parties based on religion was enacted in March 1997


Political pressure groups and leaders:
The Algerian Human Rights League or LADDH [Noureddine BENISSAD]; SOS Disparus [Nacera DUTOUR]; Youth Action Rally or RAJ


International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BIS, CAEU, CD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Abdallah BAALI (since 5 November 2008)
chancery:2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 265-2800
FAX:[1] (202) 986-5906
consulate(s) general:New York


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Henry S. ENSHER (since July 2011)
embassy:05 Chemin Cheikh Bachir, El-Ibrahimi, El-Biar 16030 Algiers
mailing address:B. P. 408, Alger-Gare, 16030 Algiers
telephone:[213] 770-08-2000
FAX:[213] 770-08-2064


Flag description:
two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a red, five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the two-color boundary; the colors represent Islam (green), purity and peace (white), and liberty (red); the crescent and star are also Islamic symbols, but the crescent is more closed than those of other Muslim countries because the Algerians believe the long crescent horns bring happiness


National symbol(s):
star and crescent; fennec fox


National anthem:
name:'Kassaman' (We Pledge)

lyrics/music:Mufdi ZAKARIAH/Mohamed FAWZI
note:adopted 1962; ZAKARIAH wrote 'Kassaman' as a poem while imprisoned in Algiers by French colonial forces

Economy

Economy - overview:
Algeria's economy remains dominated by the state, a legacy of the country's socialist postindependence development model. In recent years the Algerian Government has halted the privatization of state-owned industries and imposed restrictions on imports and foreign involvement in its economy. Hydrocarbons have long been the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 60% of budget revenues, 30% of GDP, and over 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the 10th-largest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the sixth-largest gas exporter. It ranks 16th in oil reserves. Strong revenues from hydrocarbon exports have brought Algeria relative macroeconomic stability, with foreign currency reserves approaching $200 billion and a large budget stabilization fund available for tapping. In addition, Algeria's external debt is extremely low at about 2% of GDP. However, Algeria has struggled to develop non-hydrocarbon industries because of heavy regulation and an emphasis on state-driven growth. The government's efforts have done little to reduce high youth unemployment rates or to address housing shortages. A wave of economic protests in February and March 2011 prompted the Algerian Government to offer more than $23 billion in public grants and retroactive salary and benefit increases, moves which continue to weigh on public finances. Long-term economic challenges include diversifying the economy away from its reliance on hydrocarbon exports, bolstering the private sector, attracting foreign investment, and providing adequate jobs for younger Algerians.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$284.7 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$276.2 billion (2012 est.)
$267.4 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$215.7 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
3.1% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
3.3% (2012 est.)
2.6% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,500 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
$7,400 (2012 est.)
$7,300 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
45.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
44.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
47.7% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:33.7%
government consumption:20.6%
investment in fixed capital:32.9%
investment in inventories:8.2%
exports of goods and services:33.3%
imports of goods and services:-28.7%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:9.4%
industry:62.6%
services:28% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle


Industries:
petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing


Industrial production growth rate:
2.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

Labor force:
11.15 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:14%
industry:13.4%
construction and public works:10%
trade:14.6%
government:32%
other:16% (2003 est.)


Unemployment rate:
10.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
10.7% (2012 est.)


Population below poverty line:
23% (2006 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:2.8%
highest 10%:26.8% (1995)


    Distribution of family income - Gini index:
35.3 (1995)
country comparison to the world: 89

Budget:
revenues:$80.55 billion
expenditures:$85.58 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
37.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-2.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94


Public debt:
13.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
8.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
note:data cover central government debt; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.9% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
8.9% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
4% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
4% (31 December 2009 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
8% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$92.91 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$98.36 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$140.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$141 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$-4.337 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
$-4.363 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA


Current account balance:
$6.697 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$12.3 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$68.25 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$71.74 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%


Exports - partners:
Italy 16%, US 15%, Spain 10.9%, France 8.5%, Netherlands 7.3%, Canada 7.1%, UK 5.1%, Brazil 4.7% (2012)


Imports:
$55.02 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$51.57 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods


Imports - partners:
France 12.8%, China 11.8%, Italy 10.3%, Spain 8.6%, Germany 5.2% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$192.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$191.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$5.278 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
$5.639 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$25.02 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$23.26 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$2.433 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$2.133 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
Algerian dinars (DZD) per US dollar -
78.77 (2013 est.)
77.536 (2012 est.)
74.386 (2010 est.)
72.65 (2009)
63.25 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
46.25 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54


Electricity - consumption:
33.68 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59


Electricity - exports:
803 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62


Electricity - imports:
736 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
11.33 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
97.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
2.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149


Crude oil - production:
1.875 million bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15


Crude oil - exports:
1.097 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16


Crude oil - imports:
6,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
12.2 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16


Refined petroleum products - production:
571,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
316,400 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40


Refined petroleum products - exports:
471,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14


Refined petroleum products - imports:
17,270 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110


Natural gas - production:
82.76 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10


Natural gas - consumption:
28.82 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29


Natural gas - exports:
52.02 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151


Natural gas - proved reserves:
4.504 trillion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
117.2 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
3.2 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 49


Telephones - mobile cellular:
37.692 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 32


Telephone system:
general assessment:privatization of Algeria's telecommunications sector began in 2000; three mobile cellular licenses have been issued and, in 2005, a consortium led by Egypt's Orascom Telecom won a 15-year license to build and operate a fixed-line network in Algeria; the license will allow Orascom to develop high-speed data and other specialized services and contribute to meeting the large unfulfilled demand for basic residential telephony; Internet broadband services began in 2003
domestic:a limited network of fixed lines with a teledensity of less than 10 telephones per 100 persons has been offset by the rapid increase in mobile-cellular subscribership; in 2011, mobile-cellular teledensity was roughly 100 telephones per 100 persons
international:country code - 213; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-4 fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satellite earth stations - 51 (Intelsat, Intersputnik, and Arabsat) (2011)



    Broadcast media:
state-run Radio-Television Algerienne operates the broadcast media and carries programming in Arabic, Berber dialects, and French; use of satellite dishes is widespread, providing easy access to European and Arab satellite stations; state-run radio operates several national networks and roughly 40 regional radio stations (2007)


Internet country code:
.dz


Internet hosts:
676 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 178


Internet users:
4.7 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 49

Transportation

Airports
157 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 36


Airports - with paved runways
total:64
over 3,047 m:12
2,438 to 3,047 m:29
1,524 to 2,437 m:17
914 to 1,523 m:5
under 914 m:1 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:93
2,438 to 3,047 m:2
1,524 to 2,437 m:18
914 to 1,523 m:39
under 914 m:
34 (2013)


Heliports
3 (2013)


Pipelines
condensate 2,600 km; gas 16,415 km; liquid petroleum gas 3,447 km; oil 7,036 km; refined products 144 km (2013)


Railways
total:3,973 kmcountry comparison to the world: 45
standard gauge:2,888 km 1.435-m gauge (283 km electrified)
narrow gauge:1,085 km 1.055-m gauge (2008)


    Roadways
total:113,655 kmcountry comparison to the world: 42
paved:87,605 km (includes 645 km of expressways)
unpaved:26,050 km (2010)


Merchant marine
total:38country comparison to the world: 77
by type:bulk carrier 6, cargo 8, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 11, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned:15 (UK, 15) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djendjene, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda
LNG terminal(s) (export):Bethioua, Skikida

Military

Military branches
People's National Army (Armee Nationale Populaire, ANP), Land Forces (Forces Terrestres, FT), Navy of the Republic of Algeria (Marine de la Republique Algerienne, MRA), Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jaza'eriya, QJJ), Territorial Air Defense Force (2009)


Military service age and obligation
17 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; 19-30 years of age for compulsory service; conscript service obligation is 18 months (6 months basic training, 12 months civil projects) (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:10,273,129
females age 16-49:10,114,552 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:8,622,897
females age 16-49:8,626,222 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:342,895
female:330,098 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
4.48% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 7
4.36% of GDP (2011)
4.48% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
Algeria and many other states reject Moroccan administration of Western Sahara; the Polisario Front, exiled in Algeria, represents the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic; Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each nation accusing the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling; dormant disputes include Libyan claims of about 32,000 sq km still reflected on its maps of southeastern Algeria and the National Liberation Front's (FLN) assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco


    Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):90,000 (Western Saharan Sahrawi, mostly living in Algerian-sponsored camps in the southwestern Algerian town of Tindouf); 1,500 (Mali) (2013)
IDPs:undetermined (civil war during 1990s) (2012)



Trafficking in persons

 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook

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