Overview of Algeria Today Algeria Quick Facts Past 20 Years Demography Economy

Pack Your Bags!

Find Algeria

Quick Facts 70% Literacy Oil and Gas 30% of GDP and 95% of export earnings 2nd Largest African Country 150$ billion in reserves 2010 286$ billion development in infrastructure and jobs 23% below poverty level 32 million cell phones 4.7 million internet connections

Algerian Flag Today 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

Past 20 Years in Algeria 1991-1998 Civil War 1999-2010 1988 Multiparty State FIS Militant Islamic terrorist insurgents ANP Algerian Army cracked down on FIS FIS’ army disbanded 2000 18 months compulsory service 1999-2010 Abdelaziz Bouteflika won Presidency in 1999 Election fraudulent 2004 won 2009 changed constitution and won again Unemployment, shortage of housing, unreliable electric and water, corruption, extremist militants

Demography of Algeria Today 34.5 million people Majority are in their 20s, 25% under 14 What do they Do? agriculture: 14% Industry: 13.4% construction and public works: 10% trade: 14.6% government: 32% other: 16% (2003 est.)

Where do Algerians Live? 65% Urban 2.5% rate of urbanization 94% of population is in Northern Algeria which is only 14% of the land Wall Leaners

Importance of the Tribe Arab’s Ayla family, patriarchic Clans, Caid local officials Social Prestige and Honor Berbers Djemaa Council, amins, qanuns French Displacement, Urbanization, Military Importance

Importance of Islam Sunni Islam 1962 Algeria Constitution Islamic State (tension) 1962-80 Urbanization of Islam 1980-1999 Radicalization of Islam while government used Islam Political Islam is Powerful but radical is in minority

Algeria Before the French 500 BC farming and trade 200 BC Berber Kingdoms Roman Empire Berber Tribes 792-1574 Arab Empires and Islam 1574-1830 Ottoman 1830-1962 France