Main page Compare countries Index countries Index fields

Query:
Jah-Jah.pl / Index countries / Algeria (2001) - Switzerland (2002) / Compare countries
##ciekawa_strona##

Compare Algeria (2001) - Switzerland (2002)

Compare Algeria (2001) z Switzerland (2002)

 Algeria (2001)Switzerland (2002)
 AlgeriaSwitzerland
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, Tamanghasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen 26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
Age structure 0-14 years:
34.21% (male 5,528,755; female 5,328,083)

15-64 years:
61.72% (male 9,901,319; female 9,687,449)

65 years and over:
4.07% (male 594,973; female 695,474) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 16.8% (male 629,513; female 597,472)


15-64 years: 67.7% (male 2,512,273; female 2,433,396)


65 years and over: 15.5% (male 461,722; female 667,618) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Airports 135 (2000 est.) 66 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total:
51

over 3,047 m:
9

2,438 to 3,047 m:
24

1,524 to 2,437 m:
12

914 to 1,523 m:
5

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total: 41


over 3,047 m: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 5


1,524 to 2,437 m: 10


914 to 1,523 m: 9


under 914 m: 14 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
84

2,438 to 3,047 m:
3

1,524 to 2,437 m:
23

914 to 1,523 m:
40

under 914 m:
18 (2000 est.)
total: 25


under 914 m: 24 (2002)
Area total:
2,381,740 sq km

land:
2,381,740 sq km

water:
0 sq km
total: 41,290 sq km


land: 39,770 sq km


water: 1,520 sq km
Area - comparative slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Background After a century of rule by France, Algeria became independent in 1962. The surprising first round success of the fundamentalist FIS (Islamic Salvation Front) party in December 1991 balloting caused the army to intervene, crack down on the FIS, and postpone the subsequent elections. The FIS response has resulted in a continuous low-grade civil conflict with the secular state apparatus, which nonetheless has allowed elections featuring pro-government and moderate religious-based parties. FIS's armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded itself in January 2000 and many armed militants surrendered under an amnesty program designed to promote national reconciliation. Nevertheless, residual fighting continues. Other concerns include large-scale unemployment and the need to diversify the petroleum-based economy. Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers and Switzerland was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations, but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.
Birth rate 22.76 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 9.84 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues:
$15.8 billion

expenditures:
$16 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.3 billion (2001 est.)
revenues: $30 billion


expenditures: $30 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Capital Algiers Bern
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 temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Coastline 998 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976; revised 3 November 1988, 23 February 1989, and 28 November 1996; note - referendum approving the revisions of 28 November 1996 was signed into law 7 December 1996 29 May 1874
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
conventional long form: Swiss Confederation


conventional short form: Switzerland


local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German), Confederation Suisse (French), Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)


local short form: Schweiz (German), Suisse (French), Svizzera (Italian)
Currency Algerian dinar (DZD) Swiss franc (CHF)
Death rate 5.22 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 8.79 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $25 billion (2000 est.) $NA
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Janet A. SANDERSON

embassy:
4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers

mailing address:
B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers

telephone:
[213] (21) 69-11-86, 69-12-55, 69-18-54, 69-38-75

FAX:
[213] (21) 69-39-79
chief of mission: Ambassador Mercer REYNOLDS III


embassy: Jubilaeumsstrasse 93, 3001 Bern


mailing address: use embassy street address


telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11


FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Idriss JAZAIRY

chancery:
2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 265-2800

FAX:
[1] (202) 667-2174
chief of mission: Ambassador Christian BLICKENSTORFER


chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900


FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564


consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco


consulate(s): Boston
Disputes - international part of southeastern region claimed by Libya; Algeria supports exiled West Saharan Polisario Front and rejects Moroccan administration of Western Sahara none
Economic aid - donor - ODA, $1.1 billion (1995) (1995)
Economic aid - recipient $100 million (1999 est.) -
Economy - overview The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 60% of budget revenues, 30% of GDP, and over 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the fifth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the second largest gas exporter; it ranks fourteenth for oil reserves. Algiers' efforts to reform one of the most centrally planned economies in the Arab world stalled in 1992 as the country became embroiled in political turmoil. Algeria's financial and economic indicators improved during the mid-1990s, in part because of policy reforms supported by the IMF and debt rescheduling from the Paris Club. Algeria's finances in 2000 benefited from the spike in oil prices and the government's tight fiscal policy, leading to a large increase in the trade surplus, the near tripling of foreign exchange reserves, and reduction in foreign debt. The government continues efforts to diversify the economy by attracting foreign and domestic investment outside the energy sector, but has had little success in reducing high unemployment and improving living standards. Switzerland is a prosperous and stable modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP larger than that of the big western European economies. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness. Although the Swiss are not pursuing full EU membership in the near term, in 1999 Bern and Brussels signed agreements to further liberalize trade ties. They continue to discuss further areas for cooperation. Switzerland remains a safe haven for investors, because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy and has kept up the franc's long-term external value. Reflecting the anemic economic conditions of Europe, GDP growth dropped in 2001 to about 0.8% and to about 0% in 2002.
Electricity - consumption 21.613 billion kWh (1999) 52.62 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 307 million kWh (1999) 31.4 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 330 million kWh (1999) 24.33 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 23.215 billion kWh (1999) 64.182 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
99.14%

hydro:
0.86%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 4%


hydro: 57%


nuclear: 37%


other: 2% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Chott Melrhir -40 m

highest point:
Tahat 3,003 m
lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m


highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
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 air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
Environment - international agreements party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Nuclear Test Ban
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1% German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Exchange rates Algerian dinars per US dollar - 74,813 (January 2001), 75.260 (2000), 66.574 (1999), 58.739 (1998), 57.707 (1997), 54.749 (1996) Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.6668 (January 2002), 1.6876 (2001), 1.6888 (2000), 1.5022 (1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999)

head of government:
Prime Minister Ali BENFLIS (since 26 August 2000)

cabinet:
Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 15 April 1999 (next to be held NA April 2004); prime minister appointed by the president

election results:
Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA elected president; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA over 70%; note - his six opposing candidates withdrew on the eve of the election citing electoral fraud
chief of state: President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Ruth METZLER (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Ruth METZLER (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the Federal Assembly usually from among its own members for a four-year term


elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for one-year terms that run concurrently; election last held NA December 2002 (next to be held NA December 2003)


election results: Pascal COUCHEPIN elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - NA%; Ruth METZLER elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - NA%
Exports $19.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $100.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97% machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Exports - partners Italy 22%, US 15%, France 12%, Spain 11%, Brazil 8%, Netherlands 5% (1999) EU 61% (Germany 22.2%, France 9%, Italy 8%, UK 5.3%), US 10.6%, Japan 3.9% (2001)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
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 crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam (the state religion) red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag
GDP purchasing power parity - $171 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $231 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
11%

industry:
37%

services:
52% (1999 est.)
agriculture: 2%


industry: 34%


services: 64% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $5,500 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $31,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5% (2000 est.) 2% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 28 00 N, 3 00 E 47 00 N, 8 00 E
Geography - note second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan) landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps
Heliports 1 (2000 est.) 1 (2002)
Highways total:
104,000 km

paved:
71,656 km (including 640 km of expressways)

unpaved:
32,344 km (1996 est.)
total: 71,059 km (including 1,638 km of expressways)


paved: 71,059 km


unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
2.8%

highest 10%:
26.8% (1995)
lowest 10%: 3%


highest 10%: 25% (1992)
Illicit drugs - because of more stringent government regulations, used significantly less as a money-laundering center; transit country for and consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin
Imports $9.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $94.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities capital goods, food and beverages, consumer goods machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles
Imports - partners France 30%, Italy 9%, Germany 7%, Spain 6%, US 5%, Turkey 5% (1999) EU 79.9% (Germany 32.2%, France 11%, Italy 10.2%, Netherlands 5.9%, UK 4.6%), US 5.1% (2001)
Independence 5 July 1962 (from France) 1 August 1291 (Founding of the Swiss Confederation)
Industrial production growth rate 7% (1999 est.) 3.2% (2001)
Industries petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments
Infant mortality rate 40.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 4.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2% (2000 est.) 0.5% (2002 est.)
International organization participation ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 2 (2000) 44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000)
Irrigated land 5,550 sq km (1993 est.) 250 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Cour Supreme Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by the Federal Assembly)
Labor force 9.1 million (2000 est.) 4 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation government 29%, agriculture 25%, construction and public works 15%, industry 11%, other 20% (1996 est.) services 69%, industry 26%, agriculture 5% (1998)
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
total: 1,852 km


border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
Land use arable land:
3%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
13%

forests and woodland:
2%

other:
82% (1993 est.)
arable land: 10.57%


permanent crops: 0.61%


other: 88.82% (1998 est.)
Languages Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 19.2%, Italian (official) 7.6%, Romansch 0.6%, other 8.9%
Legal system socialist, based on French and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials, including several Supreme Court justices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of the National People's Assembly or Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani (380 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Council of Nations (144 seats; one-third of the members appointed by the president, two-thirds elected by indirect vote; members serve six-year terms; the constitution requires half the council to be renewed every three years)

elections:
National People's Assembly - last held 5 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); Council of Nations - last held 30 December 2000 (next to be held NA 2003)

election results:
National People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - RND 40.8%, MSP 18.2%, FLN 16.8%, Nahda Movement 8.9%, FFS 5%, RCD 5%, PT 1.1%, Progressive Republican Party 0.8%, Union for Democracy and Liberty 0.3%, Social Liberal Party 0.3%, independents 2.8%; seats by party - RND 155, MSP 69, FLN 64, Nahda Movement 34, FFS 19, RCD 19, PT 4, Progressive Republican Party 3, Union for Democracy and Liberty 1, Social Liberal Party 1, independents 11; Council of Nations - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RND 79, FLN 12, FFS 4, MSP 1 (remaining 48 seats appointed by the president, party breakdown NA)
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German), Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian) consists of the Council of States or Standerat (in German), Conseil des Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats - members serve four-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats - members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)


elections: Council of States - last held NA 1999 (each canton determines when the next election will be held); National Council - last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2003)


election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FDP 18, CVP 15, SVP 7, SPS 6; National Council - percent of vote by party - SPS 22.5%, SVP 22.6%, FDP 19.9%, CVP 15.8%, other small parties all under 5%; seats by party - SPS 51, SVP 44, FDP 43, CVP 35, Green Party 9, other small parties 18
Life expectancy at birth total population:
69.95 years

male:
68.6 years

female:
71.34 years (2001 est.)
total population: 79.86 years


male: 76.98 years


female: 82.89 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
61.6%

male:
73.9%

female:
49% (1995 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99% (1980 est.)


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Map references Africa Europe
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone:
32-52 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total:
73 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 896,911 GRT/1,047,991 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 9, cargo 25, chemical tanker 7, liquefied gas 10, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 13, short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 1 (2000 est.)
total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 509,943 GRT/896,309 DWT


ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 6, chemical tanker 4, petroleum tanker 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience:, United Kingdom 6, United States 1 (2002 est.)
Military branches National Popular Army, Navy, Air Force, Territorial Air Defense, National Gendarmerie Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards
Military expenditures - dollar figure $1.87 billion (FY99) $2.548 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 4.1% (FY99) 1% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
8,794,622 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 1,841,867 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
5,383,770 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 1,561,689 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age 19 years of age 20 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
388,939 (2001 est.)
males: 42,597 (2002 est.)
National holiday Revolution Day, 1 November (1954) Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Nationality noun:
Algerian(s)

adjective:
Algerian
noun: Swiss (singular and plural)


adjective: Swiss
Natural hazards mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mud slides avalanches, landslides, flash floods
Natural resources petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc hydropower potential, timber, salt
Net migration rate -0.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 6,612 km; petroleum products 298 km; natural gas 2,948 km crude oil 314 km; natural gas 1,506 km
Political parties and leaders Democratic National Rally or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA, chairman]; Islamic Salvation Front or FIS (outlawed April 1992) [Ali BELHADJ and Dr. Abassi MADANI (imprisoned), Rabeh KEBIR (self-exile in Germany)]; Movement of a Peaceful Society or MSP [Mahfoud NAHNAH, chairman]; National Liberation Front or FLN [Boualem BENHAMOUDA, secretary general]; Progressive Republican Party [Khadir DRISS]; Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD [Said SAADI, secretary general]; Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement [Lahbib ADAMI]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Ahmed KHELIL]; Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general (self-exile in Switzerland)]; Union for Democracy and Liberty [Mouley BOUKHALAFA]; Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUN]

note:
a party law banning political parties based on religion was enacted in March 1997
Christian Democratic People's Party (Christichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, Partito Democratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, Partida Cristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Philipp STAEHELIN, president]; Green Party (Grune Partei der Schweiz or Grune, Parti Ecologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) [Ruth GENNER and Patrice MUGNY, co-presidents]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Gerold BUEHRER, president]; Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti Socialist Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Christiane BRUNNER, president]; Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or UDC, Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Ueli MAURER, president]; and other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 31,736,053 (July 2001 est.) 7,301,994 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line 23% (1999 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 1.71% (2001 est.) 0.24% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Beni Saf, Dellys, Djendjene, Ghazaouet, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda, Tenes Basel
Radio broadcast stations AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999) AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios 7.1 million (1997) 7.1 million (1997)
Railways total:
4,820 km

standard gauge:
3,664 km 1.435-m gauge (301 km electrified; 215 km double track)

narrow gauge:
1,156 km 1.055-m gauge (1996)
total: 4,406 km


standard gauge: 3,440 km 1.435-m gauge


narrow gauge: 900 km 1.000-m gauge; 10 km 0.800-m gauge


dual gauge: 56 km 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (3 rail system)


note: Swiss railways are virtually all electrified (2001)
Religions Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1% Roman Catholic 46.1%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, none 8.9% (1990)
Sex ratio at birth:
1.04 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:
1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female


total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
telephone density in Algeria is very low, not exceeding five telephones per 100 persons; the number of fixed main lines has been increased in the last few years to a little more than 2,000,000, but only about two-thirds of these have subscribers; much of the infrastructure is outdated and inefficient

domestic:
good service in north but sparse in south; domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations (20 additional domestic earth stations are planned)

international:
5 submarine cables; microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat (1998)
general assessment: excellent domestic and international services


domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks


international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 2.3 million (1998) 4.82 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular 33,500 (1999) 1.967 million (1999)
Television broadcast stations 46 (plus 216 repeaters) (1995) 115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Total fertility rate 2.72 children born/woman (2001 est.) 1.47 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 30% (1999 est.) 1.9% (2002 est.)
Waterways none 65 km


note: The Rhine carries heavy traffic on the Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee stretches; there are also 12 navigable lakes
Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.