Spain vs. Algeria
Introduction
Spain | Algeria | |
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Background | Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power. Spain remained neutral in World War I and II, but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). A peaceful transition to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco FRANCO in 1975, and rapid economic modernization (Spain joined the EU in 1986) gave Spain a dynamic and rapidly growing economy, and made it a global champion of freedom and human rights. More recently, Spain has emerged from a severe economic recession that began in mid-2008, posting four straight years of GDP growth above the EU average. Unemployment has fallen, but remains high, especially among youth. Spain is the Eurozone's fourth largest economy. The country has faced increased domestic turmoil in recent years due to the independence movement in its restive Catalonia region. | Algeria has known many empires and dynasties starting with the ancient Numidians (3rd century B.C.), Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, over a dozen different Arab and Berber dynasties, Spaniards, and Ottoman Turks. It was under the latter that the Barbary pirates operated from North Africa and preyed on shipping beginning in roughly 1500, peaking in the early to mid-17th century, until finally subdued by the French capture of Algiers in 1830. The French southward conquest of the entirety of Algeria proceeded throughout the 19th century and was marked by many atrocities. The country was heavily colonized by the French in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A bloody eight-year struggle culminated in Algerian independence in 1962. Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA, with the backing of the military, won the presidency in 1999 in an election that was boycotted by several candidates protesting alleged fraud, and won subsequent elections in 2004, 2009, and 2014. The government in 2011 introduced some political reforms in response to the Arab Spring, including lifting the 19-year-old state of emergency restrictions and increasing women's quotas for elected assemblies, while also increasing subsidies to the populace. Since 2014, Algeria's reliance on hydrocarbon revenues to fund the government and finance the large subsidies for the population has fallen under stress because of declining oil prices. Protests broke out across the country in late February 2019 against President BOUTEFLIKA's decision to seek a fifth term. BOUTEFLIKA resigned on 2 April 2019, and the speaker of the upper house of parliament, Abdelkader BENSALAH, became interim head of state on 9 April. BENSALAH remained in office beyond the 90-day constitutional limit until Algerians elected former Prime Minister Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE as the country's new president in December 2019. |
Geography
Spain | Algeria | |
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Location | Southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains; southwest of France | Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia |
Geographic coordinates | 40 00 N, 4 00 W | 28 00 N, 3 00 E |
Map references | Europe | Africa |
Area | total: 505,370 sq km land: 498,980 sq km water: 6,390 sq km note: there are two autonomous cities - Ceuta and Melilla - and 17 autonomous communities including Balearic Islands and Canary Islands, and three small Spanish possessions off the coast of Morocco - Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera | total: 2,381,740 sq km land: 2,381,740 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | almost five times the size of Kentucky; slightly more than twice the size of Oregon | slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas |
Land boundaries | total: 1,952.7 km border countries (5): Andorra 63 km, France 646 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal 1224 km, Morocco (Ceuta) 8 km and Morocco (Melilla) 10.5 km note: an additional 75-meter border segment exists between Morocco and the Spanish exclave of Penon de Velez de la Gomera | total: 6,734 km border countries (6): Libya 989 km, Mali 1359 km, Mauritania 460 km, Morocco 1941 km, Niger 951 km, Tunisia 1034 km |
Coastline | 4,964 km | 998 km |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean) | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm |
Climate | temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast | 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 | large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees Mountains in north | mostly high plateau and desert; Atlas Mountains in the far north and Hoggar Mountains in the south; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain |
Elevation extremes | highest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 660 m | highest point: Tahat 2,908 m lowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 m mean elevation: 800 m |
Natural resources | coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land | petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc |
Land use | agricultural land: 54.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 24.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 9.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20.1% (2018 est.) forest: 36.8% (2018 est.) other: 9.1% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 17.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 13.8% (2018 est.) forest: 0.8% (2018 est.) other: 81.8% (2018 est.) |
Irrigated land | 38,000 sq km (2012) | 13,600 sq km (2014) |
Natural hazards | periodic droughts, occasional flooding volcanism: volcanic activity in the Canary Islands, located off Africa's northwest coast; Teide (3,715 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; La Palma (2,426 m), which last erupted in 1971, is the most active of the Canary Islands volcanoes; Lanzarote is the only other historically active volcano | mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides and floods in rainy season; droughts |
Environment - current issues | pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality and quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation; desertification | air pollution in major cities; 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: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban |
Geography - note | strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar; Spain controls a number of territories in northern Morocco including the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas; Spain's Canary Islands are one of four North Atlantic archipelagos that make up Macaronesia; the others are Azores (Portugal), Madeira (Portugal), and Cabo Verde | largest country in Africa but 80% desert; canyons and caves in the southern Hoggar Mountains and in the barren Tassili n'Ajjer area in the southeast of the country contain numerous examples of prehistoric art - rock paintings and carvings depicting human activities and wild and domestic animals (elephants, giraffes, cattle) - that date to the African Humid Period, roughly 11,000 to 5,000 years ago, when the region was completely vegetated |
Total renewable water resources | 111.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 11.667 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
Population distribution | with the notable exception of Madrid, Sevilla, and Zaragoza, the largest urban agglomerations are found along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts; numerous smaller cities are spread throughout the interior reflecting Spain's agrarian heritage; very dense settlement around the capital of Madrid, as well as the port city of Barcelona | the vast majority of the populace is found in the extreme northern part of the country along the Mediterranean Coast as shown in this population distribution map |
Demographics
Spain | Algeria | |
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Population | 47,260,584 (July 2021 est.) | 43,576,691 (July 2021 est.) |
Age structure | 0-14 years: 15.02% (male 3,861,522/female 3,650,085) 15-24 years: 9.9% (male 2,557,504/female 2,392,498) 25-54 years: 43.61% (male 11,134,006/female 10,675,873) 55-64 years: 12.99% (male 3,177,080/female 3,319,823) 65 years and over: 18.49% (male 3,970,417/female 5,276,984) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 29.58% (male 6,509,490/female 6,201,450) 15-24 years: 13.93% (male 3,063,972/female 2,922,368) 25-54 years: 42.91% (male 9,345,997/female 9,091,558) 55-64 years: 7.41% (male 1,599,369/female 1,585,233) 65 years and over: 6.17% (male 1,252,084/female 1,401,357) (2020 est.) |
Median age | total: 43.9 years male: 42.7 years female: 45.1 years (2020 est.) | total: 28.9 years male: 28.6 years female: 29.3 years (2020 est.) |
Population growth rate | -0.03% (2021 est.) | 1.41% (2021 est.) |
Birth rate | 8.05 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 19.24 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
Death rate | 9.78 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 4.32 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
Net migration rate | 1.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | -0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
Sex ratio | at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | 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: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
Infant mortality rate | total: 3.14 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.51 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 20.23 deaths/1,000 live births male: 22.36 deaths/1,000 live births female: 17.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
Life expectancy at birth | total population: 82.21 years male: 79.22 years female: 85.39 years (2021 est.) | total population: 77.79 years male: 76.32 years female: 79.33 years (2021 est.) |
Total fertility rate | 1.51 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 2.55 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 0.4% (2020 est.) | <.1% (2020 est.) |
Nationality | noun: Spaniard(s) adjective: Spanish | noun: Algerian(s) adjective: Algerian |
Ethnic groups | Spanish 84.8%, Moroccan 1.7%, Romanian 1.2%, other 12.3% (2021 est.) note: data represent population by country of birth | Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1% note: although almost all Algerians are Berber in origin (not Arab), only a minority identify themselves as primarily Berber, about 15% of the total population; these people live mostly in the mountainous region of Kabylie east of Algiers and several other communities; the Berbers are also Muslim but identify with their Berber rather than Arab cultural heritage; Berbers have long agitated, sometimes violently, for autonomy; the government is unlikely to grant autonomy but has officially recognized Berber languages and introduced them into public schools |
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 150,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children | 18,000 (2020 est.) |
Religions | Roman Catholic 58.2%, atheist 16.2%, agnostic 10.8%, other 2.7%, non-believer 10.5%, unspecified 1.7% (2021 est.) | Muslim (official; predominantly Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian and Jewish) <1% (2012 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - deaths | <1,000 (2020) note: estimate does not include children | <200 (2020 est.) |
Languages | Castilian Spanish (official nationwide) 74%, Catalan (official in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community (where it is known as Valencian)) 17%, Galician (official in Galicia) 7%, Basque (official in the Basque Country and in the Basque-speaking area of Navarre) 2%, Aranese (official in the northwest corner of Catalonia (Vall d'Aran) along with Catalan, <5,000 speakers); note - Aragonese, Aranese Asturian, Basque, Calo, Catalan, Galician, and Valencian are recognized as regional languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. | Arabic (official), French (lingua franca), Berber or Tamazight (official); dialects include Kabyle Berber (Taqbaylit), Shawiya Berber (Tacawit), Mzab Berber, Tuareg Berber (Tamahaq) major-language sample(s): ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ????????? ??? ????????? ???????? (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. |
Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.4% male: 98.9% female: 98% (2018) | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 81.4% male: 87.4% female: 75.3% (2018) |
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) | total: 18 years male: 17 years female: 18 years (2018) | total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2011) |
Education expenditures | 4.2% of GDP (2017) | NA |
Urbanization | urban population: 81.1% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 0.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla | urban population: 74.3% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
Drinking water source | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 99.2% of population rural: 97.4% of population total: 98.7% of population unimproved: urban: 0.8% of population rural: 2.1% of population total: 1.1% of population (2017 est.) |
Sanitation facility access | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 96.9% of population rural: 93.4% of population total: 96% of population unimproved: urban: 3.1% of population rural: 6.6% of population total: 4% of population (2017 est.) |
Major cities - population | 6.669 million MADRID (capital), 5.624 million Barcelona, 835,000 Valencia (2021) | 2.809 million ALGIERS (capital), 910,000 Oran (2021) |
Maternal mortality rate | 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) | 112 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
Health expenditures | 9% (2018) | 6.2% (2018) |
Physicians density | 3.87 physicians/1,000 population (2017) | 1.72 physicians/1,000 population (2018) |
Hospital bed density | 3 beds/1,000 population (2017) | 1.9 beds/1,000 population (2015) |
Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 23.8% (2016) | 27.4% (2016) |
Contraceptive prevalence rate | 62.1% (2018) note: percent of women aged 18-49 | 57.1% (2012/13) |
Dependency ratios | total dependency ratio: 52.4 youth dependency ratio: 21.9 elderly dependency ratio: 30.4 potential support ratio: 3.3 (2020 est.) | total dependency ratio: 60.1 youth dependency ratio: 49.3 elderly dependency ratio: 10.8 potential support ratio: 9.3 (2020 est.) |
Government
Spain | Algeria | |
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Country name | conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain conventional short form: Spain local long form: Reino de Espana local short form: Espana etymology: derivation of the name "Espana" is uncertain, but may come from the Phoenician term "span," related to the word "spy," meaning "to forge metals," so, "i-spn-ya" would mean "place where metals are forged"; the ancient Phoenicians long exploited the Iberian Peninsula for its mineral wealth | 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 etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Algiers |
Government type | parliamentary constitutional monarchy | presidential republic |
Capital | name: Madrid geographic coordinates: 40 24 N, 3 41 W time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October note: Spain has two time zones, including the Canary Islands (UTC 0) etymology: the Romans named the original settlement "Matrice" after the river that ran through it; under Arab rule it became "Majerit," meaning "source of water"; in medieval Romance dialects (Mozarabic) it became "Matrit," which over time changed to "Madrid" | name: Algiers geographic coordinates: 36 45 N, 3 03 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: name derives from the Arabic "al-Jazair" meaning "the islands" and refers to the four islands formerly off the coast but joined to the mainland since 1525 |
Administrative divisions | 17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma) and 2 autonomous cities* (ciudades autonomas, singular - ciudad autonoma); Andalucia; Aragon; Asturias; Canarias (Canary Islands); Cantabria; Castilla-La Mancha; Castilla-Leon; Cataluna (Castilian), Catalunya (Catalan), Catalonha (Aranese) [Catalonia]; Ceuta*; Comunidad Valenciana (Castilian), Comunitat Valenciana (Valencian) [Valencian Community]; Extremadura; Galicia; Illes Baleares (Balearic Islands); La Rioja; Madrid; Melilla*; Murcia; Navarra (Castilian), Nafarroa (Basque) [Navarre]; Pais Vasco (Castilian), Euskadi (Basque) [Basque Country] note: the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla plus three small islands of Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, administered directly by the Spanish central government, are all along the coast of Morocco and are collectively referred to as Places of Sovereignty (Plazas de Soberania) | 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 | 1492; the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the Muslim occupation that began in the early 8th century A.D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this event completed the unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain | 5 July 1962 (from France) |
National holiday | National Day (Hispanic Day), 12 October (1492); note - commemorates the arrival of COLUMBUS in the Americas | Independence Day, 5 July (1962); Revolution Day, 1 November (1954) |
Constitution | history: previous 1812; latest approved by the General Courts 31 October 1978, passed by referendum 6 December 1978, signed by the king 27 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978 amendments: proposed by the government, by the General Courts (the Congress or the Senate), or by the self-governing communities submitted through the government; passage requires three-fifths majority vote by both houses and passage by referendum if requested by one tenth of the members of either house; proposals disapproved by both houses are submitted to a joint committee, which submits an agreed upon text for another vote; passage requires two-thirds majority vote in Congress and simple majority vote in the Senate; amended 1992, 2011 | history: several previous; latest approved by referendum 23 February 1989 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or through the president with the support of three fourths of the members of both houses of Parliament in joint session; passage requires approval by both houses, approval by referendum, and promulgation by the president; the president can forego a referendum if the Constitutional Council determines the proposed amendment does not conflict with basic constitutional principles; articles including the republican form of government, the integrity and unity of the country, and fundamental citizens' liberties and rights cannot be amended; amended 2002, 2008, 2016; last in 2020 |
Legal system | civil law system with regional variations | 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 |
Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal |
Executive branch | chief of state: King FELIPE VI (since 19 June 2014); Heir Apparent Princess LEONOR, Princess of Asturias (daughter of the monarch, born 31 October 2005) head of government: President of the Government (Prime Minister-equivalent) Pedro SANCHEZ Perez-Castejon (since 2 June 2018); Vice President (and Minister of the President's Office) Maria del Carmen CALVO Poyato (since 7 June 2018) cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the president elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually proposes as president the leader of the party or coalition with the largest majority of seats, who is then indirectly elected by the Congress of Deputies; election last held on 10 November 2019 (next to be held November 2023); vice president and Council of Ministers appointed by the president election results: percent of National Assembly vote - NA note: there is also a Council of State that is the supreme consultative organ of the government, but its recommendations are non-binding | chief of state: President Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE (since 12 December 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Ayman BENABDERRAHMANE (since 7 July 2021); note - President TEBBOUNE appointed BENABDERRAHMANE as prime minister following the resignation of Prime Minister Abdelaziz DJERAD on 24 June Abdelaziz DJERAD (since 28 December 2019)cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 12 December 2019 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister nominated by the president after consultation with the majority party in Parliament election results: Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE (NLF) 58.1%, Abdelkader BENGRINA (Movement of National Construction) 17.4%, Ali BENFLIS (Vanguard of Freedoms) 10.6%, Azzedine MIHOUBI (RND) 7.3%, Abdelaziz BELAID (Future Front) 6.7% |
Legislative branch | description: bicameral General Courts or Las Cortes Generales consists of: Senate or Senado (266 seats; 208 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 58 members indirectly elected by the legislatures of the autonomous communities; members serve 4-year terms) Congress of Deputies or Congreso de los Diputados (350 seats; 348 members directly elected in 50 multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote, with a 3% threshold needed to gain a seat, and 2 directly elected from the North African Ceuta and Melilla enclaves by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms or until the government is dissolved) elections: Senate - last held on 10 November 2019 (next to be held no later than November 2023) Congress of Deputies - last held on 10 November 2019 (next to be held no later than November 2023) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PSOE 113, PP 97, ERC 15, EAJ/PNV 10, C's 9, other 22; composition - men 163, women 103; percent of women 39% Congress of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PSOE 28.7%, PP 20.8%,Vox 15.1%, Unidos Podemos 12.8%, C's 6.8%, ERC 3.6%, other 12.8%; seats by party - PSOE 120, PP 88, Vox 52, Unidos Podemos 35, C's 10, ERC 13, other 23; composition - men 184, women 166; percent of women 47.4%; note - total General Courts percent of women 43.7% | description: bicameral Parliament consists of: Council of the Nation (upper house with 144 seats; one-third of members appointed by the president, two-thirds indirectly elected by simple majority vote by an electoral college composed of local council members; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 3 years) National People's Assembly (lower house with 407 seats including 8 seats for Algerian diaspora); members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by open-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms); note - in March 2021, President TEBBOUNE ordered the number of Assembly seats be reduced to 407 from 462 elections: Council of the Nation - last held on 29 December 2018 (next to be held in December 2021) National People's Assembly - snap election held on 12 June 2021 (next to be held on 12 June 2026) election results: Council of the Nation - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 137, women 7, percent of women 5%, National People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FLN 98, MSP 65, RND 58, EL Mostakbel 48, Movement of National Construction 39, other 15, independent 84; composition - men 373, women 34, percent of women 8.4%; note - total Parliament percent of women 7.4% |
Judicial branch | highest courts: Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo (consists of the court president and organized into the Civil Room, with a president and 9 judges; the Penal Room, with a president and 14 judges; the Administrative Room, with a president and 32 judges; the Social Room, with a president and 12 judges; and the Military Room, with a president and 7 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional de Espana (consists of 12 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates proposed by the General Council of the Judiciary Power, a 20-member governing board chaired by the monarch that includes presidential appointees, lawyers, and jurists confirmed by the National Assembly; judges can serve until age 70; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the National Assembly, executive branch, and the General Council of the Judiciary, and appointed by the monarch for 9-year terms subordinate courts: National High Court; High Courts of Justice (in each of the autonomous communities); provincial courts; courts of first instance | highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Suprême, (consists of 150 judges organized into 8 chambers: Civil, Commercial and Maritime, Criminal, House of Offenses and Contraventions, House of Petitions, Land, Personal Status, and Social; Constitutional Council (consists of 12 members including the court chairman and deputy chairman); 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; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Council members - 4 appointed by the president of the republic, 2 each by the 2 houses of Parliament, 2 by the Supreme Court, and 2 by the Council of State; Council president and members appointed for single 6-year terms with half the membership renewed every 3 years subordinate courts: appellate or wilaya courts; first instance or daira tribunals |
Political parties and leaders | Asturias Forum or FAC [Carmen MORIYON] Basque Country Unite (Euskal Herria Bildu) or EH Bildu (coalition of 4 Basque pro-independence parties) Basque Nationalist Party or PNV or EAJ [Andoni ORTUZAR] Canarian Coalition or CC [Ana ORAMAS] (coalition of 5 parties) Junts per Catalunia or JxCat [Carles PUIDGEMONT] Ciudadanos Party or C's [Albert RIVERA] Compromis - Communist Coalition [Joan BALDOVI] New Canary or NCa [Pedro QUEVEDOS] Unidas Podemos [Pablo IGLESIAS Turrion] (formerly Podemos IU; electoral coalition formed for May 2016 election) People's Party or PP [Pablo CASADO] Republican Left of Catalonia or ERC [Oriol JUNQUERAS i Vies] Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE [Pedro SANCHEZ] JxCat-Junts Together for Catalonia [Jordi SANCHEZ] Union of People of Navarra or UPN [Javier ESPARZA] Navarra Suma (electoral Coaltion formed by Navarrese People's Union (UPN), Ciudadanos (C's), and the Popular Partty (PP) ahead of the 2019 election) Vox or Vox [Santiago ABASCAL] | Algerian National Front or FNA [Moussa TOUATI] Algerian Popular Movement or MPA [Amara BENYOUNES] Algerian Rally or RA [Ali ZAGHDOUD] Algeria's Hope Rally or TAJ [Amar GHOUL] Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Hamid FERHI] Dignity or El Karama [Aymene HARKATI] Ennour El Djazairi Party (Algerian Radiance Party) or PED [Badreddine BELBAZ] Front for Justice and Development or El Adala [Abdallah DJABALLAH] Future Front or El Mostakbel [Abdelaziz BELAID] Islamic Renaissance Movement or Ennahda Movement [Mohamed DOUIBI] Justice and Development Front or FJD [Abdellah DJABALLAH] Movement of National Construction (Harakat El-Binaa El-Watani) [Abdelkader BENGRINA] Movement of National Understanding or MEN Movement for National Reform or Islah [Filali GHOUINI] Movement of Society for Peace or MSP [Abderrazak MAKRI] National Democratic Rally (Rassemblement National Democratique) or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA] National Front for Social Justice or FNJS [Khaled BOUNEDJEMA] National Liberation Front or FLN [Mohamed DJEMAI] National Party for Solidarity and Development or PNSD [Dalila YALAQUI] National Reform Movement or Islah [Djahid YOUNSI] National Republican Alliance or ANR [Belkacem SAHLI] New Dawn Party or PFJ [Tahar BENBAIBECHE] New Generation or Jil Jadid [Soufiane DJILALI] 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 [Hakim BELAHCEL] Union for Change and Progress or UCP [Zoubida Assoul] Union of Democratic and Social Forces or UFDS [Noureddine BAHBOUH] Vanguard of Freedoms (Talaie El Houriat) [Ali BENFLIS] Youth Party or PJ [Hamana BOUCHARMA] Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUNE] note: a law banning political parties based on religion was enacted in March 1997 |
International organization participation | ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CAN (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC | 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 Santiago CABANAS Ansorena (since 17 September 2018) chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100 FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670 email address and website: emb.washington@maec.es http://www.exteriores.gob.es/embajadas/washington/en/pages/inicio2.aspx consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico) | chief of mission: Ambassador Madjid BOUGUERRA (since 23 February 2015) chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-2800 FAX: [1] (202) 986-5906 email address and website: mail@algerianembassy.org https://www.algerianembassy.org/ consulate(s) general: New York |
Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Conrad TRIBBLE (since 20 January 2021) note - also accredited to Andorra embassy: Calle de Serrano, 75, 28006 Madrid mailing address: 8500 Madrid Place, Washington DC 20521-8500 telephone: [34] (91) 587-2200 FAX: [34] (91) 587-2303 email address and website: askACS@state.gov https://es.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Barcelona | chief of mission: ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Gautam RANA (since 20 January 2021) embassy: 05 Chemin Cheikh Bachir, Ibrahimi, El-Biar 16030, Alger mailing address: 6030 Algiers Place, Washington DC 20521-6030 telephone: [213] (0) 770-08-2000 FAX: [213] (0) 770-08-2299 email address and website: ACSAlgiers@state.gov https://dz.usembassy.gov/ |
Flag description | three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms is quartered to display the emblems of the traditional kingdoms of Spain (clockwise from upper left, Castile, Leon, Navarre, and Aragon) while Granada is represented by the stylized pomegranate at the bottom of the shield; the arms are framed by two columns representing the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar; the red scroll across the two columns bears the imperial motto of "Plus Ultra" (further beyond) referring to Spanish lands beyond Europe; the triband arrangement with the center stripe twice the width of the outer dates to the 18th century note: the red and yellow colors are related to those of the oldest Spanish kingdoms: Aragon, Castile, Leon, and Navarre | 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 Algerians believe the long crescent horns bring happiness |
National anthem | name: "Himno Nacional Espanol" (National Anthem of Spain) lyrics/music: no lyrics/unknown note: officially in use between 1770 and 1931, restored in 1939; the Spanish anthem is the first anthem to be officially adopted, but it has no lyrics; in the years prior to 1931 it became known as "Marcha Real" (The Royal March); it first appeared in a 1761 military bugle call book and was replaced by "Himno de Riego" in the years between 1931 and 1939; the long version of the anthem is used for the king, while the short version is used for the prince, prime minister, and occasions such as sporting events | 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 |
International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt |
National symbol(s) | Pillars of Hercules; national colors: red, yellow | five-pointed star between the extended horns of a crescent moon, fennec fox; national colors: green, white, red |
Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Spain dual citizenship recognized: only with select Latin American countries residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years for persons with no ties to Spain | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the mother must be a citizen of Algeria dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years |
Economy
Spain | Algeria | |
---|---|---|
Economy - overview | After a prolonged recession that began in 2008 in the wake of the global financial crisis, Spain marked the fourth full year of positive economic growth in 2017, with economic activity surpassing its pre-crisis peak, largely because of increased private consumption. The financial crisis of 2008 broke 16 consecutive years of economic growth for Spain, leading to an economic contraction that lasted until late 2013. In that year, the government successfully shored up its struggling banking sector - heavily exposed to the collapse of Spain's real estate boom - with the help of an EU-funded restructuring and recapitalization program. Until 2014, contraction in bank lending, fiscal austerity, and high unemployment constrained domestic consumption and investment. The unemployment rate rose from a low of about 8% in 2007 to more than 26% in 2013, but labor reforms prompted a modest reduction to 16.4% in 2017. High unemployment strained Spain's public finances, as spending on social benefits increased while tax revenues fell. Spain's budget deficit peaked at 11.4% of GDP in 2010, but Spain gradually reduced the deficit to about 3.3% of GDP in 2017. Public debt has increased substantially - from 60.1% of GDP in 2010 to nearly 96.7% in 2017. Strong export growth helped bring Spain's current account into surplus in 2013 for the first time since 1986 and sustain Spain's economic growth. Increasing labor productivity and an internal devaluation resulting from moderating labor costs and lower inflation have improved Spain's export competitiveness and generated foreign investor interest in the economy, restoring FDI flows. In 2017, the Spanish Government's minority status constrained its ability to implement controversial labor, pension, health care, tax, and education reforms. The European Commission expects the government to meet its 2017 budget deficit target and anticipates that expected economic growth in 2018 will help the government meet its deficit target. Spain's borrowing costs are dramatically lower since their peak in mid-2012, and increased economic activity has generated a modest level of inflation, at 2% in 2017. | Algeria's economy remains dominated by the state, a legacy of the country's socialist post-independence 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, pursuing an explicit import substitution policy. Hydrocarbons have long been the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 30% of GDP, 60% of budget revenues, and nearly 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the 10th-largest reserves of natural gas in the world - including the 3rd-largest reserves of shale gas - and is the 6th-largest gas exporter. It ranks 16th in proven oil reserves. Hydrocarbon exports enabled Algeria to maintain macroeconomic stability, amass large foreign currency reserves, and maintain low external debt while global oil prices were high. With lower oil prices since 2014, Algeria's foreign exchange reserves have declined by more than half and its oil stabilization fund has decreased from about $20 billion at the end of 2013 to about $7 billion in 2017, which is the statutory minimum. Declining oil prices have also reduced the government's ability to use state-driven growth to distribute rents and fund generous public subsidies, and the government has been under pressure to reduce spending. Over the past three years, the government has enacted incremental increases in some taxes, resulting in modest increases in prices for gasoline, cigarettes, alcohol, and certain imported goods, but it has refrained from reducing subsidies, particularly for education, healthcare, and housing programs. Algiers has increased protectionist measures since 2015 to limit its import bill and encourage domestic production of non-oil and gas industries. Since 2015, the government has imposed additional restrictions on access to foreign exchange for imports, and import quotas for specific products, such as cars. In January 2018 the government imposed an indefinite suspension on the importation of roughly 850 products, subject to periodic review. President BOUTEFLIKA announced in fall 2017 that Algeria intends to develop its non-conventional energy resources. Algeria has struggled to develop non-hydrocarbon industries because of heavy regulation and an emphasis on state-driven growth. Algeria has not increased non-hydrocarbon exports, and hydrocarbon exports have declined because of field depletion and increased domestic demand. |
GDP (purchasing power parity) | $1,925,576,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,888,743,000,000 (2018 est.) $1,843,934,000,000 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $495.564 billion (2019 est.) $491.631 billion (2018 est.) $485.801 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
GDP - real growth rate | 1.95% (2019 est.) 2.43% (2018 est.) 2.97% (2017 est.) | 1.4% (2017 est.) 3.2% (2016 est.) 3.7% (2015 est.) |
GDP - per capita (PPP) | $40,903 (2019 est.) $40,360 (2018 est.) $39,575 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $11,511 (2019 est.) $11,642 (2018 est.) $11,737 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 2.6% (2017 est.) industry: 23.2% (2017 est.) services: 74.2% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 13.3% (2017 est.) industry: 39.3% (2017 est.) services: 47.4% (2017 est.) |
Population below poverty line | 20.7% (2018 est.) | 5.5% (2011 est.) |
Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 24% (2011) | lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 26.8% (1995) |
Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 0.7% (2019 est.) 1.6% (2018 est.) 1.9% (2017 est.) | 1.9% (2019 est.) 4.2% (2018 est.) 5.6% (2017 est.) |
Labor force | 19.057 million (2020 est.) | 10.859 million (2017 est.) |
Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 4.2% industry: 24% services: 71.7% (2009) | agriculture: 10.8% industry: 30.9% services: 58.4% (2011 est.) |
Unemployment rate | 14.13% (2019 est.) 15.25% (2018 est.) | 11.7% (2017 est.) 10.5% (2016 est.) |
Distribution of family income - Gini index | 34.7 (2017 est.) 32 (2005) | 27.6 (2011 est.) |
Budget | revenues: 498.1 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 539 billion (2017 est.) | revenues: 54.15 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 70.2 billion (2017 est.) |
Industries | textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism, clay and refractory products, footwear, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment | petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing |
Industrial production growth rate | 4% (2017 est.) | 0.6% (2017 est.) |
Agriculture - products | barley, milk, wheat, olives, grapes, tomatoes, pork, maize, oranges, sugar beet | potatoes, wheat, milk, watermelons, barley, onions, tomatoes, oranges, dates, vegetables |
Exports | $533.771 billion (2019 est.) $521.855 billion (2018 est.) $510.327 billion (2017 est.) | $34.37 billion (2017 est.) $29.06 billion (2016 est.) |
Exports - commodities | cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, delivery trucks, clothing and apparel (2019) | crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, fertilizers, ammonia (2019) |
Exports - partners | France 15%, Germany 11%, Portugal 8%, Italy 8%, United Kingdom 7%, United States 5% (2019) | Italy 13%, France 13%, Spain 12%, United States 7%, United Kingdom 7%, India 5%, South Korea 5% (2019) |
Imports | $463.145 billion (2019 est.) $459.742 billion (2018 est.) $441.197 billion (2017 est.) | $48.54 billion (2017 est.) $49.43 billion (2016 est.) |
Imports - commodities | crude petroleum, cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, natural gas, refined petroleum (2019) | refined petroleum, wheat, packaged medical supplies, milk, vehicle parts (2019) |
Imports - partners | Germany 13%, France 11%, China 8%, Italy 7% (2019) | China 18%, France 14%, Italy 8%, Spain 8%, Germany 5%, Turkey 5% (2019) |
Debt - external | $2,338,853,000,000 (2019 est.) $2,366,534,000,000 (2018 est.) | $5.574 billion (2019 est.) $5.666 billion (2018 est.) |
Exchange rates | euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.82771 (2020 est.) 0.90338 (2019 est.) 0.87789 (2018 est.) 0.7525 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) | Algerian dinars (DZD) per US dollar - 131.085 (2020 est.) 119.775 (2019 est.) 118.4617 (2018 est.) 100.691 (2014 est.) 80.579 (2013 est.) |
Fiscal year | calendar year | calendar year |
Public debt | 98.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 99% of GDP (2016 est.) | 27.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 20.4% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover central government debt as well as debt issued by subnational entities and intra-governmental debt |
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $69.41 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $63.14 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $97.89 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $114.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
Current Account Balance | $29.603 billion (2019 est.) $27.206 billion (2018 est.) | -$22.1 billion (2017 est.) -$26.47 billion (2016 est.) |
GDP (official exchange rate) | $1,393,351,000,000 (2019 est.) | $169.912 billion (2019 est.) |
Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 77.9 (2020) Starting a Business score: 86.9 (2020) Trading score: 100 (2020) Enforcement score: 70.9 (2020) | Overall score: 48.6 (2020) Starting a Business score: 78 (2020) Trading score: 38.4 (2020) Enforcement score: 54.8 (2020) |
Taxes and other revenues | 37.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 32.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -3.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -9.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | total: 32.5% male: 30.9% female: 34.5% (2019 est.) | total: 39.3% male: 33.1% female: 82% (2017 est.) |
GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 57.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 18.5% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 20.6% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.6% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 34.1% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -31.4% (2017 est.) | household consumption: 42.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 20.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 38.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 11.2% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 23.6% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -35.8% (2017 est.) |
Gross national saving | 22.9% of GDP (2019 est.) 22.4% of GDP (2018 est.) 22.2% of GDP (2017 est.) | 38.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 37.4% of GDP (2016 est.) 36.4% of GDP (2015 est.) |
Energy
Spain | Algeria | |
---|---|---|
Electricity - production | 258.6 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 66.89 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
Electricity - consumption | 239.5 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 55.96 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
Electricity - exports | 14.18 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 641 million kWh (2015 est.) |
Electricity - imports | 21.85 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 257 million kWh (2016 est.) |
Oil - production | 1,700 bbl/day (2018 est.) | 1.259 million bbl/day (2018 est.) |
Oil - imports | 1.325 million bbl/day (2017 est.) | 5,340 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Oil - exports | 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 756,400 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Oil - proved reserves | 150 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 12.2 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
Natural gas - proved reserves | 2.548 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) | 4.504 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) |
Natural gas - production | 36.81 million cu m (2017 est.) | 93.5 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - consumption | 31.27 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 41.28 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - exports | 2.888 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 53.88 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - imports | 34.63 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
Electricity - installed generating capacity | 105.9 million kW (2016 est.) | 19.27 million kW (2016 est.) |
Electricity - from fossil fuels | 47% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 96% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 14% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 7% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Electricity - from other renewable sources | 32% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - production | 1.361 million bbl/day (2017 est.) | 627,900 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - consumption | 1.296 million bbl/day (2017 est.) | 405,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - exports | 562,400 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 578,800 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - imports | 464,800 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 82,930 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Electricity access | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) | electrification - total population: 99.4% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 99.6% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 97% (2019) |
Telecommunications
Spain | Algeria | |
---|---|---|
Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 19,639,778 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41.54 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 4,635,217 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10.96 (2019 est.) |
Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 55,354,944 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117.09 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 47,081,131 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111.29 (2019 est.) |
Internet country code | .es | .dz |
Internet users | total: 42,478,990 percent of population: 86.11% (July 2018 est.) | total: 24,819,531 percent of population: 59.58% (July 2018 est.) |
Telecommunication systems | general assessment: well-developed and one of the largest telecom markets in Europe, with average mobile penetration for Europe; regulator has championed competition; LTE is nearly universal with shifts of service to 5G; operator joined government smart cities project; fixed-line broadband is backed by investment in fiber infrastructure; fiber broadband accounts for most of all fixed-line broadband connections; Chinese company Huawei contributes investment to the telecom sector; increased connectivity through submarine cable connection to Brazil; importer of broadcasting equipment from Europe (2021) (2020)domestic: fixed-line 42 per 100 and mobile-cellular 118 telephones per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 34; landing points for the MAREA, Tata TGN-Western Europe, Pencan-9, SAT-3/WASC, Canalink, Atlantis-2, Columbus -111, Estepona-Tetouan, FEA, Balalink, ORVAL and PENBAL-5 submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America, Asia, Southeast Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: Algeria has a steadily developing telecom infrastructure through sound regulatory measures and government policies aimed at providing Internet connections across the country, including underserved areas; mobile penetration and LTE services are growing steadily; in common with other markets in the region, mobile connections account for the vast majority of Internet accesses; well served by satellite and submarine cable connections; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2021) (2020)domestic: a limited network of fixed-lines with a teledensity of less than 11 telephones per 100 persons has been offset by the rapid increase in mobile-cellular subscribership; mobile-cellular teledensity was roughly 109 telephones per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 213; ALPAL-2 is a submarine telecommunications cable system in the Mediterranean Sea linking Algeria and the Spanish Balearic island of Majorca; ORVAL is a submarine cable to Spain; landing points for the TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/SeaMeWe-4 fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; MED cable connecting Algeria with France; microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; Algeria part of the 4,500 Km terrestrial Trans Sahara Backbone network which connects to other fiber networks in the region; Alcomstat-1 satellite offering telemedicine network (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 15,616,585 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33.03 (2019 est.) | total: 3,582,739 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8.47 (2019 est.) |
Broadcast media | a mixture of both publicly operated and privately owned TV and radio stations; overall, hundreds of TV channels are available including national, regional, local, public, and international channels; satellite and cable TV systems available; multiple national radio networks, a large number of regional radio networks, and a larger number of local radio stations; overall, hundreds of radio stations (2019) | 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 |
Transportation
Spain | Algeria | |
---|---|---|
Railways | total: 15,333 km (9,699 km electrified) (2017) standard gauge: 2,571 km 1.435-m gauge (2,571 km electrified) (2017) narrow gauge: 1,207 km 1.000-m gauge (400 km electrified) (2017) broad gauge: 11,333 km 1.668-m gauge (6,538 km electrified) (2017) mixed gauge: 190 km 1.668-m and 1.435m gage (190.1 km electrified); 28 km 0.914-m gauge (28 km electrified); 4 km 0.600-m gauge | total: 3,973 km (2014) standard gauge: 2,888 km 1.432-m gauge (283 km electrified) (2014) narrow gauge: 1,085 km 1.055-m gauge (2014) |
Roadways | total: 683,175 km (2011) paved: 683,175 km (includes 16,205 km of expressways) (2011) | total: 104,000 km (2015) paved: 71,656 km (2015) unpaved: 32,344 km (2015) |
Pipelines | 10481 km gas, 358 km oil, 4378 km refined products (2017) | 2600 km condensate, 16415 km gas, 3447 km liquid petroleum gas, 7036 km oil, 144 km refined products (2013) |
Ports and terminals | major seaport(s): Algeciras, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, Huelva, Tarragona, Valencia (all in Spain); Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (in the Canary Islands) container port(s) (TEUs): Algeciras (5,125,385), Barcelona (3,324,650), Valencia (5,439,827) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (import): Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, Huelva, Mugardos, Sagunto | major seaport(s): Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djendjene, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda LNG terminal(s) (export): Arzew, Bethioua, Skikda |
Merchant marine | total: 474 by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 36, oil tanker 25, other 412 (2020) | total: 114 by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 2, general cargo 11, oil tanker 11, other 89 (2020) |
Airports | total: 135 (2020) | total: 149 (2020) |
Airports - with paved runways | total: 102 (2020) over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 23 | total: 67 (2020) over 3,047 m: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 2 |
Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 33 (2020) 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 19 | total: 82 (2020) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 28 |
Heliports | 13 (2020) | 3 (2013) |
National air transport system | number of registered air carriers: 21 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 552 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 80,672,105 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,117,070,000 mt-km (2018) | number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 87 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 6,442,442 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 28.28 million mt-km (2018) |
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | EC | 7T |
Military
Spain | Algeria | |
---|---|---|
Military branches | Spanish Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito de Tierra), Spanish Navy (Armada Espanola, AE, includes Marine Corps), Spanish Air Force (Ejercito del Aire Espanola, EdA); Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) (2021) note: the Civil Guard is a military force with police duties (including coast guard) under both the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of the Interior; it also responds to the needs of the Ministry of Finance | Algerian People's National Army (ANP): Land Forces, Naval Forces (includes coast guard), Air Forces, Territorial Air Defense Forces, Republican Guard (under ANP, but responsible to the President), National Gendarmerie; Ministry of Interior: General Directorate of National Security (2021) |
Military service age and obligation | 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service by a Spanish citizen or legal immigrant, 2-3 year obligation; women allowed to serve in all SAF branches, including combat units; no conscription (abolished 2001), but Spanish Government retains right to mobilize citizens 19-25 years of age in a national emergency (2019) | 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; 19-30 years of age for compulsory service; conscript service obligation reduced from 18 to 12 months in 2014 (2019) |
Military expenditures - percent of GDP | 1.17% of GDP (2020 est.) 0.91% of GDP (2019) 0.93% of GDP (2018) 0.91% of GDP (2017) 0.81% of GDP (2016) | 6% of GDP (2019) 5.5% of GDP (2018) 5.8% of GDP (2017) 6.6% of GDP (2016) 6.3% of GDP (2015) |
Military and security service personnel strengths | the Spanish Armed Forces have approximately 120,000 active duty troops (75,000 Army; 25,000 Navy, inc about 5,000 marines; 20,000 Air Force); 80,000 Guardia Civil (2021) | the Algerian People's National Army (ANP) has approximately 130,000 total active personnel (110,000 Army; 6,000 Navy; 14,000 Air Force); estimated 140,000 National Gendarmerie (information varies widely) (2021) |
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the inventory of the Spanish military is comprised of domestically-produced and imported Western weapons systems; France, Germany, and the US are the leading suppliers of military hardware since 2010; Spain's defense industry manufactures land, air, and sea weapons systems and is integrated within the European defense-industrial sector (2020) | the ANP's inventory includes mostly Russian-sourced equipment; since 2010, Russia is the leading supplier of armaments to Algeria, followed by China and Germany (2020) |
Transnational Issues
Spain | Algeria | |
---|---|---|
Disputes - international | in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the Government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; after voters in the UK chose to leave the EU in a June 2016 referendum, Spain again proposed shared sovereignty of Gibraltar; UK officials rejected Spain's joint sovereignty proposal; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; both countries claim Isla Perejil (Leila Island); Morocco serves as the primary launching site of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa; Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz | Algeria and many other states reject Moroccan administration of Western Sahara; the Polisario Front, exiled in Algeria, represents the "Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic" which Algeria recognizes; the Algerian-Moroccan land border remains closed; dormant disputes include Libyan claims of about 32,000 sq km of southeastern Algeria and the National Liberation Front's (FLN) assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco.
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Refugees and internally displaced persons | refugees (country of origin): 14,133 (Syria) (2019); 415,000 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2021) stateless persons: 5,914 (2020) note: 227,332 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-August 2021) | refugees (country of origin): more than 100,000 (Sahrawi, mostly living in Algerian-sponsored camps in the southwestern Algerian town of Tindouf) (2018); 7,757 (Syria) (2019) |
Terrorism
Spain | Algeria | |
---|---|---|
Terrorist Group(s) | Basque Fatherland and Liberty (disbanded 2018); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa'ida note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T | al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) - Algeria; al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix T |
Environment
Spain | Algeria | |
---|---|---|
Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 9.48 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 244 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 36.94 megatons (2020 est.) | particulate matter emissions: 35.17 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 150.01 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 49.94 megatons (2020 est.) |
Total water withdrawal | municipal: 4.89 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 5.966 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 20.36 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 3.6 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 191 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 6.671 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 0.02% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 0.1% of GDP (2018 est.) |
Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 20.151 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 3,393,428 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16.8% (2015 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 12,378,740 tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 990,299 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8% (2013 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook