%

_#_Religion: Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and
Jewish 1%

_#_Language: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects

_#_Literacy: 50% (male 63%, female 36%) age 15 and over can
read and write (1987)

_#_Labor force: 3,700,000; industry and commerce 40%, agriculture
24%, government 17%, services 10% (1984)

_#_Organized labor: 16-19% of labor force claimed; General Union of
Algerian Workers (UGTA) is the only labor organization and is
subordinate to the National Liberation Front

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria

_#_Type: republic

_#_Capital: Algiers

_#_Administrative divisions: 48 provinces (wilayat, 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

_#_Independence: 5 July 1962 (from France)

_#_Constitution: 19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976

_#_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

_#_National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 1 November (1954)

_#_Executive branch: president, prime minister, Council of Ministers
(cabinet)

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Assembly
(Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani)

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State--President Chadli BENDJEDID (since 7 February 1979);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Sid Ahmed GHOZALI (since
6 June 1991)

_#_Political parties and leaders:
National Liberation Front (FLN), Chadli BENDJEDID, president;
Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), Abassi MADANI;
the government established a multiparty system in September 1989 and as
of 31 December 1990 over 30 legal parties existed

_#_Suffrage: universal at age 18

_#_Elections:

President--last held on 22 December 1988 (next to be held December
1993); results--President BENDJEDID was reelecte