ALGERIA FACTS & FIGURES Covering an area of around 2,382 thousand square kilometres, the Republic of Algeria is, territorially, OPEC’s largest Member Country and the largest country in Africa. It is situated in the north of the continent, and shares borders with Morocco, the Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya and Tunisia. To the north is the Mediterranean Sea. The country achieved political independence in 1962 after more than a century of colonial rule by France. Algeria’s struggle for independence was one of the most bitter in Africa’s colonial history.
Algeria has a population of around 40 million, with over 3.5 million living in the capital, Algiers.
Arabic is the official language, while French and Berber Tamazight are also spoken. The currency is the dinar. The oil and gas sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting for about 35 per cent of the gross domestic product, and two-thirds of total exports. The country’s other natural resources include iron ore, phosphates, uranium and lead.
DID YOU KNOW? Algeria was first known as the Kingdom of Numidia, whose most famous kings were Syphax, Massinissa and Jugurta. They ruled during the second and third century BC. Algeria’s first commercial oil discovery was Edjelleh in 1956, followed immediately by the Hassi Messaoud oil field the same year. Production began in 1958.
KEY OIL & GAS FACTS FOR ALGERIA
3,949
161,104
29,054
GDP per capita ($)
GDP at market prices (million $)
Value of exports (million $)
18,638
-26,314
12,200
Value of petroleum exports (million $)
Current account balance (million $)
Proven crude oil reserves (million barrels)
4,504.0
1,146.3
93,152.0
Proven natural gas reserves (billion cu. m.)
Crude oil production (1,000 b/d)
Marketed production of natural gas (million cu. m.)
650.8
622.1
399.0
Refinery capacity (1,000 b/cd)
Output of refined petroleum products (1,000 b/d)
Oil demand (1,000 b/d)
668.3
541.1
53,974.0
Crude oil exports (1,000 b/d)
Exports of petroleum products (1,000 b/d)
Natural gas exports (million cu.m.)
- b/d (barrels per day) - cu. m. (cubic metres) - b/cd (barrels per calendar day)
To get the latest news on the oil and gas industry in Algeria visit the Lyes Boudiaf website at www.lyesboudiaf.dz and www.lyesboudiaf.com
Source: Annual Statistical Bulletin 2017