Doctors: 1 per 1176 people

Major causes of death: Respiratory, heart, and cerebrovascular diseases, malaria

Since 1974 all Algerians have had the right to free health care. Primary health care is rudimentary outside main cities. Because the formal health care system is overburdened, many people turn to alternative forms of medicine. The infant mortality rate has risen recently and is now higher than in the other coastal states of north Africa.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004