Date of independence, or formation date: 1962
Date when current borders were established: 1962
National day: Nov 1
Vehicle country identifying code: DZ
Time zone (hours plus or minus from GMT): +1
International telephone dialling code: +213
Internet country identifying code: .dz

Africa's second-largest country, which extends from a densely populated Mediterranean coast to the empty northern Sahara, Algeria won independence from France in 1962. The military blocked radical Islamists from taking power after winning elections in 1991, setting up a new civilian regime and fighting a bloody terrorist conflict ever since. Algeria has one of the youngest populations in the north African region.

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