Fish catch per year: 100,275 tonnes

Oil production and reserves: 1.66m b/d (reserves 9.2bn barrels)

Estimated livestock resources: 17.3m sheep, 3.2m goats, 1.6m cattle, 110m chickens

Main mineral resources: Oil, natural gas, iron, phosphates, lead, zinc, silver, copper, gold

ELECTRICITY GENERATION

Crude oil and natural gas, Algeria's main resources, have been produced since the 1950s. Algeria also has diverse minerals, including iron ore, zinc, silver, copper ore, lead, gold, and phosphates. In the 1960s and 1970s, Algeria sought to become a major manufacturer, with investments in building materials, refined products, and steel; none of these sectors are competitive on world markets. Agriculture employs one-quarter of Algeria's workforce, but its importance to the economy is diminishing. Forests cover less than 1% of the land. Most are brushwood, but some areas include cork oak trees, Aleppo pine, evergreen oak, and cedar. Algeria has a large fishing fleet. Sardines, anchovies, tuna, and shellfish are the major commercial catches.

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