BASICS
Short facts

Algeria is a Sunni Muslim country, and has three languages, Arabic, French, and Berber (the latter consists of several languages, that all are related). The indigenous population is Arabs and Berbers. French is used as a language of elitist activities, and has since long been used in universities, research, and journalism. This is a process that is being reversed now, but as Arabic is intended to take the place of French, Berbers are often negative to the process.
Algeria has been a country of better living conditions than what has been prevalent in North Africa, but with heavy corruption and unsuccessful politics, living conditions worsened in the 1980s, leading up to today's situation of civil strife and terrorism. Presently, the government side seems to have the upper hand.
The Algerian dinar is divided into 100 centimes. Notes are 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 dinars. Most coins have little value, but the 5 and 10 (yes there is an overlap, here) are still much in use. Current official exchange rates are US$1=54 dinars, and 100 dinars=US$1,85, but there is a big black market.
Algeria has had relatively good freedom for its inhabitants, and the position of women has been stronger than actual numbers in statistics indicate.
Algeria is rich from the side of nature, with good capacities for oil production, agriculture, forestry, and tourism. Apart from oil production, Algeria is counted for still having a large capacity of increasing its production level, as well as diversifying. The country is not over-populated, but suffers from having around 80-90% of its territory inside the Sahara Desert, an area that can be exploited more only after intense measures.