Population. – The population of Algeria, according to the last two censuses (1931 and 1936) is represented in the table at the foot of the page.
In the five years the total population has therefore increased by 10% or more; the European one increased by 12%. The European nucleus of Algeria is the largest in all of Africa after that of the South African Union; according to the 1936 census, the French made up 87% (including Jews). The most European city is Oran where the European element (152,603) exceeds three quarters of the total population; followed by Algiers (182,503), Constantina, Bona, Philippeville, Sidi-bel-Abbes. Three-fifths of Europeans live in major centers.
Economic conditions. – The following table of plant products, based on data from 1935, can be compared with that shown on p. 456 of vol. II.
What you get immediately is the enormous increase in wine production, which has almost tripled in a decade. Since two thirds of the wine is exported, Algeria is today the largest exporting country in the world. Exports of first fruits and also that of alpha have increased; oil and citrus fruits show significant decreases and the production of dates appears enormously decayed.
The mining production is rather on the increase for iron and phosphates: in 1935 38 thousand tons were extracted. of coal, 1,675,000 of iron ore, 600,000 of phosphates; on the other hand, the production of lead and zinc is reduced to almost nothing. For Algeria 2019, please check philosophynearby.com.
The livestock patrimony shows a significant increase for cattle and especially for sheep (5,845,000) which feed a current of export of live animals (846,000 heads in 1935).
As for the foreign trade (p. 457) of Algeria, on the average of the five-year period 1931-35, imports were about 3,800 million francs, exports of 3,100 million. France enters for more than 5/6 both as an importer and as an exporter. The neighboring countries of French Africa follow, then Great Britain, Italy, the United States, etc.
Algeria has increased its railway network, which has risen to 4,884 km. Especially important is the connection with the Moroccan network (Tlemcen-Taza-Fez line) so that you can now go by rail from Tunis to Casablanca without interruption.
Ordinary roads add up to over 7000 km. Public car services arrive from Algiers to Tamanzhanet in the Hoggar crossing the northern Sahara; the track continues up to Gao.
Algiers and Oran are connected to France by air and two trans-Saharan postal airlines connect them with Guinea.
Finances. – In 1937, in the main elements of economic activity, the recovery of which the first signs had been seen in 1936 is accentuated. Tax revenue was favorably influenced by this and for the first time after 1919 the trade balance is in surplus; the balance of payments, on the other hand, remains in deficit due to the considerable outflows of capital connected with the disturbances in the French money market.
The monetary unit is the Algerian franc linked to the French one, whose events he followed. The circulation is made up of notes issued by the Bank of Algeria (created in 1851), which has the privilege of issuing (within the maximum limit of 3 billion) and the obligation to hold a gold reserve equal to 33% of the commitments. at sight. At the end of 1937 the notes amounted to 2635 million and the gold reserve was 212 (the reserves were revalued on the basis of the devaluation of the franc, and the capital gains were attributed to the Treasury).