Introduction

Background: |  |

`
Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, but was conquered by Italy in 1939. Communist partisans took over the country in 1944. Albania allied itself first with the USSR (until 1960), and then with China (to 1978). In the early 1990s, Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven challenging as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a dilapidated physical infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks, and combative political opponents. Albania has made progress in its democratic development since first holding multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain. International observers judged elections to be largely free and fair since the restoration of political stability following the collapse of pyramid schemes in 1997; however, there have been claims of electoral fraud in every one of Albania's post-communist elections. The 2009 general elections resulted in no single party gaining a majority of the 140 seats in Parliament, and the Movement for Socialist Integration (LSI) and the Democratic Party (DP) combined to form a coalition government, the first such in Albania's history. The Socialist Party (SP) has, in effect, boycotted Parliament since it convened in September 2009 and has called for investigations into alleged electoral fraud in the June 2009 elections. Albania joined NATO in April 2009 and is a potential candidate for EU accession. Although Albania's economy continues to grow, the country is still one of the poorest in Europe, hampered by a large informal economy and an inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure.
`

Geography

Location: |  |
`Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece in the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`41 00 N, 20 00 E`
Map references: |  |
`Europe`
Area: |  |
`total: 28,748 sq km country comparison to the world: 144 land: 27,398 sq km water: 1,350 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`slightly smaller than Maryland`
Land boundaries: |  |
`total: 717 km border countries: Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Montenegro 172 km, Kosovo 112 km`
Coastline: |  |
`362 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation`
Climate: |  |
`mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter`
Terrain: |  |
`mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 20.1% permanent crops: 4.21% other: 75.69% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`3,530 sq km (2003)`
Total renewable water resources: |  |
`41.7 cu km (2001)`
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic / industrial / agricultural): |  |
`total: 1.71 cu km/yr (27%/11%/62%) per capita: 546 cu m/yr (2000)`
Natural hazards: |  |
`destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought`
Environment - current issues: |  |
`deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents`
Environment - international agreements: |  |
`party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements`
Geography - note: |  |
`strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)`

People

Population: |  |
`2,994,667 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 136`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 21.4% (male 337,364/female 303,669) 15-64 years: 68.1% (male 996,666/female 1,043,472) 65 years and over: 10.5% (male 148,151/female 165,345) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 30.4 years male: 29.2 years female: 31.6 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`0.267% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 171`
Birth rate: |  |
`12.15 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 164`
Death rate: |  |
`6.15 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 159`
Net migration rate: |  |
`-3.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 181`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 52% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`TIRANA (capital) 433,000 (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.118 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 14.61 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 122 male: 16.23 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 77.41 years country comparison to the world: 60 male: 74.82 years female: 80.3 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`1.48 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 187`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`NA`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 96% of population rural: 98% of population total: 97% of population unimproved: urban: 4% of population rural: 2% of population total: 3% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 98% of population rural: 98% of population total: 98% of population unimproved: urban: 2% of population rural: 2% of population total: 2% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Roma (Gypsy), Serb, Macedonian, Bulgarian) (1989 est.) note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization)`
Religions: |  |
`Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10% note: percentages are estimates; there are no available current statistics on religious affiliation; all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice`
Languages: |  |
`Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach, Romani, Slavic dialects`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: age 9 and over can read and write total population: 98.7% male: 99.2% female: 98.3% (2001 census)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2004)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`NA`

Government

Country name: |  |
`conventional long form: Republic of Albania conventional short form: Albania local long form: Republika e Shqiperise local short form: Shqiperia former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania`
Government type: |  |
`parliamentary democracy`
Capital: |  |
`name: Tirana (Tirane) geographic coordinates: 41 19 N, 19 49 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October`
Administrative divisions: |  |
`12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane, Vlore`
Independence: |  |
`28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)`
National holiday: |  |
`Independence Day, 28 November (1912) also known as Flag Day`
Constitution: |  |
`approved by parliament 21 October 1998; adopted by popular referendum 22 November 1998; promulgated 28 November 1998`
Legal system: |  |
`civil law system except in the northern rural areas where customary law known as the "Code of Leke" prevails`
International law organization participation: |  |
`has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction`
Suffrage: |  |
`18 years of age; universal`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: President of the Republic Bamir TOPI (since 24 July 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Sali BERISHA (since 10 September 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, nominated by the president, and approved by parliament
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
elections: president elected by three-fifths the Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); four election rounds held between 8 and 20 July 2007 (next election to be held in 2012); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Bamir TOPI elected president; Assembly vote, fourth round (three-fifths majority, 84 votes, required): Bamir TOPI 85 votes, Neritan CEKA 5 votes
`

Legislative branch: |  |

`
unicameral Assembly or Kuvendi (140 deputies; 100 deputies elected directly in single member electoral zones with an approximate number of voters; 40 deputies elected from multi-name lists of parties or party coalitions according to their respective order; elected for a 4-year term)
elections: last held on 28 June 2009 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PD 68, PS 65, LSI 4, other 3
`

Judicial branch: |  |
`Constitutional Court consists of 9 members appointed by the president with the consent of the Assembly who serve 9-year terms (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term); the High Court members appointed by the president with the consent of the Assembly for a 9-year term; note - there are also courts of appeal and courts of first instance`
Political parties and leaders: |  |

`
Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; New Democracy Party or PDR [Genc POLIO]; Party for Justice and Integration or PDI [Tahir MUCHEDINI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social Democracy Party or PDS [Paskel MILO]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI [Ilir META]; Socialist Party or PS [Edi RAMA]; Unity for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vangjel DULE]
`

Political pressure groups and leaders: |  |
`Citizens Advocacy Office [Kreshnik SPAHIU]; Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania or KSSH [Kastriot MUCO]; Front for Albanian National Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI]; Mjaft Movement [Elton KACIDHJA]; Omonia [Ligorag KARAMELO]; Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA]`
International organization participation: |  |
`BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Gilbert GALANXHI chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942 FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342 consulate(s) general: New York`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Alexander ARVIZU embassy: Rruga e Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana mailing address: US Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510 telephone: [355] (4) 2247285 FAX: [355] (4) 2232222`
Flag description: |  |

`
red with a black two-headed eagle in the center; the design is claimed to be that of 15th-century hero George Castriota SKANDERBEG, who led a successful uprising against the Turks that resulted in a short-lived independence for some Albanian regions (1443-1478); an unsubstantiated explanation for the eagle symbol is the tradition that Albanians see themselves as descendants of the eagle; they refer to themselves as "Shkypetars," which translates as "sons of the eagle"
`

National anthem: |  |
`name: "Hymni i Flamurit" (Hymn to the Flag) lyrics/music: Aleksander Stavre DRENOVA/Ciprian PORUMBESCU note: adopted 1912`

Economy

Economy - overview: |  |

`
Albania, a formerly closed, centrally-planned state, is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. Macroeconomic growth averaged around 6% between 2004-08, but declined to about 3% in 2009-10. Inflation is low and stable. The government has taken measures to curb violent crime, and recently adopted a fiscal reform package aimed at reducing the large gray economy and attracting foreign investment. Remittances, a significant catalyst for economic growth have declined from 12-15% of GDP to 9% of GDP in 2009, mostly from Albanians residing in Greece and Italy; this helps offset the towering trade deficit. The agricultural sector, which accounts for almost half of employment but only about one-fifth of GDP, is limited primarily to small family operations and subsistence farming because of lack of modern equipment, unclear property rights, and the prevalence of small, inefficient plots of land. Energy shortages because of a reliance on hydropower, and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure contribute to Albania's poor business environment and lack of success in attracting new foreign investment needed to expand the country's export base. FDI is among the lowest in the region, but the government has embarked on an ambitious program to improve the business climate through fiscal and legislative reforms. The completion of a new thermal power plant near Vlore has helped diversify generation capacity, and plans to upgrade transmission lines between Albania and Montenegro and Kosovo would help relieve the energy shortages. Also, with help from EU funds, the government is taking steps to improve the poor national road and rail network, a long-standing barrier to sustained economic growth.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$23.86 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 $23.06 billion (2009 est.) $22.32 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars Albania has an informal, and unreported, sector that may be as large as 50% of official GDP`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$11.77 billion (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`3.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 3.3% (2009 est.) 7.7% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$8,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 $7,700 (2009 est.) $7,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 18.9% industry: 23.5% services: 57.6% (2010 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`1.06 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 141`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: 47.8% industry: 23% services: 29.2% (September 2010 est.)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`13.5% (September 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 13.8% (2009 est.) note: these are official rates, but actual rates may exceed 30% due to preponderance of near-subsistence farming`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`12.5% (2008 est.)`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 25.9% (2005)`
Distribution of family income - Gini index: |  |
`26.7 (2005) country comparison to the world: 126`
Investment (gross fixed): |  |
`27.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $3.205 billion expenditures: $3.571 billion (2010 est.)`
Public debt: |  |
`59.3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 59.7% of GDP (2009 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`3.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 3.7% (2009 est.)`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`5% (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 77 5.25% (31 December 2009)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`12.46% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 73 11.75% (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$2.566 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 $2.982 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$9.245 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 104 $9.136 billion (31 December 2008)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$7.701 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 $8.231 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$NA`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products`
Industries: |  |
`food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 114`
Electricity - production: |  |
`5.201 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 113`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`6.593 billion kWh country comparison to the world: 102 note: 35% of electricity is lost in the system as a result of transmission inefficiencies and theft (2009 est.)`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2009 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`1.884 billion kWh (2009 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`5,400 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 94`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`36,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 107`
Oil - exports: |  |
`748.9 bbl/day (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 122`
Oil - imports: |  |
`24,080 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 106`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`199.1 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 59`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`30 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 84`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`30 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 109`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 50`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`849.5 million cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 100`
Current account balance: |  |
`$-1.245 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 141 $-1.845 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports: |  |
`$1.55 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 137 $1.08 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco`
Exports - partners: |  |
`Italy 50.8%, Kosovo 6.2%, Turkey 5.9%, Greece 5.4%, China 5.5% (2010 est.)`
Imports: |  |
`$4.59 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 $4.53 billion (2009 est.)`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals`
Imports - partners: |  |
`Italy 28%, Greece 13%, China 6.3%, Turkey 5.6%, Germany 5.6% (2010 est.)`
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |  |
`$1.992 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 $2.37 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$2.81 billion (2009) country comparison to the world: 132 $1.55 billion (2004)`
Exchange rates: |  |
`leke (ALL) per US dollar - 104.08 (2010) 94.98 (2009) 79.546 (2008) 92.668 (2007) 98.384 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`363,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 108`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`4.162 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 102`
Telephone system: |  |

`
general assessment: despite new investment in fixed lines teledensity remains low with roughly 10 fixed lines per 100 people; mobile-cellular telephone use is widespread and generally effective
domestic: offsetting the shortage of fixed line capacity, mobile-cellular phone service has been available since 1996; by 2009, four companies were providing mobile services and mobile teledensity exceeded 130 per 100 persons; Internet broadband services initiated in 2005 but growth has been slow; Internet cafes are popular in Tirana and have started to spread outside the capital
international: country code - 355; submarine cable provides connectivity to Italy, Croatia, and Greece; the Trans-Balkan Line, a combination submarine cable and land fiber-optic system, provides additional connectivity to Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Turkey; international traffic carried by fiber-optic cable and, when necessary, by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece (2009)
`

Broadcast media: |  |

`
3 public television networks, one of which transmits by satellite to Albanian-language communities in neighboring countries; more than 60 private television stations operating; many viewers can pick up Italian and Greek TV broadcasts via terrestrial reception; cable TV service is available; 2 public radio networks and roughly 25 private radio stations; several international broadcasters are available (2010)
`

Internet country code: |  |
`.al`
Internet hosts: |  |
`15,098 (2010) country comparison to the world: 117`
Internet users: |  |
`1.3 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 91`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`5 (2010) country comparison to the world: 177`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)`
Airports - with unpaved runways: |  |
`total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)`
Heliports: |  |
`1 (2010)`
Pipelines: |  |
`gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2010)`
Railways: |  |
`total: 339 km country comparison to the world: 117 standard gauge: 339 km 1.435-m gauge (2010)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 18,000 km country comparison to the world: 116 paved: 7,020 km unpaved: 10,980 km (2002)`
Waterways: |  |
`41 km (on the Bojana River) (2010) country comparison to the world: 104`
Merchant marine: |  |
`total: 25 country comparison to the world: 93 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 23, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1) registered in other countries: 4 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Panama 3) (2010)`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`Joint Force Command (includes Land, Naval, and Aviation Brigade Commands), Joint Support Command (includes Logistic Command), Training and Doctrine Command (2010)`
Military service age and obligation: |  |
`19 years of age (2004)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 731,111 females age 16-49: 780,216 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 622,379 females age 16-49: 660,715 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 31,986 female: 29,533 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`1.49% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 102`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`none`
Illicit drugs: |  |

`
increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to a lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; limited opium and expanding cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and expanding in Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with regional trafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal aliens
`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011