2001 Edition

Administrative divisions

36 districts (rrethe, singular - rreth) and 1 municipality* (bashki); Berat, Bulqize, Delvine, Devoll (Bilisht), Diber (Peshkopi), Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Gramsh, Has (Krume), Kavaje, Kolonje (Erseke), Korce, Kruje, Kucove, Kukes, Kurbin, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje, Malesi e Madhe (Koplik), Mallakaster (Ballsh), Mat (Burrel), Mirdite (Rreshen), Peqin, Permet, Pogradec, Puke, Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar (Corovode), Tepelene, Tirane (Tirana), Tirane* (Tirana), Tropoje (Bajram Curri), Vlore note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Age structure

0-14 years: 29.53% (male 536,495; female 500,026) 15-64 years: 63.48% (male 1,073,351; female 1,155,115) 65 years and over: 6.99% (male 107,476; female 138,021) (2001 est.)

Agriculture - products

wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products

Airports

11 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2000 est.)

Area

total: 28,748 sq km land: 27,398 sq km water: 1,350 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maryland

Background

In 1990 Albania ended 44 years of xenophobic communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven difficult as corrupt governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, a dilapidated infrastructure, widespread gangsterism, and disruptive political opponents. International observers judged local elections in 2000 to be acceptable and a step toward democratic development, but serious deficiencies remain to be corrected before the the 2001 parliamentary elections. Albania Geography

Birth rate

19.01 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Budget

revenues: $393 million expenditures: $676 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Capital

Tirana

Climate

mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter

Coastline

362 km

Constitution

a new constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998; note - the opposition Democratic Party boycotted the vote

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

Currency

lek (ALL)

Currency code

ALL

Death rate

6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Debt - external

$1 billion (2000)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph LIMPRECHT embassy: Rruga Elbasanit Labinoti 103, Tirana mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100(A), APO AE 09624 telephone: [355] (42) 32875, 33520

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Petrit BUSHATI chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942

Disputes - international

the Albanian Government supports protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians outside of its borders but has downplayed them to further its primary foreign policy goal of regional cooperation; Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Yugoslavia; Albanians in The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs, and representation in government

Economic aid - recipient

$NA; aid for energy from China, Germany, Norway (2000)

Economy - overview

Poor by European standards, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more open-market economy. The economy rebounded in 1993-95 after a severe depression accompanying the end of the previous centrally planned system in 1990 and 1991. However, a weakening of government resolve to maintain stabilization policies in the election year of 1996 contributed to renewal of inflationary pressures, spurred by the budget deficit which exceeded 12% of GDP. The collapse of financial pyramid schemes in early 1997 - which had attracted deposits from a substantial portion of Albania's population - triggered severe social unrest which led to more than 1,500 deaths, widespread destruction of property, and a 7% drop in GDP. The government has taken measures to curb violent crime and to revive economic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by remittances from some 20% of the labor force that works abroad, mostly in Greece and Italy. These remittances supplement GDP and help offset the large foreign trade deficit. Most agricultural land was privatized in 1992, substantially improving peasant incomes. In 1998, Albania recovered the 7% drop in GDP of 1997 and pushed ahead by 8% in 1999 and by 7.5% in 2000. International aid helped defray the high costs of receiving and returning refugees from the Kosovo conflict. Privatization scored some successes in 2000, but other reforms lagged.

Electricity - consumption

5.379 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

100 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

600 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production

5.332 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 3.81% hydro: 96.19% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,753 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Albanian 95%, Greeks 3%, other 2% (Vlachs, Gypsies, Serbs, and Bulgarians) (1989 est.) note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization)

Exchange rates

leke per US dollar - 146.08 (December 2000),143.71 (2000) 137.69 (1999), 150.63 (1998), 148.93 (1997), 104.50 (1996); note - leke is the plural of lek

Executive branch

chief of state: President of the Republic Rexhep MEIDANI (since 24 July 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Ilir META (since 29 October 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and approved by the president elections: president elected by the People's Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 24 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Rexhep MEIDANI elected president; People's Assembly vote by number - total votes 122, for 110, against 3, abstained 2, invalid 7

Exports

$310 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco

Exports - partners

Italy 67%, Greece 15%, Germany 5%, Austria 2%, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 2% (2000)

FAX

[1] (202) 628-7342

[355] (42) 32222

Fiscal year

calendar year Albania Communications

Flag description

red with a black two-headed eagle in the center Albania Economy

GDP

purchasing power parity - $10.5 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 55% industry: 24% services: 21% (2000)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7.5% (2000 est.)

Geographic coordinates

41 00 N, 20 00 E

Geography - note

strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea) Albania People

Government type

emerging democracy

Heliports

1 (2000 est.) Albania Military

Highways

total: 18,000 km paved: 5,400 km unpaved: 12,600 km (1998 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.01% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 100 (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Illicit drugs

increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to a far lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; limited opium and cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and rapidly expanding in Europe

Imports

$1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals

Imports - partners

Italy 37%, Greece 28%, Turkey 6%, Germany 6%, Bulgaria 3% (2000)

Independence

28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)

Industrial production growth rate

9% (2000 est.)

Industries

food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower

Infant mortality rate

39.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (2000 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT (associate), BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.al

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

7 (2000)

Internet users

2,500 (2000) Albania Transportation

Irrigated land

3,410 sq km (1993 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term)

Labor force

1.692 million (including 352,000 emigrant workers and 261,000 domestically unemployed) (1994 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 50%, industry and services 50%

Land boundaries

total: 720 km border countries: Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 151 km, Yugoslavia 287 km

Land use

arable land: 21% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 15% forests and woodland: 38% other: 21% (1993 est.)

Languages

Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek

Legal system

has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (155 seats; most members are elected by direct popular vote and some by proportional vote for four-year terms) elections: last held 29 June 1997 (next held 24 June 2001, 2nd round 8 July 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - PS 53.36%, PD 25.33%, PSD 2.5%, PBDNJ 2.78%, PBK 2.36%, PAD 2.85%, PR 2.25%, PLL 3.09%, PDK 1.00%, PBSD 0.84%; seats by party - PS 101, PD 27, PSD 8, PBDNJ 4, PBK 3, PAD 2, PR 2, PLL 2, PDK 1, PBSD 1, PUK 1, independents 3

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.83 years male: 69.01 years female: 74.87 years (2001 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 9 and over can read and write total population: 93% (1997 est.) male: NA% female: NA% Albania Government

Location

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 NM

Merchant marine

total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,797 GRT/26,324 DWT ships by type: cargo 9 (2000 est.)

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Interior Ministry Troops, Border Guards

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$42 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.5% (FY99) Albania Transnational Issues

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 870,768 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 712,763 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age

19 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 35,792 (2001 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1912)

Nationality

noun: Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; drought

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, timber, nickel, hydropower

Net migration rate

-3.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 145 km; petroleum products 55 km; natural gas 64 km (1991)

Political parties and leaders

Albanian National Front (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Abaz ERMENJI]; Albanian Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Albanian Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albania Workers Party) [Fatos NANO, chairman]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Zef BUSHATI]; Democratic Alliance or PAD [Neritan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Group of Reformist Democrats [Leonard NDOKA]; Liberal Union Party [Teodor LACO]; note - Teodor LACO of the Liberal Union Party was leader of the Social Democratic Union of Albania or PBSD; Movement of Legality Party or PLL [Nderim KUPI]; OMONIA [Vagjelis DULES]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQUIRI]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Unity for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vasil MELO, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

3,510,484 (July 2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

19.6% (1996 est.)

Population growth rate

0.88% (2001 est.)

Ports and harbors

Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore

Radio broadcast stations

AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios

810,000 (1997)

Railways

total: 447 km standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2001)

Religions

Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10% note: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Telephone system

general assessment: Albania has the poorest telephone service in Europe with fewer than two telephones per 100 inhabitants; it is doubtful that every village has telephone service domestic: obsolete wire system; no longer provides a telephone for every village; in 1992, following the fall of the communist government, peasants cut the wire to about 1,000 villages and used it to build fences international: inadequate; international traffic carried by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece

Telephones - main lines in use

87,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

3,100 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

9 (plus 264 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions

405,000 (1997)

Terrain

mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast

Total fertility rate

2.32 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

16% (2000 est.) officially; may be as high as 25%

Waterways

43 km note: includes Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake Ohrid, and Lake Prespa (1990)