2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Qarku i Beratit, Qarku i Dibres, Qarku i Durresit, Qarku i Elbasanit, Qarku i Fierit, Qarku i Gjirokastres, Qarku i Korces, Qarku i Kukesit, Qarku i Lezhes, Qarku i Shkodres, Qarku i Tiranes, Qarku i Vlores

Age structure

0-14 years: 28.1% (male 520,714; female 486,911) 15-64 years: 64.6% (male 1,115,887; female 1,196,477) 65 years and over: 7.3% (male 115,754; female 146,462) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

12 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

over 3,047 m

1

total

8 914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m

4 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

Area

land

27,398 sq km

total

28,748 sq km

water

1,350 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maryland

Background

Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 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 legislative elections in 2001 to be acceptable and a step toward democratic development, but identified serious deficiencies that should be addressed through reforms in the Albanian electoral code. Geography Albania

Birth rate

18.2 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$1.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $368 million (2002 est.)

revenues

$697 million

Capital

Tirana

Climate

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

Coastline

362 km

Constitution

a 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

former

People's Socialist Republic of Albania

local long form

Republika e Shqiperise

local short form

Shqiperia

Currency

lek (ALL)

Currency code

ALL

Death rate

6.48 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$784 million (2000)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador James F. JEFFREY

embassy

Rruga Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana

mailing address

U. S. Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Washington, DC 20521-9510

telephone

[355] (4) 247285

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Dr. Fatos TARIFA

Disputes - international

the Albanian Government calls for the protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians outside its borders in the Kosovo region of Serbia and Montenegro, and in the northern Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, while continuing to seek regional cooperation; some outside ethnic Albanian groups voice union with Albania

Economy - overview

Poor and backward by European standards, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. The government has taken measures to curb violent crime and to spur economic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by remittances from abroad of $400-$600 million annually, mostly from Greece and Italy; this helps offset the sizable trade deficit. Agriculture, which accounts for half of GDP, is held back because of frequent drought and the need to modernize equipment and consolidate small plots of land. Severe energy shortages are forcing small firms out of business, increasing unemployment, scaring off foreign investors, and spurring inflation. The government plans to boost energy imports to relieve the shortages. In addition, the government is moving to improve the poor national road network, a long-standing barrier to sustained economic growth.

Electricity - consumption

5.898 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

221 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

1.2 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

5.289 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

2.9%

hydro

97.1%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,753 m

lowest point

Adriatic Sea 0 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%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Gypsy, Serb, and Bulgarian) (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 - NA (2002), 143.49 (2001), 143.71 (2000), 137.69 (1999), 150.63 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and approved by the president

chief of state

President of the Republic Alfred MOISIU (since 24 July 2002)

election results

Alfred MOISIU elected president; People's Assembly vote by number - total votes 116, for 97, against 19

elections

president elected by the People's Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 24 June 2002 (next to be held NA June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Fatos NANO (since 31 July 2002)

Exports

$340 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Italy 76.6%, Germany 5.6%, Greece 2.7% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 628-7342

[355] (4) 232222

chancery

2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

[1] (202) 223-4942

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Albania

Flag description

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $15.69 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

49%

industry

27%

services

24% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7.3% (2002 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) People Albania

Government type

emerging democracy

Heliports

1 (2002) Military Albania

Highways

paved

5,400 km

total

18,000 km

unpaved

12,600 km (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 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 growing cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and rapidly expanding in Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with regional trafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal aliens This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$1.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals

Imports - partners

Italy 39.4%, Greece 24.5%, Turkey 6%, Germany 5% (2002)

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

female

34.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

39.68 deaths/1,000 live births

total

37.28 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.al

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

10 (2001)

Internet users

12,000 (2001) Transportation Albania

Irrigated land

3,400 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

1.283 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers and 261,000 domestically unemployed) (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 50%, industry and services 50%

Land boundaries

border countries

Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km

total

720 km

Land use

arable land

21.09%

other

74.46% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

4.45%

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 (140 seats; 100 are elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote for four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - PS 41.5%, PD and coalition allies 36.8%, NDP 5.2%, PSD 3.6%, PBDNJ 2.6%, PASH 2.6%, PAD 2.5%; seats by party - PS 73, PD and coalition allies 46, NDP 6, PSD 4, PBDNJ 3, PASH 3, PAD 3, independents 2

elections

last held 24 June 2001 with subsequent rounds on 8 July, 22 July, 29 July, 19 August 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005)

Life expectancy at birth

female

75.42 years (2003 est.)

male

69.53 years

total population

72.37 years

Literacy

definition

age 9 and over can read and write

female

79.5% (2003 est.) Government Albania

male

93.3%

total population

86.5%

Location

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

28.1 years (2002)

male

24.8 years

total

26.5 years

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 1, cargo 11, roll on/roll off 1, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Croatia 1, Honduras 1 (2002 est.)

total

13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 21,954 GRT/34,412 DWT

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$56.5 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.49% (FY02) Transnational Issues Albania

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

906,168 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

742,837 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

19 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

36,985 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1912)

Nationality

adjective

Albanian

noun

Albanian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

30 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

30 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

3.316 billion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

-1.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

ODA

$315 million (top donors were Italy, EU, Germany) (2000 est.)

Oil - consumption

22,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

5,952 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

185.5 million bbl (37257)

Pipelines

gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Agrarian Party of Albania or PASH [Lufter XHUVELI]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Zef BUSHATI]; Communist Party of Albania or PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance or PAD [Nerltan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality Movement Party or PLL [Guri DUROLLARI]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Abaz ERMENJI]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQUIRI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social Democracy or DS [Paskal MILO]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albanian Party of Labor) [Fatos NANO]; Union for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vasil MELO]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Omonia [Vangjel DULES]

Population

3,582,205 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

30% (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

1.03% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore

Radio broadcast stations

AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios

1 million (2001)

Railways

standard gauge

447 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)

total

447 km

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

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Telephone system

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

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

international

inadequate; international traffic carried by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece

Telephones - main lines in use

120,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

250,000 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

3 (plus 58 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions

700,000 (2001)

Terrain

mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast

Total fertility rate

2.22 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

17% officially; may be as high as 30% (2001 est.)

Waterways

43 km

note

includes Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake Ohrid, and Lake Prespa (1990)