2004 Edition

Background

Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven difficult as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a dilapidated infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks with links to high government officials, and disruptive political opponents. International observers judged parliamentary elections in 2001 and local elections in 2003 to be acceptable and a step toward democratic development, but identified serious deficiencies. Many of these deficiencies have been addressed through bi-partisan changes to the electoral code in 2003 and 2005, but implementation of these changes will not be demonstrated until parliamentary elections in July 2005.

Area

land

27,398 sq km

total

28,748 sq km

water

1,350 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate

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

Coastline

362 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m

lowest point

Adriatic Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

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)

Irrigated land

3,400 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

Montenegro 287 km

border countries

Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and

total

720 km

Land use

arable land

21.09%

other

74.49% (2001)

permanent crops

4.42%

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

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower

Terrain

mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast

Age structure

0-14 years: 26.4% (male 489,363; female 446,586) 15-64 years: 65.3% (male 1,184,670; female 1,130,065) 65 years and over: 8.3% (male 135,177; female 158,947) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

15.08 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

5.02 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Roma (Gypsy), Serb, and Macedonian or Bulgarian) (1989 est.)

1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization)

note

in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

21.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

male

23.01 deaths/1,000 live births

total

22.31 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach, Romani, Slavic dialects

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.02 years (2004 est.)

male

74.37 years

total population

77.06 years

Literacy

definition

age 9 and over can read and write

female

79.5% (2003 est.)

male

93.3%

total population

86.5%

Median age

female

28.7 years (2004 est.)

male

27.6 years

total

28.2 years

Nationality

adjective

Albanian

noun

Albanian(s)

Net migration rate

-4.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

3,544,808 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

0.51% (2004 est.)

Religions

Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%

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

note

percentages are estimates; there are no available current

Sex ratio

15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female

at birth

1.1 male(s)/female

total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

under 15 years

1.1 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.05 children born/woman (2004 est.)

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

Capital

Tirana

Constitution

a constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

Dulles, VA 20189-9510

FAX: [355] (4) 374957 and [355] (4) 232222

chief of mission

Ambassador Marcie B. RIES

embassy

Rruga Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana

mailing address

U. S. Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place,

telephone

[355] (4) 247285

Diplomatic representation in the US

FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342

chancery

2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Dr. Fatos TARIFA

telephone

[1] (202) 223-4942

Executive branch

July 2002)

nominated by the president, and approved by Parliament

five-year term; election last held 24 June 2002 (next to be held NA June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president

vote by number - total votes 116, for 97, against 19

cabinet

Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister,

chief of state

President of the Republic Alfred MOISIU (since 24

election results

Alfred MOISIU elected president; People's Assembly

elections

president elected by the People's Assembly for a

head of government

Prime Minister Fatos NANO (since 31 July 2002)

Flag description

red with a black two-headed eagle in the center

Government type

emerging democracy

Independence

28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term), and multiple appeals and district courts

Legal system

has a civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; has accepted jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court for its citizens

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)

22 July, 29 July, 19 August 2001 (next to be held July 2005)

coalition allies 36.8%, PDR 5.2%, PSD 3.6%, PBDNJ 2.6%, PASH (now PAA) 2.6%, PAD 2.5%; seats by party - PS 73, PD and coalition allies 46, PDR 6, PSD 4, PBDNJ 3, PASH (now PAA) 3, PAD 3, independents 2;

allies 46, LSI 9, PDR 6, PSD 3, PBDNJ 3, PASH (now PAA) 3, PAD 3, PDS 1, independents 1

election results

percent of vote by party - PS 41.5%, PD and

elections

last held 24 June 2001 with subsequent rounds on 8 July,

note - seats by party as of January 2005

PS 65, PD and coalition

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1912)

Political parties and leaders

Agrarian Environmentalist Party or PAA [Lufter XHUVELI]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Nikolle LESI]; Communist Party of Albania or PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or PAD [Neritan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality Movement Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIU]; Liberal Union Party or PBL [Arjan STAROVA]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Adriatik ALIMADHI]; New Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Renewed Democratic Party or PDR [Dashamir SHEHI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social Democracy Party or PDS [Paskal MILO]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI [Ilir META]; Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albanian Party of Labor) [Fatos NANO]; Union for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vangjel DULE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania or KSSH [Kastriot MUCO]; Front for Albanian National Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI]; Omonia [Jani JANI]; Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

million (2003 est.)

expenditures

$1.627 billion, including capital expenditures of $406

revenues

$1.36 billion

Currency

lek (ALL)

Currency code

ALL

Current account balance

$-407 million (2003)

Debt - external

$1.41 billion (2003)

Economic aid - recipient

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

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 one-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 and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure make it difficult to attract and sustain foreign investment. The government plans to boost energy imports to relieve the shortages and is moving slowly to improve the poor national road and rail 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)

Exchange rates

leke per US dollar - 121.863 (2003), 140.155 (2002), 143.485 (2001), 143.709 (2000), 137.691 (1999)

Exports

$425 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Italy 74.9%, Greece 12.8%, Germany 3.4% (2003)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $16.13 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

47.5%

industry

24.6%

services

27.8% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,500 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$1.76 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals

Imports - partners

Italy 33.6%, Greece 20.2%, Turkey 6.6%, Germany 5.7% (2003) Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: $1.038 billion (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

2.7% (2003 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (2003)

Investment (gross fixed)

18.7% of GDP (2003)

Labor force

1.35 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers) (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 57%, non-agricultural private sector 20%, public sector 23% (2003 est.)

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 (1 January 2002)

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 (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line

30% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

15.8% officially; may be as high as 30% (2003 est.)

Internet country code

.al

Internet hosts

455 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

10 (2001)

Internet users

30,000 (2003)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios

1 million (2001)

Telephone system

density of main lines remains the lowest in Europe with roughly 8 lines per 100 people. However, cellular telephone use is widespread and generally effective.

phone service has been available since 1996; by 2003 two companies were providing mobile services at a greater density than some of Albania's Balkan neighbors

adequate cellular connections; international traffic carried by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece (2003)

domestic

offsetting the shortage of fixed line capacity, mobile

general assessment

Despite new investment in fixed lines, the

international

country code - 355; inadequate fixed main lines;

Telephones - main lines in use

255,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.1 million (2003)

Television broadcast stations

3 (plus 58 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions

700,000 (2001)

Airports

11 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2004 est.)

total

3

Airports - with unpaved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 2

over 3,047 m

1

total

8

under 914 m

4 (2004 est.)

Heliports

1 (2003 est.)

Highways

paved

5,400 km

total

18,000 km

unpaved

12,600 km (2000)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk 1, cargo 19, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1

foreign-owned

Denmark 1, Honduras 1, Netherlands 1

registered in other countries

7 (2004 est.)

total

22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 40,878 GRT/62,676 DWT

Pipelines

gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore

Railways

standard gauge

447 km 1.435-m gauge (2003)

total

447 km

Waterways

43 km (2004)

Military branches

General Staff Headquarters, Land Forces Command (Army), Naval Forces Command, Air Forces Command, Doctrine and Exercises Command, Logistics Support Command

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$56.5 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.49% (FY02)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

956,107 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

775,422 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation

19 years of age (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

36,584 (2004 est.)

Disputes - international

the Albanian Government calls for the protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians in neighboring countries, and the peaceful resolution of interethnic disputes; some ethnic Albanian groups in neighboring countries advocate for a "greater Albania," but the idea has little appeal among Albanian nationals

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 expanding in Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with regional trafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal aliens This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005 @Algeria