2008 Edition

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. In the 2005 general elections, the Democratic Party and its allies won a decisive victory on pledges of reducing crime and corruption, promoting economic growth, and decreasing the size of government. The election, and particularly the orderly transition of power, was considered an important step forward. 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. Albania has played a largely helpful role in managing inter-ethnic tensions in southeastern Europe, and is continuing to work toward joining NATO and the EU. Albania, with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been a strong supporter of the global war on terrorism.

Area

total: 28,748 sq km land: 27,398 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

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to: 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.71 cu km/yr (27%/11%/62%) per capita: 546 cu m/yr (2000)

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

3,530 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 717 km border countries: Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Montenegro 172 km, Kosovo 112 km

Land use

arable land: 20.1% permanent crops: 4.21% other: 75.69% (2005)

Location

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece in the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

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

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

Total renewable water resources

41.7 cu km (2001)

Age structure

0-14 years: 23.6% (male 447,126/female 406,757) 15-64 years: 66.9% (male 1,239,819/female 1,180,720) 65 years and over: 9.5% (male 160,241/female 185,115) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

15.22 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

5.44 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

2.9% of GDP (2002)

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)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 19.31 deaths/1,000 live births male: 19.74 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.78 years male: 75.12 years female: 80.71 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 9 and over can read and write total population: 98.7% male: 99.2% female: 98.3% (2001 census)

Median age

total: 29.5 years male: 28.9 years female: 30.2 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian

Net migration rate

-4.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

3,619,778 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

0.538% (2008 est.)

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2004)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.1 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 (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.02 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Administrative divisions

12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane, Vlore

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

Constitution

adopted by popular referendum on 22 November 1998; promulgated 28 November 1998

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. John L. WITHERS, II embassy: Rruga e Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana mailing address: US Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510 telephone: [355] (4) 2247285

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

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 elections: president elected by the People's 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; People's Assembly vote, fourth round (three-fifths majority (84 votes) required): Bamir TOPI 85 votes, Neritan CEKA 5 votes

FAX

[1] (202) 628-7342

[355] (4) 2232222

Flag description

red with a black two-headed eagle in the center

Government type

emerging democracy

Independence

28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)

International organization participation

BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 Assembly or Kuvendi (140 seats; 100 members are elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PD 56, PS 42, PR 11, PSD 7, LSI 5, other 19

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1912)

Political parties and leaders

Agrarian Environmentalist Party or PAA [Lufter XHUVELI]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Nard NDOKA]; Communist Party of Albania or PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or AD [Neritan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality Movement Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIA]; Liberal Union Party or BLD [Arjan STAROVA]; Movement for National Development or LZhK [Dashamir SHEHI]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Artur ROSHI]; New Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social Democracy Party of Albania or PDSSh [Paskal MILO]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI [Ilir META]; Socialist Party or PS [Edi RAMA]; Union 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; 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

revenues: $2.782 billion expenditures: $3.155 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14.1% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

lek (ALL) note: the plural of lek is leke

Currency code

ALL

Current account balance

-$1.202 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$1.55 billion (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26.7 (2005)

Economy - overview

Lagging behind its Balkan neighbors, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. 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. The economy is bolstered by annual remittances from abroad of $600-$800 million, mostly from Albanians residing in Greece and Italy; this helps offset the towering trade deficit. Agriculture, which accounts for more than one-fifth of GDP, is held back because of lack of modern equipment, unclear property rights, and the prevalence of small, inefficient plots of land. Energy shortages and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure contribute to Albania's poor business environment, which make it difficult to attract and sustain foreign investment. The completion of a new thermal power plant near Vlore and improved transmission line between Albania and Montenegro will help relieve the energy shortages. Also, the government is moving slowly to improve the poor national road and rail network, a long-standing barrier to sustained economic growth. On the positive side, macroeconomic growth was strong in 2003-07 and inflation is low and stable.

Electricity - consumption

3.607 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

2.8 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

2.892 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 2.9% hydro: 97.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Exchange rates

leke (ALL) per US dollar - 92.668 (2007), 98.384 (2006), 102.649 (2005), 102.78 (2004), 121.863 (2003)

Exports

$1.076 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Italy 72%, Greece 8.8%, China 2.7% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 21.2% industry: 20.5% services: 58.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$5,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$10.62 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$20.87 billion note: Albania has a large gray economy that may be as large as 50% of official GDP (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 24.4% (2004)

Imports

$3.999 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals

Imports - partners

Italy 27.6%, Greece 14.8%, Turkey 7.4%, China 6.8%, Germany 5.6%, Switzerland 5%, Russia 4.2% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

4% (2007 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.9% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

23.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

1.09 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers) (September 2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 58% industry: 15% services: 27% (September 2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

30 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

30 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

849.5 million cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

ODA

$318.7 million note: top donors were Italy, EU, Germany (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

30,900 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

748.9 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports

24,860 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - production

6,425 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

199.1 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Population below poverty line

25% (2004 est.)

Public debt

51.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.162 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$7.341 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$2.707 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$6.433 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

13.2% official rate, but may exceed 30% due to preponderance of near-subsistence farming (2007 est.)

Internet country code

.al

Internet hosts

10,162 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

10 (2001)

Internet users

471,200 (2006)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 13, FM 46, shortwave 1 (2005)

Radios

1 million (2001)

Telephone system

general assessment: despite new investment in fixed lines, the density of main lines remains low with roughly 10 lines per 100 people; cellular telephone use is widespread and generally effective; combined fixed line and mobile telephone density is approximately 75 telephones per 100 persons domestic: offsetting the shortage of fixed line capacity, mobile phone service has been available since 1996; by 2003, two companies were providing mobile services at a greater density than some of Albania's neighbors; Internet broadband services initiated in 2005; 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 (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

353,600 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.3 million (2007)

Television broadcast stations

65 (3 national, 62 local); 2 cable networks (2005)

Televisions

700,000 (2001)

Airports

11 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Heliports

1 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 24 by type: cargo 22, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1) registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 2) (2008)

Pipelines

gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2007)

Ports and terminals

Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore

Railways

total: 447 km standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Roadways

total: 18,000 km paved: 7,020 km unpaved: 10,980 km (2002)

Waterways

43 km (2007)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 944,592 females age 16-49: 908,527 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 798,454 females age 16-49: 767,143 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 36,340 female: 33,077 (2008 est.)

Military branches

Land Forces Command (Army), Naval Forces Command, Air Defense Command, General Staff Headquarters (includes Logistics Command, Training and Doctrine Command) (2007)

Military expenditures

1.49% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

19 years of age (2004)

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; the mass emigration of unemployed Albanians remains a problem for developed countries, chiefly Greece and Italy

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 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 18 December, 2008

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Albania is a source country for women and girls trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; it is no longer considered a major country of transit; Albanian victims are trafficked to Greece, Italy, Macedonia, and Kosovo, with many trafficked onward to Western European countries; children were also trafficked to Greece for begging and other forms of child labor; approximately half of all Albanian trafficking victims are under age 18; internal sex trafficking of women and children is on the rise tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Albania is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2007, particularly in the area of victim protection; the government did not appropriately identify trafficking victims during 2007, and has not demonstrated that it is vigorously investigating or prosecuting complicit officials (2008)