2009 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; however, there have been claims of electoral fraud in every one of Albania's post-communist elections. In the 2005 general elections, the Democratic Party and its allies won a decisive victory on pledges to reduce crime and corruption, promote economic growth, and decrease the size of government. The election, and particularly the orderly transition of power, was considered an important step forward. 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.

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

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: 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

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: 23.1% (male 440,528/female 400,816) 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,251,001/female 1,190,841) 65 years and over: 9.8% (male 165,557/female 190,710) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

15.29 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Death rate

5.55 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Education expenditures

2.9% of GDP (2002) country comparison to the world: 147

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: 18.62 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 110 male: 19.05 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.96 years country comparison to the world: 51 male: 75.28 years female: 80.89 years (2009 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: 29.9 years male: 29.3 years female: 30.6 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian

Net migration rate

-4.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Population

3,639,453 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Population growth rate

0.546% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

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 (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.01 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Urbanization

urban population: 47% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 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

approved by parliament on 21 October 1998; 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 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 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

FAX

[1] (202) 628-7342 consulate(s) general: New York

[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 SKANDERBERG, who led a successful uprising against the Turks that resulted in a short-lived independence for some Albanian regions (1443-1478)

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, NATO, OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, 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 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 note: Parliament in November 2008 approved an electoral reform package that will transform the electoral system from a majority system to a regional proportional system; the code will also establish an electoral threshold limiting smaller party representation

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]; G99 Political Movement [Erion VELIAJ]; Liberal Union Party or BLD [Arjan STAROVA]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Artur ROSHI]; New Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; 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]; Socialist Party 1991 [Petro KOCI]; 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: $3.458 billion expenditures: $4.175 billion (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.25% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 69 6.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

13.02% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 52 14.1% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$1.906 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 136 -$1.202 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$1.55 billion (2004) country comparison to the world: 143

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26.7 (2005) country comparison to the world: 124

Economy - overview

Lagging behind its Balkan neighbors, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. Macroeconomic growth has averaged around 5% over the last five years and 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. The economy is bolstered by annual remittances from abroad representing about 15% of GDP, mostly from Albanians residing in Greece and Italy; this helps offset the towering trade deficit. The agricultural sector, which accounts for over 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. 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.

Electricity - consumption

3.603 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

2.475 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

2.888 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Exchange rates

leke (ALL) per US dollar - 79.546 (2008 est.), 92.668 (2007), 98.384 (2006), 102.649 (2005), 102.78 (2004)

Exports

$1.345 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 $1.076 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Italy 55.9%, Greece 11.6%, China 7.2% (2008)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 20.5% industry: 19.8% services: 59.7% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,000 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 $5,700 (2007 est.) $5,400 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 56 6% (2007 est.) 5.5% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$12.96 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$21.86 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 117 $20.61 billion (2007 est.) $19.44 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars Albania has an informal, and unreported, sector that may be as large as 50% of official GDP

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 25.9% (2005)

Imports

$4.898 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 $3.999 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals

Imports - partners

Italy 32.2%, Greece 13.1%, Turkey 7.2%, Germany 6.6%, China 4.5%, Russia 4.4% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 2.9% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

23.1% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Labor force

1.103 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers) (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

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 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 205

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

Natural gas - production

30 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Natural gas - proved reserves

849.5 million cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Oil - consumption

34,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

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: 109

Oil - production

5,985 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Oil - proved reserves

199.1 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Population below poverty line

25% (2004 est.)

Public debt

51.9% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 51.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.364 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 $2.162 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$8.176 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 74 $7.247 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$3.028 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 64 $2.707 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$6.251 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 60 $6.433 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

12.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 138 13.2% (2007 est.) note: these are official rates, but actual rates may exceed 30% due to preponderance of near-subsistence farming

Internet country code

.al

Internet hosts

14,245 (2009) country comparison to the world: 110

Internet users

471,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 109

Radio broadcast stations

AM 13, FM 46, shortwave 1 (2005)

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 approaching 100 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 (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

316,400 (2008) country comparison to the world: 113

Telephones - mobile cellular

3.141 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 108

Television broadcast stations

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

Airports

5 (2009) country comparison to the world: 176

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)

Heliports

1 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 24 country comparison to the world: 91 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 (2008)

Ports and terminals

Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore

Railways

total: 896 km country comparison to the world: 96 standard gauge: 896 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 18,000 km country comparison to the world: 117 paved: 7,020 km unpaved: 10,980 km (2002)

Waterways

43 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 105

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: 800,665 females age 16-49: 768,536 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 34,778 female: 31,673 (2009 est.)

Military branches

Joint Force Command (includes Land, Naval, and Aviation Brigade Commands), Joint Support Command (includes Logistic Command), Training and Doctrine Command (2009)

Military expenditures

1.49% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

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 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 November 11, 2009

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)