2010 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

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

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)

per capita

546 cu m/yr (2000)

total

1.71 cu km/yr (27%/11%/62%)

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

border countries

Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Montenegro 172 km, Kosovo 112 km

total

717 km

Land use

arable land

20.1%

other

75.69% (2005)

permanent crops

4.21%

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

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

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) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

11.88 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

6.04 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 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

female

13.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

16.79 deaths/1,000 live births

total

15.11 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.11 years (2010 est.)

male

74.65 years

total population

77.22 years

Literacy

definition: age 9 and over can read and write

female

98.3% (2001 census)

male

99.2%

total population

98.7%

Median age

female

31.1 years (2010 est.)

male

28.9 years

total

30 years

Nationality

adjective

Albanian

noun

Albanian(s)

Net migration rate

-3.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

2,986,952 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.249% (2010 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)

female

11 years (2004)

male

11 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.123 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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.47 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

47% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

41 19 N, 19 49 E

name

Tirana (Tirane)

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

former

People's Socialist Republic of Albania

local long form

Republika e Shqiperise

local short form

Shqiperia

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Alexander ARVIZU

embassy

Rruga e Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana

FAX

[355] (4) 2232222

mailing address

US Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510

telephone

[355] (4) 2247285

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Gilbert GALANXHI

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 628-7342

telephone

[1] (202) 223-4942

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, nominated by the president, and approved by parliament (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President of the Republic Bamir TOPI (since 24 July 2007)

election results

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

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

head of government

Prime Minister Sali BERISHA (since 10 September 2005)

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); an unsubstantiated explanation for the eagle symbol is the tradition that Albanians see themselves as descendants of the eagle; they refer to themselves as "Shkypetars," which translates as "sons of the eagle"

Government type

republic

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, 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 National Assembly or Kuvendi (140 deputies; 100 deputies elected directly in single member electoral zones with an approximate number of voters; 40 deputies elected from multi-name lists of parties or party coalitions according to their respective order)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PD 68, PS 65, LSI 4, other 3

elections

last held on 28 June 2009 (next to be held in 2013)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Aleksander Stavre DRENOVA/Ciprian PORUMBESCU note: adopted 1912

name

"Hymni i Flamurit" (Hymn to the Flag)

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1912)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Party for Justice and Integration or PDI [Tahir MUCHEDINI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI [Ilir META]; Socialist Party or PS [Edi RAMA]; Unity for Humen 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 [Elton KACIDHJA]; Omonia [Ligorag KARAMELO]; 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

Central bank discount rate

5.25% (31 December 2009) 6.25% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

12.66% (31 December 2009 est.) 13.02% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.245 billion (2010 est.) -$1.845 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$1.55 billion (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26.7 (2005)

Economy - overview

Albania, a formerly closed, centrally-planned state, is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. Macroeconomic growth averaged around 6% between 2004-08, but declined to about 3% in 2009-10. 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 needed to expand the country's export base. 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.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

2.475 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

2.888 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

leke (ALL) per US dollar - 106.5 (2010), 94.979 (2009), 79.546 (2008), 92.668 (2007), 98.384 (2006)

Exports

$1.339 billion (2010 est.) $1.048 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Italy 58.75%, Greece 9.69%, Austria 6.73%, China 5.68% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

21.2%

industry

19.5%

services

59.3% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$8,000 (2010 est.) $7,800 (2009 est.) $7,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.1% (2010 est.) 3.3% (2009 est.) 7.8% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$11.58 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$23.95 billion (2010 est.) $23.23 billion (2009 est.) $22.49 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 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

$4.337 billion (2010 est.) $4.264 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals

Imports - partners

Italy 29.94%, Greece 14.05%, Turkey 7.1%, Germany 6.9%, China 5.39% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.4% (2010 est.) 2.2% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

29.8% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

1.1 million (2009 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 (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

30 million cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

849.5 million cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

36,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

749 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports

24,080 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

5,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

199.1 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

25% (2004 est.)

Public debt

59.3% of GDP (2010 est.) 58.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.992 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.37 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$9.096 billion (31 December 2009) $9.279 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of domestic credit

$7.701 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $8.231 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.708 billion (31 December 2010 est) $2.995 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

12.7% (2010 est.) 12.8% (2009 est.) note: these are official rates, but actual rates may exceed 30% due to preponderance of near-subsistence farming

Broadcast media

2 public television networks, one of which transmits by satellite to Albanian-language communities in neighboring countries; more than 60 private television stations operating; many viewers can pick up Italian and Greek TV broadcasts via terrestrial reception; cable TV service is available; 2 public radio networks and roughly 50 private radio stations; several international broadcasters are available (2008)

Internet country code

.al

Internet hosts

15,098 (2010)

Internet users

1.3 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

offsetting the shortage of fixed line capacity, mobile-cellular phone service has been available since 1996; by 2003, two companies were providing mobile services at a greater teledensity 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

general assessment

despite new investment in fixed lines teledensity remains low with roughly 10 fixed lines per 100 people; mobile-cellular telephone use is widespread and generally effective; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is now exceeds 100 per 100 persons

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 (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

363,000 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

4.162 million (2009)

Airports

5 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 1, cargo 23, roll on/roll off 1

foreign-owned

1 (Turkey 1)

registered in other countries

4 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Panama 3) (2010)

total

25

Pipelines

gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore

Railways

standard gauge

896 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

total

896 km

Roadways

paved

7,020 km

total

18,000 km

unpaved

10,980 km (2002)

Waterways

43 km (on the Bojana River) (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 947,446 females age 16-49: 910,145 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 802,097 females age 16-49: 768,953 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

31,855 (2010 est.)

male

35,249

Military branches

Joint Force Command (includes Land, Naval, and Aviation Brigade Commands), Joint Support Command (includes Logistic Command), Training and Doctrine Command (2010)

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 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 January 20, 2011 ======================================================================