from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Albania
Introduction
Background: Between 1990 and 1992 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.
Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and
Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro
Geographic 41 00 N, 20 00 E
coordinates:
Map Europe
references:
Area: total: 28,748 sq km
land: 27,398 sq km
water: 1,350 sq km
Area - slightly smaller than Maryland
comparative:
Land total: 720 km
boundaries: border countries: Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km,
Montenegro 172 km, Serbia 115 km
Coastline: 362 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of
exploitation
Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear,
dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast
Elevation lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
extremes: highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m
Natural petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite,
resources: copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 20.1%
permanent crops: 4.21%
other: 75.69% (2005)
Irrigated 3,530 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along
hazards: southwestern coast; floods; drought
Environment - deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from
current industrial and domestic effluents
issues:
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
international Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
agreements: Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements
Geography - strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links
note: Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
People
Population: 3,581,655 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 24.8% (male 464,954/female 423,003)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 1,214,942/female 1,158,562)
65 years and over: 8.9% (male 148,028/female 172,166)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 28.9 years
male: 28.3 years
female: 29.5 years (2006 est.)
Population 0.52% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 15.11 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 5.22 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration -4.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
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: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 20.75 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 21.2 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 20.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 77.43 years
expectancy at male: 74.78 years
birth: female: 80.34 years (2006 est.)
Total 2.03 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - NA
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - NA
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - NA
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Albanian(s)
adjective: Albanian
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)
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
Languages: Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek,
Vlach, Romani, Slavic dialects
Literacy: definition: age 9 and over can read and write
total population: 86.5%
male: 93.3%
female: 79.5% (2003 est.)
Government
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
Government emerging democracy
type:
Capital: name: Tirana (Tirane)
geographic coordinates: 41 20 N, 19 50 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
Administrative 12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Qarku i Beratit,
divisions: 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
Independence: 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)
National Independence Day, 28 November (1912)
holiday:
Constitution: adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998
Legal system: has a civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction; has accepted jurisdiction of the
International Criminal Court for its citizens
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: President of the Republic Alfred MOISIU
branch: (since 24 July 2002)
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);
election last held 24 June 2002 (next to be held June
2007); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Alfred MOISIU elected president;
People's Assembly vote by number - total votes 116, for
97, against 19
Legislative unicameral Assembly or Kuvendi (140 seats; 100 are
branch: elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional
vote for 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
Judicial Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (chairman is
branch: elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term),
and multiple appeals and district courts
Political Agrarian Environmentalist Party or PAA [Lufter
parties and XHUVELI]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Nikolle
leaders: LESI]; Communist Party of Albania or PKSH [Hysni
MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP [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 BNK [Adriatik ALIMADHI]; New
Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party of National
Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Renewed Democratic Party
or PDRN [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 [Edi RAMA]; Union
for Human Rights Party or PBDNj [Vangjel DULE]
Political Citizens Advocacy Office [Kreshnik SPAHIU];
pressure Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania or KSSH
groups and [Kastriot MUCO]; Front for Albanian National
leaders: Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI]; Mjaft Movement
[Erion VELIAJ]; Omonia [Jani JANI]; Union of
Independent Trade Unions of Albania or BSPSH [Gezim
KALAJA]
International BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
organization ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
participation: Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
MIGA, OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge
representation d'Affaires Kreshnik COLLAKU
in the US: chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942
FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Marcie B. RIES
representation embassy: Rruga e Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana
from the US: mailing address: US Department of State, 9510 Tirana
Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510
telephone: [355] (4) 247285
FAX: [355] (4) 232222
Flag red with a black two-headed eagle in the center
description:
Economy
Economy - Lagging behind its Balkan neighbors, Albania is making
overview: 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 annual remittances from
abroad of $600-$800 million, mostly from Greece and
Italy; this helps offset the towering trade deficit.
Agriculture, which accounts for about one-quarter of
GDP, is held back because of frequent drought and the
need to modernize equipment, to clarify property
rights, and to consolidate small 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 planned construction of a new thermal
power plant near Vlore and improved transmission and
distribution facilities 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: growth was strong in 2003-05 and
inflation is not a problem.
GDP $18.87 billion
(purchasing note: Albania has a large gray economy that may be as
power parity): large as 50% of official GDP (2005 est.)
GDP (official $8.657 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 5.5% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $5,300 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 23.2%
composition by industry: 18.8%
sector: services: 57.9% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 1.09 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers)
(2004 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: 58%
by occupation: industry: 19%
services: 23% (2004 est.)
Unemployment 14.3% official rate, but may exceed 30% (2005 est.)
rate:
Population 25% (2004 est.)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: NA%
income or highest 10%: NA%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Distribution 28.2 (2002)
of family
income - Gini
index:
Inflation rate 2.4% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 22.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $1.96 billion
expenditures: $2.377 billion; including capital
expenditures of $500 million (2005 est.)
Agriculture - wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets,
products: grapes; meat, dairy products
Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil,
cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower
Industrial 3.1% (2004 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 5.68 billion kWh (2004)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 2.9%
production by hydro: 97.1%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 6.76 billion kWh (2004)
consumption:
Electricity - 200 million kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 1.08 billion kWh (2004 est.)
imports:
Oil - 3,600 bbl/day (2005 est.)
production:
Oil - 25,200 bbl/day (2005 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - imports: 21,600 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - proved 185.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)
reserves:
Natural gas - 30 million cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 30 million cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2001 est.)
exports:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2001 est.)
imports:
Natural gas - 2.832 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
proved
reserves:
Current $-416 million (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $650.1 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic
commodities: ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco
Exports - Italy 72.4%, Greece 10.5%, Serbia and Montenegro 5%
partners: (2005)
Imports: $2.473 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles,
commodities: chemicals
Imports - Italy 29.3%, Greece 16.4%, Turkey 7.5%, China 6.6%,
partners: Germany 5.4%, Russia 4% (2005)
Reserves of $1.461 billion (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $1.55 billion (2004)
external:
Economic aid - ODA: $366 million (top donors were Italy, EU, Germany)
recipient: (2003 est.)
Currency lek (ALL)
(code):
Currency code: ALL
Exchange leke per US dollar - 102.649 (2005), 102.78 (2004),
rates: 121.863 (2003), 140.155 (2002), 143.485 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 255,000 (2003)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 1.259 million (2004)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: despite new investment in fixed
system: lines, the density of main lines remains the lowest in
Europe with roughly seven lines per 100 people;
however, cellular telephone use is widespread and
generally effective
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
Balkan neighbors
international: country code - 355; inadequate fixed
main lines; adequate cellular connections;
international traffic carried by fiber optic cable and,
when necessary, by microwave radio relay from the
Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece (2003)
Radio AM 13, FM 46 (3 national, 62 local), shortwave 1 (2005)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 1 million (2001)
Television 65 (3 national, 62 local); note - 2 cable networks
broadcast (2005)
stations:
Televisions: 700,000 (2001)
Internet .al
country code:
Internet 430 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 10 (2001)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 75,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 11 (2006)
Airports - total: 3
with paved 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2006)
runways:
Airports - total: 8
with unpaved over 3,047 m: 1
runways: 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Heliports: 1 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2006)
Railways: total: 447 km
standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 18,000 km
paved: 7,020 km
unpaved: 10,980 km (2002)
Waterways: 43 km (2006)
Merchant total: 24 ships (1000 GRT or over) 52,987 GRT/79,863
marine: DWT
by type: cargo 23, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1)
registered in other countries: 1 (Georgia 1) (2006)
Ports and Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore
terminals:
Military
Military General Staff Headquarters, Land Forces Command (Army),
branches: Naval Forces Command, Air Defense Command, Logistics
Command, Training and Doctrine Command
Military 19 years of age (2004)
service age
and
obligation:
Manpower males age 19-49: 809,524
available for females age 19-49: 784,199 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 19-49: 668,526
for military females age 19-49: 648,334 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 37,407
reaching females age 19-49: 34,587 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $56.5 million (FY02)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 1.49% (FY02)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - the Albanian Government calls for the protection of the
international: 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; thousands of
unemployed Albanians emigrate annually to nearby Italy
and other developed countries
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