Albania:: Population: 3,002,859
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Background
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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. The
2009 general elections resulted in no single party gaining a majority of the
140 seats in Parliament, and the Movement for Socialist Integration (LSI) and
the Democratic Party (DP) combined to form a coalition government, the first
such in Albania's history. The Socialist Party (SP) contested the results of
the 2009 parliamentary elections and the 2011 local elections. 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.
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Strategic
location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
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Location:
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Southeastern
Europe,
bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece in the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north
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Geographic coordinates:
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41 00 N,
20 00 E
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Area:
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total:
28,748 sq km land: 27,398 sq km water: 1,350 sq km
Size comparison: slightly smaller than Maryland |
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Land Boundaries:
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total: 717 km border countries: Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Montenegro 172 km, Kosovo 112 km
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Coastline:
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362 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial
sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of
exploitation
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Climate:
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mild
temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is
cooler and wetter
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Terrain:
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mostly
mountains and hills; small plains along coast
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Adriatic
Sea 0 m highest point: Maja e Korabit
(Golem Korab) 2,764 m
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Natural resources:
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petroleum,
natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber,
hydropower
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Land use:
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arable
land: 20.1% permanent crops: 4.21% other: 75.69% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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3,650 sq
km (2003)
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Natural hazards:
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destructive
earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought
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Current Environment Issues:
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deforestation;
soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents
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International Environment
Agreements:
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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
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Population:
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3,002,859
(July 2012 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 21.4% (male 337,364/female 303,669) 15-64 years: 68.1% (male
996,666/female 1,043,472) 65 years and over: 10.5% (male 148,151/female
165,345) (2011 est.)
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Median age:
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total:
30.9 years male: 29.6 years female: 32.1 years (2012 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.28%
(2012 est.)
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Birth rate:
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12.38
births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
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Death rate:
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6.25
deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-3.33
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth:
1.11 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96
male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 0.98
male(s)/female (2011 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
14.12 deaths/1,000 live births male: 15.7 deaths/1,000 live births female:
12.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 77.59 years male: 74.99 years female: 80.49 years (2012 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.48
children born/woman (2012 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA
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HIV/AIDS - people living with
HIV/AIDS:
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NA
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA
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Nationality:
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noun:
Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian
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Ethnic groups:
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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)
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Religions:
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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
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Languages:
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Albanian
(official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach, Romani, Slavic dialects
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 9 and over can read and write total population: 98.7% male: 99.2% female:
98.3% (2001 census)
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Country name:
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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
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Government type:
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parliamentary
democracy
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Capital:
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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
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Administrative divisions:
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37
municipalities (komunat/opstine, singular - komuna/opstina); Decan/Decani,
Dragash/Dragas, Ferizaj/Urosevac, Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje,
Gjakove/Dakovica, Gjilan/Gnjilane, Gllogovc/Glogovac, Gracanice/Gracanica,
Hani i Elezit/Deneral Jankovic, Istog/Istok, Junik, Kacanik/Kacanik,
Kamenice/Kamenica, Kline/Klina, Kllokot/Klokot, Leposaviq/Leposavic,
Lipjan/Lipljan, Malisheve/Malisevo, Mamushe/Mamusa, Mitrovice/Mitrovica,
Novoberde/Novo Brdo, Obiliq/Obilic, Partesh/Partes, Peje/Pec,
Podujeve/Podujevo, Prishtine/Pristina, Prizren, Rahovec/Orahovac,
Ranillug/Ranilug, Shterpce/Strpce, Shtime/Stimlje, Skenderaj/Srbica,
Suhareke/Suva Reka, Viti/Vitina, Vushtrri/Vucitrn, Zubin Potok, Zvecan/Zvecan
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Independence:
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28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)
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National holiday:
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Independence
Day, 28 November (1912) also known as Flag Day
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Constitution:
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approved
by parliament 21 October 1998; adopted by popular referendum 22 November 1998; promulgated 28 November 1998
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Legal system:
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civil law
system except in the northern rural areas where customary law known as the
"Code of Leke" prevails
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: President of the Republic Bujar NISHANI (since 24 July 2012) 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 (For more information visit the World
Leaders website ) elections: president elected by three-fifths the
Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); four election
rounds held between 30 May and 11 June 2012 (next election to be held in
2017); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Bujar
NISHANI elected president on fourth round of voting; Assembly vote (for first
three rounds three-fifths majority, 84 votes, required; fourth round, a
simple majority of votes is required): Bujar NISHANI 73 votes; note - NISHANI
will take office 24 July 2012
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral
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; elected for a 4-year term) elections: last held on 28
June 2009 (next to be held in 2013) election results: percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - PD 68, PS 65, LSI 4, other 3
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Judicial branch:
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Constitutional
Court consists of 9 members appointed by the president with the consent of
the Assembly who serve 9-year terms (chairman is elected by the People's
Assembly for a four-year term); the High Court members appointed by the
president with the consent of the Assembly for a 9-year term; note - there
are also courts of appeal and courts of first instance
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Political parties and leaders:
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Democratic
Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; New Democracy Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party
for Justice and Integration or PDI [Shpetim IDRIZ]; Republican Party or PR
[Fatmir MEDIU]; Social Democracy Party or PDS [Paskel MILO]; Social
Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for
Integration or LSI [Ilir META]; Socialist Party or PS [Edi RAMA]; Unity for
Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vangjel DULE]
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Political pressure groups and
leaders:
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Red and
Black Alliance [Kreshnik SPAHIU]; Front for Albanian National Unification or
FBKSH [Gafur ADILI]; Mjaft Movement [Elton KACIDHJA]; Omonia [Vasil BOLLANO];
Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA]
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International organization
participation:
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BSEC, CE,
CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
NATO, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Gilbert GALANXHI chancery: S1312 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942
FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342 consulate(s) general: New York
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Diplomatic representation from the
US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Alexander ARVIZU embassy: Rruga e Elbasanit, Labinoti
#103, Tirana mailing address: US Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510 telephone: [355] (4) 2247285 FAX:
[355] (4) 2232222
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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 2009-11. 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. Remittances, a significant catalyst for economic growth
declined from 12-15% of GDP before the 2008 financial crisis to 8% of GDP in
2010, mostly from Albanians residing in Greece and Italy. The agricultural sector, which
accounts for almost 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 - 98% of the electrical power produced in Albania - 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. FDI is among the lowest in the region, but the
government has embarked on an ambitious program to improve the business
climate through fiscal and legislative reforms. 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. The country will continue to face
challenges from increasing public debt, approaching its statutory limit of
60% of GDP. Strong trade, remittance, and banking sector ties with Greece and Italy make Albania vulnerable to spillover effects
of the global financial crisis.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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GDP
(purchasing power parity): $25.23 billion (2011 est.) $24.74 billion (2010
est.) $23.9 billion (2009 est.) note: data are in 2011 US dollars Albania has an informal, and unreported,
sector that may be as large as 50% of official GDP
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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GDP
(official exchange rate): $12.85 billion (2011 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2% (2011
est.) 3.5% (2010 est.) 3.3% (2009 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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GDP - per
capita (PPP): $7,800 (2011 est.) $7,700 (2010 est.) $7,500 (2009 est.) note:
data are in 2011 US dollars
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
20.7% industry: 19.7% services: 59.6% (2011 est.)
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Labor force:
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1.053
million (2010 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture:
47.8% industry: 23% services: 29.2% (September 2010 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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13.3%
(2011 est.) 13.7% (2010 est.) note: these are official rates, but actual
rates may exceed 30% due to preponderance of near-subsistence farming
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Population below poverty line:
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12.5%
(2008 est.)
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Household income or consumption by
percentage share:
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lowest
10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 29% (2008)
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Distribution of family income -
Gini index:
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34.5
(2008) 26.7 (2005)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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Inflation
rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (2011 est.) 3.6% (2010 est.)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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Investment
(gross fixed): 29.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues:
$3.289 billion expenditures: $3.738 billion (2011 est.)
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Public debt:
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59.7% of
GDP (2011 est.) 57.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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wheat,
corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products
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Industries:
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food
processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining,
basic metals, hydropower
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Industrial production growth rate:
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3% (2010
est.)
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Electricity - production:
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5.201
billion kWh (2009 est.)
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Electricity - consumption:
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6.593
billion kWh note: 35% of electricity is lost in the system as a result of
transmission inefficiencies and theft (2009 est.)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2009 est.)
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Electricity - imports:
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1.884
billion kWh (2009 est.)
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Oil - production:
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10,930
bbl/day (2010 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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33,000
bbl/day (2010 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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1,004
bbl/day (2009 est.)
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Oil - imports:
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22,880
bbl/day (2009 est.)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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199.1
million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
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Natural gas - production:
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30
million cu m (2009 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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30
million cu m (2009 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m
(2010 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m
(2010 est.)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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849.5
million cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
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Current account balance:
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-$1.595
billion (2011 est.) -$1.404 billion (2010 est.)
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Exports:
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$1.954
billion (2011 est.) $1.548 billion (2010 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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textiles
and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables,
fruits, tobacco
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Exports - partners:
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Italy
48.8%, China 8.4%, Turkey 6.7%, Greece 5.6%, Spain 5.4%, India 4.9% (2010
est.)
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Imports:
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$5.076
billion (2011 est.) $4.305 billion (2010 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery
and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals
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Imports - partners:
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Italy
34.8%, Greece 12.9%, China 6.2%, Turkey 6%, Germany 4.6% (2010 est.)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and
gold:
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$2.665
billion (31 December 2011 est.) $2.541 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$5.7
billion (31 December 2011 est.) $5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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Market value of publicly traded
shares:
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$NA
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Exchange rates:
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leke
(ALL) per US dollar - 99.5 (2011 est.) 103.94 (2010 est.) 94.98 (2009) 79.546
(2008) 92.668 (2007)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year
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Telephones in use:
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331,500
(2009) country comparison to the world: 113
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Cellular Phones in use:
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4.548
million (2009)
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Telephone system:
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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 domestic: offsetting the shortage of fixed
line capacity, mobile-cellular phone service has been available since 1996;
by 2010 multiple companies were providing mobile services and mobile
teledensity exceeded 130 per 100 persons; Internet broadband services
initiated in 2005 but growth has been slow; 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 (2009)
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Radio broadcast stations:
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Television broadcast stations:
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Internet country code:
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.al
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Internet hosts:
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15,505
(2010)
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Internet users:
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1.3
million (2009)
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Airports:
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5 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 178
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Airports (paved runways):
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total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2012)
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Airports (unpaved runways):
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total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)
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Heliports:
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1 (2012)
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Pipelines:
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gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2010)
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Railways:
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total: 339 km standard gauge: 339 km 1.435-m gauge (2009)
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Roadways:
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total: 18,000
km paved: 7,020 km unpaved: 10,980
km (2002)
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Waterways:
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41 km (on the Bojana River) (2011)
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Merchant marine:
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total: 17
by type: cargo 16, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1) registered in other countries:
5 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Panama 4) (2010)
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Ports and terminals:
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Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore
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Military branches:
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Land
Forces Command, Air Forces Command, Training and Doctrine Command (2010)
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Military service age and
obligation:
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19 years
of age (2004)
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Manpower available for military
service:
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males age
16-49: 731,111 females age 16-49: 780,216 (2010 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age
16-49: 622,379 females age 16-49: 660,715 (2010 est.)
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