Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

10 (2001)

Internet country code [time series]

.al

Internet users [time series]

12,000 (2001)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios [time series]

1 million (2001)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: Albania has the poorest telephone service in Europe with fewer than two telephones per 100 inhabitants; it is doubtful that every village has telephone service domestic: obsolete wire system; no longer provides a telephone for every village; in 1992, following the fall of the Communist government, peasants cut the wire to about 1,000 villages and used it to build fences international: inadequate; international traffic carried by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

120,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

250,000 (2001)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

3 (plus 58 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions [time series]

700,000 (2001)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products

Budget [time series]

revenues: $697 million expenditures: $1.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $368 million (2002 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

lek (ALL)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

ALL

Debt - external [time series]

$784 million (2000)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

ODA: $315 million (top donors were Italy, EU, Germany) (2000 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Poor and backward by European standards, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. The government has taken measures to curb violent crime and to revive economic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by remittances from abroad of $400-$600 million annually, mostly from Greece and Italy. Agriculture, which accounts for half of GDP, is held back because of frequent drought and the need to modernize equipment and consolidate small plots of land. Severe energy shortages are forcing small firms out of business, increasing unemployment, scaring off foreign investors, and spurring inflation. The government plans to boost energy imports to relieve the shortages.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

5.378 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports [time series]

100 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports [time series]

1.072 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production [time series]

4.738 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 3% hydro: 97% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

leke per US dollar - 140.16 (November 2001), 143.71 (2000) 137.69 (1999), 150.63 (1998), 148.93 (1997); note - leke is the plural of lek

Exports [time series]

$340 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Italy 71%, Greece 12%, Germany 7%, Yugoslavia 3% (2001)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $14 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 49% industry: 27% services: 24% (2002 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $4,500 (2002 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

5% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$1.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

Italy 32%, Greece 26%, Turkey 6%, Germany 6%, Bulgaria 2% (2001)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

9% (2000 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6% (2002 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.283 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers and 261,000 domestically unemployed) (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 50%, industry and services 50%

Population below poverty line [time series]

30% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

17% officially (2001 est.); may be as high as 30% (2001)

Area [time series]

total: 28,748 sq km water: 1,350 sq km land: 27,398 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate [time series]

mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter

Coastline [time series]

362 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,753 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

41 00 N, 20 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)

Irrigated land [time series]

3,400 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 720 km border countries: Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 21.09% permanent crops: 4.45% other: 74.46% (1998 est.)

Location [time series]

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, timber, nickel, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast

Administrative divisions [time series]

12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Qarku i Beratit, 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

Capital [time series]

Tirana

Constitution [time series]

a constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998; note - the opposition Democratic Party boycotted the vote

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Albania conventional short form: Albania local short form: Shqiperia former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania local long form: Republika e Shqiperise

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador James F. JEFFREY embassy: Rruga Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana mailing address: U. S. Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Washington, DC 20521-9510 telephone: [355] (4) 247285 FAX: [355] (4) 232222

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Fatos TARIFA FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942 chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President of the Republic Alfred MOISIU (since 24 July 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Fatos NANO (since 31 July 2002) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and approved by the president elections: president elected by the People's Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 24 June 2002 (next to be held NA 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

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

red with a black two-headed eagle in the center

Government type [time series]

emerging democracy

Independence [time series]

28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term)

Legal system [time series]

has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (140 seats; 100 are elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote for four-year terms) elections: last held 24 June with subsequent rounds on 8 July, 22 July, 29 July, 19 August 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005) election results: percent of vote by party - PS 41.5%, PD and coalition allies 36.8%, NDP 5.2%, PSD 3.6%, PBDNJ 2.6%, PASH 2.6%, PAD 2.5%; seats by party - PS 73, PD and coalition allies 46, NDP 6, PSD 4, PBDNJ 3, PASH 3, PAD 3, independents 2

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 28 November (1912)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Agrarian Party or PASH [Lufter XHUVELI]; Albanian National Front (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Shptim ROQI]; Albanian Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Albanian Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albania Workers Party) [Fatos NANO, chairman]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Zef BUSHATI]; Democratic Alliance or PAD [Nerltan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Group of Reformist Democrats [Leonard NDOKA]; Legality Movement Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIA]; Liberal Union Party or PBL [Teodor LACO]; New Democratic Party or NDP [Genc POLLO]; OMONIA [Vagjelis DULES]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQUIRI]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Unity for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vasil MELO, chairman]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

NA

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Background [time series]

In 1990 Albania ended 44 years of xenophobic communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven difficult as corrupt governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, a dilapidated infrastructure, widespread gangsterism, and disruptive political opponents. International observers judged local elections in 2001 to be acceptable and a step toward democratic development, but identified serious deficiencies which should be addressed through reforms in the Albanian electoral code.

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Interior Ministry Troops, Border Guards

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$56.5 million (FY02)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

1.49% (FY02)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 888,086 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 727,406 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

19 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 35,792 (2002 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 28.8% (male 528,678; female 493,531) 15-64 years: 64% (male 1,094,034; female 1,175,024) 65 years and over: 7.2% (male 111,524; female 142,050) (2002 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

18.59 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.49 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Gypsy, Serb, and 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 [time series]

less than 0.01% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 100 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

less than 100 (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

38.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages [time series]

Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 72.1 years female: 75.14 years (2002 est.) male: 69.27 years

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 9 and over can read and write total population: 93% (1997 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population [time series]

3,544,841 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.06% (2002 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10% note: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.27 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

the Albanian Government supports protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians outside of its borders in the Kosovo region of Serbia and Montenegro and in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia while continuing to seek regional cooperation; many Albanians illegally transit neighboring states to emigrate to western Europe

Illicit drugs [time series]

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 rapidly expanding in Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with regional trafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal aliens

Airports [time series]

11 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 2 over 3,047 m: 1

Heliports [time series]

1 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 18,000 km paved: 5,400 km unpaved: 12,600 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,423 GRT/20,837 DWT ships by type: cargo 7, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Croatia 1, Honduras 1 (2002 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 196 km; petroleum products 55 km; natural gas 64 km (1996)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore

Railways [time series]

total: 447 km standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2001 est.)

Waterways [time series]

43 km note: includes Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake Ohrid, and Lake Prespa (1990)