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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.al

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

455 (2004)

Internet users [time series]

30,000 (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 2 (2001)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: Despite new investment in fixed lines, the density of main lines remains the lowest in Europe with roughly 8 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 microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece (2003)

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

255,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1.1 million (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

3 (plus 58 repeaters) (2001)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.36 billion expenditures: $1.627 billion, including capital expenditures of $406 million (2003 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

lek (ALL)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

ALL

Current account balance [time series]

$-407 million (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.41 billion (2003)

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 spur economic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by remittances from abroad of $400-$600 million annually, mostly from Greece and Italy; this helps offset the sizable trade deficit. Agriculture, which accounts for one-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 and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure make it difficult to attract and sustain foreign investment. The government plans to boost energy imports to relieve the shortages and is moving slowly to improve the poor national road and rail network, a long-standing barrier to sustained economic growth.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

5.898 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

221 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

1.2 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

5.289 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

leke per US dollar - 121.863 (2003), 140.155 (2002), 143.485 (2001), 143.709 (2000), 137.691 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$425 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Italy 74.9%, Greece 12.8%, Germany 3.4% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $16.13 billion (2003 est.)

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

agriculture: 47.5% industry: 24.6% services: 27.8% (2003 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $4,500 (2003 est.)

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

7% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$1.76 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

Italy 33.6%, Greece 20.2%, Turkey 6.6%, Germany 5.7% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2.7% (2003 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.4% (2003)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

18.7% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

1.35 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers) (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 57%, non-agricultural private sector 20%, public sector 23% (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

30 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

30 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

3.316 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption [time series]

22,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

5,952 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

185.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line [time series]

30% (2001 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$1.038 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

15.8% officially; may be as high as 30% (2003 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 28,748 sq km land: 27,398 sq km water: 1,350 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) 2,764 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, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, 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, Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 21.09% permanent crops: 4.42% other: 74.49% (2001)

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]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast

Government

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

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Marcie B. RIES embassy: Rruga Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana mailing address: U. S. Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510 telephone: [355] (4) 247285 FAX: [355] (4) 374957 and [355] (4) 232222

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

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 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; 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, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

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 [time series]

has a civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; has accepted jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court for its citizens

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 2001 with subsequent rounds on 8 July, 22 July, 29 July, 19 August 2001 (next to be held July 2005) election results: percent of vote by party - PS 41.5%, PD and coalition allies 36.8%, PDR 5.2%, PSD 3.6%, PBDNJ 2.6%, PASH (now PAA) 2.6%, PAD 2.5%; seats by party - PS 73, PD and coalition allies 46, PDR 6, PSD 4, PBDNJ 3, PASH (now PAA) 3, PAD 3, independents 2; note - seats by party as of January 2005: PS 65, PD and coalition allies 46, LSI 9, PDR 6, PSD 3, PBDNJ 3, PASH (now PAA) 3, PAD 3, PDS 1, independents 1

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 28 November (1912)

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

Agrarian Environmentalist Party or PAA [Lufter XHUVELI]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Nikolle LESI]; Communist Party of Albania or PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or PAD [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 PBK [Adriatik ALIMADHI]; New Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Renewed Democratic Party or PDR [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 (formerly the Albanian Party of Labor) [Fatos NANO]; Union for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vangjel DULE]

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

Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania or KSSH [Kastriot MUCO]; Front for Albanian National Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI]; Omonia [Jani JANI]; Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven difficult as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a dilapidated infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks with links to high government officials, and disruptive political opponents. International observers judged parliamentary elections in 2001 and local elections in 2003 to be acceptable and a step toward democratic development, but identified serious deficiencies. Many of these deficiencies have been addressed through bi-partisan changes to the electoral code in 2003 and 2005, but implementation of these changes will not be demonstrated until parliamentary elections in July 2005.

Military

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

General Staff Headquarters, Land Forces Command (Army), Naval Forces Command, Air Forces Command, Doctrine and Exercises Command, Logistics Support Command

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: 956,107 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 775,422 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

19 years of age (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 36,584 (2004 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 26.4% (male 489,363; female 446,586) 15-64 years: 65.3% (male 1,184,670; female 1,130,065) 65 years and over: 8.3% (male 135,177; female 158,947) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.08 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.02 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Roma (Gypsy), Serb, and Macedonian or 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]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 22.31 deaths/1,000 live births male: 23.01 deaths/1,000 live births female: 21.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.06 years male: 74.37 years female: 80.02 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 9 and over can read and write total population: 86.5% male: 93.3% female: 79.5% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 28.2 years male: 27.6 years female: 28.7 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian

Net migration rate [time series]

-4.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

3,544,808 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.51% (2004 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

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: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.05 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

11 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2003 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 18,000 km paved: 5,400 km unpaved: 12,600 km (2000)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 40,878 GRT/62,676 DWT by type: bulk 1, cargo 19, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: Denmark 1, Honduras 1, Netherlands 1 registered in other countries: 7 (2004 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2004)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore

Railways [time series]

total: 447 km standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2003)

Waterways [time series]

43 km (2004)