Albania

.al

852 (2007)

471,200 (2006)

AM 13, FM 46, shortwave 1 (2005)

general assessment: despite new investment in fixed lines, the density of main lines remains low with roughly 10 lines per 100 people; however, cellular telephone use is widespread and generally effective; combined fixed line and mobile telephone density is approximately 60 telephones per 100 persons 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; Internet broadband services initiated in 2005; 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 (2007)

353,600 (2005)

1.53 million (2005)

65 (3 national, 62 local); 2 cable networks (2005)

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

revenues: $2.608 billion expenditures: $3.1 billion (2007 est.)

lek (ALL) note: the plural of lek is leke

$-670.8 million (2006 est.)

$1.55 billion (2004)

26.7 (2005)

ODA: $318.7 million note: top donors were Italy, EU, Germany (2005 est.)

Lagging behind its Balkan neighbors, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. The government has taken measures to curb violent crime and reduce the large gray economy. The economy is bolstered by annual remittances from abroad of $600-$800 million, mostly from Albanians residing in Greece and Italy; this helps offset the towering trade deficit. Agriculture, which accounts for about one-quarter of GDP, is held back because of lack of modern equipment, unclear property rights, and the prevalence of small, inefficient 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 eventually 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 2003-06 and inflation is low and stable.

3.323 billion kWh (2005)

300 million kWh (2005)

371 million kWh (2005)

5.385 billion kWh (2005)

leke per US dollar - 98.384 (2006), 102.649 (2005), 102.78 (2004), 121.863 (2003), 140.155 (2002)

$792.9 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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

Italy 67.7%, Serbia and Montenegro 5.8%, Greece 5.4% (2006)

calendar year

$9.306 billion (2006 est.)

$20.46 billion note: Albania has a large gray economy that may be as large as 50% of official GDP (2006 est.)

agriculture: 22.3% industry: 20.9% services: 56.9% (2006 est.)

$5,700 (2006 est.)

5% (2006 est.)

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% (2004)

$2.916 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals

Italy 32.1%, Greece 17.7%, Turkey 8.1%, Germany 5.7% (2006)

3.4% (2005 est.)

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

2.4% (2006 est.)

23.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

1.09 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers) (September 2006 est.)

agriculture: 58% industry: 15% services: 27% (September 2006 est.)

$NA

28.77 million cu m (2005 est.)

0 cu m (2005 est.)

0 cu m (2005)

28.77 million cu m (2005 est.)

814.7 million cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

25,200 bbl/day (2005 est.)

1,240 bbl/day (2004 est.)

21,600 bbl/day (2005 est.)

3,600 bbl/day (2005 est.)

165 million bbl (1 January 2006)

25% (2004 est.)

$1.813 billion (2006 est.)

13.8% official rate, but may exceed 30% due to preponderance of near-subsistence farming (2006 est.)

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

slightly smaller than Maryland

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

362 km

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m

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

party to: 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

41 00 N, 20 00 E

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

3,530 sq km (2003)

total: 720 km border countries: Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Montenegro 172 km, Serbia 115 km

arable land: 20.1% permanent crops: 4.21% other: 75.69% (2005)

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece in the south and Montenegro and Serbia to the north

Europe

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

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

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

mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast

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

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

adopted by popular referendum on 22 November 1998; promulgated 28 November 1998

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

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. John L. WITHERS, II embassy: Rruga e Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana mailing address: US Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510 telephone: [355] (4) 247285 FAX: [355] (4) 232222

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

chief of state: President of the Republic Bamir TOPI (since 24 July 2007) 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); four election rounds held between 8 and 20 July 2007 (next election to be held in 2012); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Bamir TOPI elected president; People's Assembly vote, fourth round (three-fifths majority (84 votes) required): Bamir TOPI 85 votes, Neritan CEKA 5 votes

red with a black two-headed eagle in the center

emerging democracy

28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)

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, OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term), and multiple appeals and district courts

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

unicameral Assembly or Kuvendi (140 seats; 100 members are elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote to serve 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

Independence Day, 28 November (1912)

Agrarian Environmentalist Party or PAA [Lufter XHUVELI]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Nard NDOKA]; Communist Party of Albania or PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or AD [Neritan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality Movement Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIU]; Liberal Union Party or BLD [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 PDRN [Dashamir SHEHI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social Democracy Party of Albania or PDSSh [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]

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 [Erion VELIAJ]; Omonia [Jani JANI]; Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA]

18 years of age; universal

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.

males age 19-49: 809,524 females age 19-49: 784,199 (2005 est.)

males age 19-49: 668,526 females age 19-49: 648,334 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49: 37,407 females age 19-49: 34,587 (2005 est.)

Land Forces Command (Army), Naval Forces Command, Air Defense Command, General Staff Headquarters (includes Logistics Command, Training and Doctrine Command) (2007)

1.49% (2005 est.)

19 years of age (2004)

0-14 years: 24.1% (male 454,622/female 413,698) 15-64 years: 66.6% (male 1,228,497/female 1,170,489) 65 years and over: 9.3% (male 154,352/female 178,865) (2007 est.)

15.16 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

5.33 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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)

NA

NA

NA

total: 20.02 deaths/1,000 live births male: 20.46 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

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

total population: 77.6 years male: 74.95 years female: 80.53 years (2007 est.)

definition: age 9 and over can read and write total population: 98.7% male: 99.2% female: 98.3% (2001 census)

total: 29.2 years male: 28.6 years female: 29.8 years (2007 est.)

noun: Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian

-4.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

3,600,523 (July 2007 est.)

0.529% (2007 est.)

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

at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.099 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.863 male(s)/female total population: 1.042 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

2.03 children born/woman (2007 est.)

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

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 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

11 (2007)

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2007)

total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

1 (2007)

total: 24 ships (1000 GRT or over) 56,550 GRT/85,521 DWT by type: cargo 23, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1) registered in other countries: 3 (Georgia 2, Panama 1) (2007)

gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2006)

Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore

total: 447 km standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

total: 18,000 km paved: 7,020 km unpaved: 10,980 km (2002)

43 km (2007)