Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
3 public TV networks, one of which transmits by satellite to Albanian-language communities in neighboring countries; more than 60 private TV stations; many viewers can pick up Italian and Greek TV broadcasts via terrestrial reception; cable TV service is available; 2 public radio networks and roughly 25 private radio stations; several international broadcasters are available (2010)
Internet country code [time series]
.al
Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]
15,528 (2012) country comparison to the world: 124
Internet users [time series]
1.3 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 91
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
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 2011 multiple companies were providing mobile services and mobile teledensity had reached 100 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 (2011)
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
338,800 (2011) country comparison to the world: 111
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
3.1 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 127
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products; sheep
Budget [time series]
revenues: $3.262 billion expenditures: $3.669 billion (2012 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-3.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
Central bank discount rate [time series]
5% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 5.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
13.2% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 12.43% (31 December 2011 est.)
Current account balance [time series]
-$1.45 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 126 -$1.695 billion (2011 est.)
Debt - external [time series]
$5.281 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 $5.188 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]
34.5 (2008) country comparison to the world: 87 26.7 (2005)
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
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, and 0.5% in 2012. 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, having slightly exceeded its former statutory limit of 60% of GDP in 2012. Strong trade, remittance, and banking sector ties with Greece and Italy make Albania vulnerable to spillover effects of the global financial crisis.
Exchange rates [time series]
leke (ALL) per US dollar - 103.3 (2012 est.) 100.9 (2011 est.) 103.94 (2010 est.) 94.98 (2009) 79.546 (2008)
Exports [time series]
$2.121 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 142 $1.954 billion (2011 est.)
Exports - commodities [time series]
textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco
Exports - partners [time series]
Italy 45.3%, China 7.8%, Turkey 6.3%, Greece 5.2%, Spain 5.1%, India 4.6% (2011)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$12.39 billion (2012 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$25.86 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 121 $25.73 billion (2011 est.) $24.98 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars Albania has an informal, and unreported, sector that may be as large as 50% of official GDP
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 20.4% industry: 19.1% services: 60.5% (2012 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$8,000 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 128 $7,800 (2011 est.) $7,500 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
0.5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 176 3% (2011 est.) 3.5% (2010 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 29% (2008)
Imports [time series]
$5.219 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 127 $5.076 billion (2011 est.)
Imports - commodities [time series]
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals
Imports - partners [time series]
Italy 33%, Greece 12.2%, China 5.9%, Turkey 5.6%, Germany 4.3% (2011)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 3.5% (2011 est.)
Investment (gross fixed) [time series]
25.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 42
Labor force [time series]
1.071 million (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 142
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 47.8% industry: 23% services: 29.2% (September 2010 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$NA
Population below poverty line [time series]
12.5% (2008 est.)
Public debt [time series]
60.6% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 58.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$2.35 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 117 $2.473 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of broad money [time series]
$9.951 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 $9.426 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$8.587 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 107 $8.408 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$2.677 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 119 $2.575 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
26.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 118
Unemployment rate [time series]
13% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 13.3% (2011 est.) note: these are official rates, but actual rates may exceed 30% due to preponderance of near-subsistence farming
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
4.893 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 124
Crude oil - exports [time series]
6,920 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Crude oil - production [time series]
15,520 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
199.1 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 62
Electricity - consumption [time series]
4.521 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 119
Electricity - exports [time series]
1.906 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 47
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
9.9% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 196
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
90.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 12
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 39
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 103
Electricity - imports [time series]
1.005 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 60
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
1.61 million kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 110
Electricity - production [time series]
5.209 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 116
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
30 million cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 112
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153
Natural gas - production [time series]
30 million cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
849.5 million cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 102
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
38,390 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
915 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 112
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
24,610 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
6,377 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 108
Geography
total: 28,748 sq km country comparison to the world: 145 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: 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
Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]
total: 1.71 cu km/yr (27%/11%/62%) per capita: 546 cu m/yr (2000)
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]
3,650 sq km (2003)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 717 km border countries: Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Montenegro 172 km, Kosovo 112 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 20.1% permanent crops: 4.21% other: 75.69% (2005)
Location [time series]
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece in the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north
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
Total renewable water resources [time series]
41.7 cu km (2001)
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane, Vlore
Capital [time series]
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
Constitution [time series]
approved by parliament 21 October 1998; adopted by popular referendum 22 November 1998; promulgated 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 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
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
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
Executive branch [time series]
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 theWorld 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 on the proposal of the party or coalition of parties that has the majority of seats in the Assembly 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 took office 24 July 2012
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
red with a black two-headed eagle in the center; the design is claimed to be that of 15th-century hero George Castriota SKANDERBEG, who led a successful uprising against the Turks that resulted in a short-lived independence for some Albanian regions (1443-78); an unsubstantiated explanation for the eagle symbol is the tradition that Albanians see themselves as descendants of the eagle; they refer to themselves as "Shkypetars," which translates as "sons of the eagle"
Government type [time series]
parliamentary democracy
Independence [time series]
28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)
International law organization participation [time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EITI (candidate country), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch [time series]
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
Legal system [time series]
civil law system except in the northern rural areas where customary law known as the "Code of Leke" prevails
Legislative branch [time series]
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 on 23 June 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PD 68, PS 65, LSI 4, other 3
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "Hymni i Flamurit" (Hymn to the Flag) lyrics/music: Aleksander Stavre DRENOVA/Ciprian PORUMBESCU note: adopted 1912
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 28 November (1912) also known as Flag Day
National symbol(s) [time series]
double-headed eagle
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; New Democracy Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; New Democratic Spirit or FRD [Bamir TOPI]; 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]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
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]
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
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 a coalition government, the first such in the country's history. 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.
Military
Manpower available for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 731,111 females age 16-49: 780,216 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 622,379 females age 16-49: 660,715 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]
male: 31,986 female: 29,533 (2010 est.)
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Land Forces Command, Air Forces Command, Training and Doctrine Command (2012)
Military expenditures [time series]
1.49% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 99
Military service age and obligation [time series]
19 years of age (2004)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 20.6% (male 325,922/ female 292,252) 15-64 years: 68.8% (male 1,009,217/ female 1,055,824) 65 years and over: 10.6% (male 150,901/ female 168,743) (2012 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
12.38 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
6.6% (2005) country comparison to the world: 75
Death rate [time series]
6.25 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
NA
Ethnic groups [time series]
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)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
6.9% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 84
Hospital bed density [time series]
2.92 beds/1,000 population (2007)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 14.12 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 123 male: 15.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
Languages [time series]
Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach, Romani, Slavic dialects
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 77.59 years country comparison to the world: 62 male: 74.99 years female: 80.49 years (2012 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 9 and over can read and write total population: 98.7% male: 99.2% female: 98.3% (2001 census)
Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]
TIRANA (capital) 433,000 (2009)
Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]
27 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 127
Median age [time series]
total: 30.9 years male: 29.6 years female: 32.1 years (2012 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian
Net migration rate [time series]
-3.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 180
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
1.146 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
Population [time series]
3,002,859 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Population growth rate [time series]
0.28% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 168
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
Sanitation facility access [time series]
improved: urban: 98% of population rural: 98% of population total: 98% of population unimproved: urban: 2% of population rural: 2% of population total: 2% of population
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2004)
Sex ratio [time series]
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.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.48 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 191
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 35.5% country comparison to the world: 10 male: 41.6% female: 27.1% (2001)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 52% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Illicit drugs [time series]
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 expanding 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]
5 (2012) country comparison to the world: 182
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2012)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)
Heliports [time series]
1 (2012)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 17 country comparison to the world: 99 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)
Pipelines [time series]
gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2010)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore
Railways [time series]
total: 339 km country comparison to the world: 117 standard gauge: 339 km 1.435-m gauge (2009)
Roadways [time series]
total: 18,000 km country comparison to the world: 115 paved: 7,020 km unpaved: 10,980 km (2002)
Waterways [time series]
41 km (on the Bojana River) (2011) country comparison to the world: 104