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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]

312,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 114

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

3.5 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 125

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $3.054 billion expenditures: $3.477 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-3.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

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]

10.88% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 12.43% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

$-1.314 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 $-1.65 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$5.838 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 $5.938 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: 89 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 - 108.19 (2012 est.) 100.9 (2011 est.) 103.94 (2010 est.) 94.98 (2009) 79.55 (2008)

Exports [time series]

$1.123 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 $962.1 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Italy 51.1%, Spain 9.2%, Turkey 6.3%, Greece 4.4% (2012)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$12.38 billion (2012 est.)

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

$25.93 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $25.52 billion (2011 est.) $24.83 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 end use [time series]

household consumption: 87.3% government consumption: 8.1% investment in fixed capital: 24.9% investment in inventories: 0% exports of goods and services: 34.4% imports of goods and services: -54.6% (2012 est.)

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

agriculture: 18% industry: 15.4% services: 66.5% (2012 est.)

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

$8,000 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 $7,900 (2011 est.) $7,700 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

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

1.6% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 147 2.8% (2011 est.) 3.8% (2010 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

14.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 107 12.6% of GDP (2011 est.) 14.4% of GDP (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 29% (2008)

Imports [time series]

$3.984 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 138 $4.461 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

Italy 31.9%, Greece 9.5%, China 6.4%, Germany 6%, Turkey 5.7% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Industries [time series]

perfumes and cosmetic products, food and tobacco products; textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 3.5% (2011 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.098 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 47.8% industry: 23% services: 29.2% (September 2010 es)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Population below poverty line [time series]

12.5% (2008 est.)

Public debt [time series]

58.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 58.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$2.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 $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: 107 $9.426 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$8.591 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 $8.408 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$2.657 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 119 $2.575 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

24.7% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Unemployment rate [time series]

13% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 13.4% (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]

4.183 million Mt (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Crude oil - exports [time series]

8,997 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Crude oil - production [time series]

16,870 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

172.4 million bbl (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 62

Electricity - consumption [time series]

4.669 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Electricity - exports [time series]

301 million kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

9.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

90.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Electricity - imports [time series]

3.475 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

1.621 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Electricity - production [time series]

7.481 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

10 million cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Natural gas - production [time series]

10 million cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

849.5 million cu m (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 105

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

38,390 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

67.56 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

22,810 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

3,121 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Geography

Area [time series]

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: 1.31 cu km/yr (43%/18%/39%) per capita: 413.6 cu m/yr (2006)

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]

1,884 sq km (2006)

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: 21.63% permanent crops: 2.57% other: 75.79% (2011)

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 (2011)

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]

several previous; latest approved by parliament 21 October 1998, adopted by popular referendum 22 November 1998, promulgated 28 November 1998; amended 2008, 2012 (2012)

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 (since 10 November 2010) 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 (since 5 January 2011) chancery: 1312 18th Street NW, 4th Floor, 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 Edi Rama (since 10 September 2013) 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 is elected by the Assembly for a five-year term and is eligible for a second term (a candidate needs a three-fifths majority of the Assembly's 140 votes (84 votes) in one of the first three rounds of voting or a simple majority in round four or five to become president; up to five rounds of voting are held, if necessary); 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]

highest court(s): Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, including a chairman); Court of Cassation (consists of 14 judges, including the chief justice) judge selection and term of office: Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president with the consent of the Assembly to serve single 9-year terms; chairman elected by the People's Assembly for single 3-year term; Court of Cassation judges, including the chairman, appointed by the president with the consent of the Assembly to serve single, 9-year terms) subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; 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 four-year term) elections: last held on 23 June 2013 (next to be held in 2017) election results: percent of vote by party- PS 41.12%, PD 30.41%, LSI 10.44%, PR 3.04%, PDIU 2.59%, other 12.4%; seats by party- PS 66, PD 49, LSI 16, PDIU 4, PR 3, other 2

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Hymni i Flamurit" (Hymn to the Flag)

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]

Alliance for Employment, Prosperity, and Integration or APMI (coalition of 25 centrist and center-right parties) [Sali BERISHA]: Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA] New Democracy Party or PDR [Genc POLLO] Party for Justice, Integration and Unity or PDIU [Shpetim IDRIZI] Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU] Alliance for a European Albania or ASHE (coalition of 37 opposition parties from far left to right wing) [Edi RAMA]: 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] other parties: New Democratic Spirit or FRD [Bamir TOPI]

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, dilapidated 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, each of Albania's post-communist elections have been marred by claims of electoral fraud. 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, Navy Force Command, Air Forces Command (2013)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.49% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Military service age and obligation [time series]

19 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; 18 is the legal minimum age in case of general/partial compulsory mobilization (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 19.9% (male 316,240/female 282,958) 15-24 years: 19.6% (male 300,977/female 287,976) 25-54 years: 39.7% (male 568,330/female 626,949) 55-64 years: 10% (male 150,665/female 151,068) 65 years and over: 10.8% (male 153,818/female 172,424) (2013 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

12.57 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Child labor - children ages 5-14 [time series]

total number: 72,818 percentage: 12 % (2005 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

6.3% (2009) country comparison to the world: 79

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

69.3% (2008/09)

Death rate [time series]

6.36 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 45.7 % youth dependency ratio: 30.1 % elderly dependency ratio: 15.6 % potential support ratio: 6.4 (2013)

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 96% of population rural: 94% of population total: 95% of population unimproved: urban: 4% of population rural: 6% of population total: 5% of population (2010 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

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]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

6.3% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 98

Hospital bed density [time series]

2.4 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 13.65 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 123 male: 15.18 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.77 years country comparison to the world: 60 male: 75.16 years female: 80.67 years (2013 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 9 and over can read and write total population: 96.8% male: 98% female: 95.7% (2011 est.)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

TIRANA (capital) 419,000 (2011)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

27 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 129

Median age [time series]

total: 31.2 years male: 29.9 years female: 32.4 years (2013 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

23.9 note: Median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

21.3% (2008) country comparison to the world: 88

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

1.11 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population [time series]

3,011,405 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Population growth rate [time series]

0.29% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

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: 95% of population rural: 93% of population total: 94% of population unimproved: urban: 5% of population rural: 7% of population total: 6% of population (2010 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2003)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.49 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 27.2% country comparison to the world: 33 male: 26.2% female: 28.3% (2009)

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

stateless persons: 7,443 (2012)

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Albania is a source country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; Albanian victims of sexual exploitation are trafficked within Albania and in Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Kosovo, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, and the UK; some Albanian women become sex trafficking victims after accepting offers of legitimate jobs; Albanian children are forced to beg or perform other forms of forced labor; Filipino victims of labor trafficking were identified in Albania during 2012 tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Albania does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government decreased its trafficking investigations, prosecutions, and convictions over the last year and, because of inconsistent implementation of operating procedures, continues to punish victims for unlawful acts that are a direct result of being subjected to sex trafficking; the high turnover rate of law enforcement personnel prevents progress at the local level in identifying and protecting trafficking victims; removal of the national anti-trafficking coordinator hinders efforts to implement the 2011 national action plan against trafficking; the government provides limited funding to NGO shelters (2013)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

4 (2013) country comparison to the world: 183

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2013)

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 331 km; oil 249 km (2013)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): 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: 116 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