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.
Location
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro
Geographic coordinates
41 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references
Europe
Area
total
28,748 sq km
land
27,398 sq km
water
1,350 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries
total
720 km
border countries
Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Montenegro 172 km, Serbia 115 km
Coastline
362 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate
mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
Terrain
mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast
destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought
Environment - current issues
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents
Environment - international agreements
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
Geography - note
strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
Population
3,600,523 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
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.)
Median age
total
29.2 years
male
28.6 years
female
29.8 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
0.529% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
15.16 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
5.33 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
-4.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
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.)
Infant mortality rate
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.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
77.6 years
male
74.95 years
female
80.53 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.03 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Nationality
noun
Albanian(s)
adjective
Albanian
Ethnic groups
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)
Religions
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
adopted by popular referendum on 22 November 1998; promulgated 28 November 1998
Legal system
has a civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; has accepted jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court for its citizens
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
President of the Republic Alfred MOISIU (since 24 June 2002)
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); election last held 24 June 2002 (next to be held in June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president
election results
Alfred MOISIU elected president; People's Assembly vote by number - total votes 134: for 97, against 19, abstained 14, invalid votes 4
Legislative branch
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
Judicial branch
Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term), and multiple appeals and district courts
Political parties and leaders
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]
Political pressure groups and leaders
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]
leke per US dollar - 98.384 (2006), 102.649 (2005), 102.78 (2004), 121.863 (2003), 140.155 (2002)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use
255,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular
1.259 million (2004)
Telephone system
general assessment
despite new investment in fixed lines, the density of main lines remains the lowest in Europe with roughly 7 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 fiber optic cable and, when necessary, by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece (2003)
General Staff Headquarters, Land Forces Command (Army), Naval Forces Command, Air Defense Command, Logistics Command, Training and Doctrine Command (2007)
Military service age and obligation
19 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service
males age 19-49
809,524
females age 19-49
784,199 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 19-49
668,526
females age 19-49
648,334 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49
37,407
females age 19-49
34,587 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
1.49% (2005 est.)
Disputes - international
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
Illicit drugs
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
