President: Bamir Topi Prime minister: Sali Berisha
Head of state: Queen Beatrix Prime minister: Mark Rutte
Population
3,002,859
16,730,632
Life Expectancy
77.590 years
80.910 years
Capital City
Tirana (Tirane)
Amsterdam
Largest city
Tirana (population: 374,801)
Amsterdam (population: 741,636)
Human Development Index
0.807
0.958
GDP per capita
$7,800 US
$42,700 US
Literacy Rate
98.7%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
3.4
8.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
7.1%
37.8%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken ($4.6bn US)
Unemployment Rate
13.300%
4.400%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Abolished
Political System
emerging democracy
constitutional monarchy
Independence date
28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)
23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)
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
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
