Country
Oman Albania
Leader
Population
3,154,134 3,011,405
Life Expectancy
74.720 years 77.770 years
Capital City
Muscat Tirana (Tirane)
Largest city
Muscat (population: 797,000) Tirana (population: 374,801)
Human Development Index
0.839 0.807 GDP per capita $28,500 US $8,000 US
Literacy Rate
81.4% 98.7%
Corruption Perception Index
5.5 3.4
Percentage of Women in Parliament
9.1% 7.1% Wealthiest Citizens Unemployment Rate 15.000% 13.000%
Death Penalty
Legal Abolished
Political System
monarchy emerging democracy
Independence date
1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese) 28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire) Religions Ibadhi Muslim 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu) 25% 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 Languages Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach, Romani, Slavic dialects Exports petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco External Debt $9,768,000,000 $ $5,281,000,000 US Exchange Rate Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar - 0.3845 (2008 est.), 0.3845 (2007), 0.3845 (2006), 0.3845 (2005), 0.3845 (2004) leke (ALL) per US dollar - 79.546 (2008 est.), 92.668 (2007), 98.384 (2006), 102.649 (2005), 102.78 (2004) Military Budget as percentage of GDP 11.400% 1.490% Beijing Olympics Medal Count Location Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece in the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north Area 309,500 km sq 28,748 km sq Coastline 2,092 km 362 km Climate dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
