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| Introduction | Albania |
| Background: | Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven difficult as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a dilapidated infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks with links to high government officials, and disruptive political opponents. International observers judged parliamentary elections in 2001 to be acceptable and a step toward democratic development, but identified serious deficiencies. Some of these were addressed through reforms in the Albanian electoral code prior to the nationwide municipal elections in 2003. |
| People | Albania |
| Population: | 3,544,808 (July 2004 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 26.4% (male 489,363; female 446,586) 15-64 years: 65.3% (male 1,184,670; female 1,130,065) 65 years and over: 8.3% (male 135,177; female 158,947) (2004 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 28.2 years male: 27.6 years female: 28.7 years (2004 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.51% (2004 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 15.08 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Death rate: | 5.02 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -4.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 22.31 deaths/1,000 live births female: 21.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 23.01 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 77.06 years male: 74.37 years female: 80.02 years (2004 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.05 children born/woman (2004 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, and 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 |
| Languages: | Albanian (official - Tosk is the official dialect), Greek |
| Literacy: | definition: age 9 and over can read and write total population: 86.5% male: 93.3% female: 79.5% (2003 est.) |
| Government | Albania |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Albania conventional short form: Albania local short form: Shqiperia former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania local long form: Republika e Shqiperise |
| Government type: | emerging democracy |
| Capital: | Tirana |
| Administrative divisions: | 12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Qarku i Beratit, Qarku i Dibres, Qarku i Durresit, Qarku i Elbasanit, Qarku i Fierit, Qarku i Gjirokastres, Qarku i Korces, Qarku i Kukesit, Qarku i Lezhes, Qarku i Shkodres, Qarku i Tiranes, Qarku i Vlores |
| Independence: | 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 28 November (1912) |
| Constitution: | a constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 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 July 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Fatos NANO (since 31 July 2002) 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; election last held 24 June 2002 (next to be held NA June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Alfred MOISIU elected president; People's Assembly vote by number - total votes 116, for 97, against 19 |
| Legislative branch: | unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (140 seats; 100 are elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote for four-year terms) elections: last held 24 June 2001 with subsequent rounds on 8 July, 22 July, 29 July, 19 August 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005) election results: percent of vote by party - PS 41.5%, PD and coalition allies 36.8%, NDP 5.2%, PSD 3.6%, PBDNJ 2.6%, PASH (now PAA) 2.6%, PAD 2.5%; seats by party - PS 73, PD and coalition allies 46, NDP 6, PSD 4, PBDNJ 3, PASH (now PAA) 3, PAD 3, independents 2 |
| 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: | Environmentalist Agrarian Party or PAA [Lufter XHUVELI]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Nikolle LESI]; Communist Party of Albania or PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or PAD [Neritan CEKA]; Democratic Alliance Party II or PAD II [Arben IMAMI]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality Movement Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIU]; Liberal Democratic Union Party or PBLD [Teodor LACO]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Shpetim RROQI]; New Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Reformed Democratic Party or PDR [Dashamir SHEHI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social Democracy Party or PDS [Paskal MILO]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albanian Party of Labor) [Fatos NANO]; Union for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vangjel DULE] note: the New (of Reformed) Democratic Party split into two groups - one led by Genc POLLO, the other by Dashamir SHEHI |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania or KSSH [Kastriot MUCO]; Front for Albanian National Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI]; Omonia [Jani JANI]; Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA] |
| International organization participation: | ACCT, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Fatos TARIFA chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Marcie B. RIES embassy: Rruga Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana mailing address: U. S. Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510 telephone: [355] (4) 247285 FAX: [355] (4) 374957 |
| Flag description: | red with a black two-headed eagle in the center |
| Communications | Albania |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 255,000 (2003) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 1.1 million (2003) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: Despite new investment in fixed lines, the density of main lines remains the lowest in Europe with roughly 8 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 microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece (2003) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 2 (2001) |
| Radios: | 1 million (2001) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 3 (plus 58 repeaters) (2001) |
| Televisions: | 700,000 (2001) |
| Internet country code: | .al |
| Internet hosts: | 455 (2004) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 10 (2001) |
| Internet users: | 30,000 (2003) |
| Transportation | Albania |
| Railways: | total: 447 km standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2003) |
| Highways: | total: 18,000 km paved: 5,400 km unpaved: 12,600 km (2000) |
| Waterways: | 43 km (2004) |
| Pipelines: | gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2004) |
| Ports and harbors: | Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore |
| Merchant marine: | total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 40,878 GRT/62,676 DWT registered in other countries: 7 (2003 est.) by type: bulk 1, cargo 19, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: Denmark 1, Honduras 1, Netherlands 1 |
| Airports: | 11 (2003 est.) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2004 est.) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.) 914 to 1,523 m: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 |
| Heliports: | 1 (2003 est.) |
| Military | Albania |
| Military branches: | General Staff Headquarters, Land Forces Command (Army), Naval Forces Command, Air Forces Command, Doctrine and Exercises Command, Logistics Support Command |
| Military manpower - military age and obligation: | 19 years of age (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 956,107 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 775,422 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - reaching military age annually: | males: 36,584 (2004 est.) |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $56.5 million (FY02) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 1.49% (FY02) |
| Transnational Issues | Albania |
| 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 |
| Illicit drugs: | increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to a far lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; limited opium and growing cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and rapidly expanding in Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with regional trafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal aliens |
| This page was last updated on 16 December, 2004 |
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