Albania

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

10 (2001)

Internet country code

.al

Internet users

12,000 (2001)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 2 (2001)

Telephone system

general assessment: Albania has the poorest telephone service in Europe with fewer than two telephones per 100 inhabitants; it is doubtful that every village has telephone service domestic: obsolete wire system; no longer provides a telephone for every village; in 1992, following the fall of the Communist government, peasants cut the wire to about 1,000 villages and used it to build fences international: inadequate; international traffic carried by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece

Telephones - main lines in use

120,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

250,000 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

3 (plus 58 repeaters) (2001)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $697 million expenditures: $1.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $368 million (2002 est.)

Currency

lek (ALL)

Currency code

ALL

Debt - external

$784 million (2000)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA: $315 million (top donors were Italy, EU, Germany) (2000 est.)

Economy - overview

Poor and backward by European standards, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. The government has taken measures to curb violent crime and to spur economic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by remittances from abroad of $400-$600 million annually, mostly from Greece and Italy; this helps offset the sizable trade deficit. Agriculture, which accounts for half of GDP, is held back because of frequent drought and the need to modernize equipment and consolidate small plots of land. Severe energy shortages are forcing small firms out of business, increasing unemployment, scaring off foreign investors, and spurring inflation. The government plans to boost energy imports to relieve the shortages. In addition, the government is moving to improve the poor national road network, a long-standing barrier to sustained economic growth.

Electricity - consumption

5.898 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

221 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

1.2 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

5.289 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 2.9% hydro: 97.1% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates

leke per US dollar - NA (2002), 143.49 (2001), 143.71 (2000), 137.69 (1999), 150.63 (1998)

Exports

$340 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Italy 76.6%, Germany 5.6%, Greece 2.7% (2002)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $15.69 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 49% industry: 27% services: 24% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7.3% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$1.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals

Imports - partners

Italy 39.4%, Greece 24.5%, Turkey 6%, Germany 5% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate

9% (2000 est.)

Industries

food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6% (2002 est.)

Labor force

1.283 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers and 261,000 domestically unemployed) (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 50%, industry and services 50%

Natural gas - consumption

30 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

30 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

3.316 billion cu m (37257)

Oil - consumption

22,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

5,952 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

185.5 million bbl (37257)

Population below poverty line

30% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

17% officially; may be as high as 30% (2001 est.)

Area

total: 28,748 sq km water: 1,350 sq km land: 27,398 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate

mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter

Coastline

362 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,753 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

41 00 N, 20 00 E

Geography - note

strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)

Irrigated land

3,400 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 720 km border countries: Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km

Land use

arable land: 21.09% permanent crops: 4.45% other: 74.46% (1998 est.)

Location

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, timber, nickel, hydropower

Terrain

mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast

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

Capital

Tirana

Constitution

a constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998; note - the opposition Democratic Party boycotted the vote

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador James F. JEFFREY embassy: Rruga Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana mailing address: U. S. Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Washington, DC 20521-9510 telephone: [355] (4) 247285 FAX: [355] (4) 232222

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Fatos TARIFA FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942 chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

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 nominated by the prime minister and approved by the president 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

Flag description

red with a black two-headed eagle in the center

Government type

emerging democracy

Independence

28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)

International organization participation

ACCT, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, 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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term)

Legal system

has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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 2.6%, PAD 2.5%; seats by party - PS 73, PD and coalition allies 46, NDP 6, PSD 4, PBDNJ 3, PASH 3, PAD 3, independents 2

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1912)

Political parties and leaders

Agrarian Party of Albania or PASH [Lufter XHUVELI]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Zef BUSHATI]; Communist Party of Albania or PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance or PAD [Nerltan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality Movement Party or PLL [Guri DUROLLARI]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Abaz ERMENJI]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQUIRI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social Democracy or DS [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 [Vasil MELO]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Omonia [Vangjel DULES]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Background

Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven difficult as corrupt governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, a dilapidated infrastructure, widespread gangsterism, and disruptive political opponents. International observers judged legislative elections in 2001 to be acceptable and a step toward democratic development, but identified serious deficiencies that should be addressed through reforms in the Albanian electoral code.

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Interior Ministry Troops, Border Guards

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$56.5 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.49% (FY02)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 906,168 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 742,837 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

19 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 36,985 (2003 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 28.1% (male 520,714; female 486,911) 15-64 years: 64.6% (male 1,115,887; female 1,196,477) 65 years and over: 7.3% (male 115,754; female 146,462) (2003 est.)

Birth rate

18.2 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate

6.48 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups

Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Gypsy, Serb, 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)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 37.28 deaths/1,000 live births female: 34.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 39.68 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.37 years male: 69.53 years female: 75.42 years (2003 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 9 and over can read and write total population: 86.5% male: 93.3% female: 79.5% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 26.5 years male: 24.8 years female: 28.1 years (2002)

Nationality

noun: Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian

Net migration rate

-1.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population

3,582,205 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

1.03% (2003 est.)

Religions

Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10% note: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.22 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Disputes - international

the Albanian Government calls for the protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians outside its borders in the Kosovo region of Serbia and Montenegro, and in the northern Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, while continuing to seek regional cooperation; some outside ethnic Albanian groups voice union with Albania

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

Airports

12 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 over 3,047 m: 1

Heliports

1 (2002)

Highways

total: 18,000 km paved: 5,400 km unpaved: 12,600 km (2000)

Merchant marine

total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 21,954 GRT/34,412 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 11, roll on/roll off 1, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Croatia 1, Honduras 1 (2002 est.)

Pipelines

gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2003)

Ports and harbors

Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore

Railways

total: 447 km standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)

Waterways

43 km note: includes Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake Ohrid, and Lake Prespa (1990)