Page last updated on December 17, 2013

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, but was conquered by Italy in 1939. Communist partisans took over the country in 1944. Albania allied itself first with the USSR (until 1960), and then with China (to 1978). In the early 1990s, 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, dilapidated 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; however, each of Albania's post-communist elections have been marred by claims of electoral fraud. The 2009 general elections resulted in a coalition government, the first such in the country's history. Albania joined NATO in April 2009 and is a potential candidate for EU accession. 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.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece in the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
41 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Europe
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 28,748 sq km
country comparison to the world: 145
land: 27,398 sq km
water: 1,350 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 717 km
border countries: Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Montenegro 172 km, Kosovo 112 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
362 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 21.63%
permanent crops: 2.57%
other: 75.79% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,884 sq km (2006)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
41.7 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1.31 cu km/yr (43%/18%/39%)
per capita: 413.6 cu m/yr (2006)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents
Environment - international agreements:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
party to: Air Pollution, 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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Albanian(s)
adjective: Albanian
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach, Romani, Slavic dialects
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3,011,405 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 19.9% (male 316,240/female 282,958)
15-24 years: 19.6% (male 300,977/female 287,976)
25-54 years: 39.7% (male 568,330/female 626,949)
55-64 years: 10% (male 150,665/female 151,068)
65 years and over: 10.8% (male 153,818/female 172,424) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 45.7 %
youth dependency ratio: 30.1 %
elderly dependency ratio: 15.6 %
potential support ratio: 6.4 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 31.2 years
male: 29.9 years
female: 32.4 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.29% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12.57 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.36 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-3.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 52% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
TIRANA (capital) 419,000 (2011)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
23.9
note: Median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2009 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
27 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 129
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 13.65 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 123
male: 15.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 77.77 years
country comparison to the world: 60
male: 75.16 years
female: 80.67 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.49 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
69.3% (2008/09)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.3% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 98
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.11 physicians/1,000 population (2011)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.4 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
21.3% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 88
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.3% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 79
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 9 and over can read and write
total population: 96.8%
male: 98%
female: 95.7% (2011 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2003)
Child labor - children ages 5-14:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total number: 72,818
percentage: 12 % (2005 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 27.2%
country comparison to the world: 33
male: 26.2%
female: 28.3% (2009)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: Republic of Albania
conventional short form: Albania
local long form: Republika e Shqiperise
local short form: Shqiperia
former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: Tirana (Tirane)
geographic coordinates: 41 19 N, 19 49 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane, Vlore
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Independence Day, 28 November (1912) also known as Flag Day
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
several previous; latest approved by parliament 21 October 1998, adopted by popular referendum 22 November 1998, promulgated 28 November 1998; amended 2008, 2012 (2012)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
civil law system except in the northern rural areas where customary law known as the "Code of Leke" prevails
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of state: President of the Republic Bujar NISHANI (since 24 July 2012)
head of government: Prime Minister Edi Rama (since 10 September 2013)
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, nominated by the president, and approved by parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
elections: president is elected by the Assembly for a five-year term and is eligible for a second term (a candidate needs a three-fifths majority of the Assembly's 140 votes (84 votes) in one of the first three rounds of voting or a simple majority in round four or five to become president; up to five rounds of voting are held, if necessary); four election rounds held between 30 May and 11 June 2012 (next election to be held in 2017); prime minister appointed by the president on the proposal of the party or coalition of parties that has the majority of seats in the Assembly
election results: Bujar NISHANI elected president on fourth round of voting; Assembly vote (for first three rounds three-fifths majority, 84 votes, required; fourth round, a simple majority of votes is required): Bujar NISHANI 73 votes; note - NISHANI took office 24 July 2012
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
unicameral Assembly or Kuvendi (140 deputies; 100 deputies elected directly in single member electoral zones with an approximate number of voters; 40 deputies elected from multi-name lists of parties or party coalitions according to their respective order; elected for a four-year term)
elections: last held on 23 June 2013 (next to be held in 2017)
election results: percent of vote by party- PS 41.12%, PD 30.41%, LSI 10.44%, PR 3.04%, PDIU 2.59%, other 12.4%; seats by party- PS 66, PD 49, LSI 16, PDIU 4, PR 3, other 2
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
highest court(s): Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, including a chairman); Court of Cassation (consists of 14 judges, including the chief justice)
judge selection and term of office: Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president with the consent of the Assembly to serve single 9-year terms; chairman elected by the People's Assembly for single 3-year term; Court of Cassation judges, including the chairman, appointed by the president with the consent of the Assembly to serve single, 9-year terms)
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Alliance for Employment, Prosperity, and Integration or APMI (coalition of 25 centrist and center-right parties) [Sali BERISHA]:
Alliance for a European Albania or ASHE (coalition of 37 opposition parties from far left to right wing) [Edi RAMA]:
other parties:
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Red and Black Alliance [Kreshnik SPAHIU]
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EITI (candidate country), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Gilbert GALANXHI (since 5 January 2011)
chancery: 1312 18th Street NW, 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942
FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Alexander ARVIZU (since 10 November 2010)
embassy: Rruga e Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana
mailing address: US Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510
telephone: [355] (4) 2247285
FAX: [355] (4) 2232222
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
red with a black two-headed eagle in the center; the design is claimed to be that of 15th-century hero George Castriota SKANDERBEG, who led a successful uprising against the Turks that resulted in a short-lived independence for some Albanian regions (1443-78); an unsubstantiated explanation for the eagle symbol is the tradition that Albanians see themselves as descendants of the eagle; they refer to themselves as "Shkypetars," which translates as "sons of the eagle"
National symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
double-headed eagle
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "Hymni i Flamurit" (Hymn to the Flag)
lyrics/music: Aleksander Stavre DRENOVA/Ciprian PORUMBESCU
note: adopted 1912
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Albania, a formerly closed, centrally-planned state, is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. Macroeconomic growth averaged around 6% between 2004-08, but declined to about 3% in 2009-11, and 0.5% in 2012. Inflation is low and stable. The government has taken measures to curb violent crime, and recently adopted a fiscal reform package aimed at reducing the large gray economy and attracting foreign investment. Remittances, a significant catalyst for economic growth declined from 12-15% of GDP before the 2008 financial crisis to 8% of GDP in 2010, mostly from Albanians residing in Greece and Italy. The agricultural sector, which accounts for almost half of employment but only about one-fifth of GDP, is limited primarily to small family operations and subsistence farming because of lack of modern equipment, unclear property rights, and the prevalence of small, inefficient plots of land. Energy shortages because of a reliance on hydropower - 98% of the electrical power produced in Albania - and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure contribute to Albania's poor business environment and lack of success in attracting new foreign investment needed to expand the country's export base. FDI is among the lowest in the region, but the government has embarked on an ambitious program to improve the business climate through fiscal and legislative reforms. The completion of a new thermal power plant near Vlore has helped diversify generation capacity, and plans to upgrade transmission lines between Albania and Montenegro and Kosovo would help relieve the energy shortages. Also, with help from EU funds, the government is taking steps to improve the poor national road and rail network, a long-standing barrier to sustained economic growth. The country will continue to face challenges from increasing public debt, having slightly exceeded its former statutory limit of 60% of GDP in 2012. Strong trade, remittance, and banking sector ties with Greece and Italy make Albania vulnerable to spillover effects of the global financial crisis.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$25.93 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$12.38 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$8,000 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
14.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 87.3%
government consumption: 8.1%
investment in fixed capital: 24.9%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 34.4%
imports of goods and services: -54.6%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 18%
industry: 15.4%
services: 66.5%
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products; sheep
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
perfumes and cosmetic products, food and tobacco products; textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.098 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 47.8%
industry: 23%
services: 29.2%
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
note: these are official rates, but actual rates may exceed 30% due to preponderance of near-subsistence farming
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12.5% (2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 3.5%
highest 10%: 29% (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
34.5 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 89
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $3.054 billion
expenditures: $3.477 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
24.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-3.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
58.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10.88% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2.657 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$9.951 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$8.591 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$NA
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-1.314 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.123 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Italy 51.1%, Spain 9.2%, Turkey 6.3%, Greece 4.4% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$3.984 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Italy 31.9%, Greece 9.5%, China 6.4%, Germany 6%, Turkey 5.7% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$5.838 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
leke (ALL) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.481 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.669 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
301 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.475 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.621 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
90.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16,870 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8,997 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
172.4 million bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 62
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3,121 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
38,390 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
67.56 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
22,810 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
849.5 million cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 105
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.183 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
312,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 114
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.5 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 125
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
general assessment: despite new investment in fixed lines, teledensity remains low with roughly 10 fixed lines per 100 people; mobile-cellular telephone use is widespread and generally effective
domestic: offsetting the shortage of fixed line capacity, mobile-cellular phone service has been available since 1996; by 2011 multiple companies were providing mobile services and mobile teledensity had reached 100 per 100 persons; Internet broadband services initiated in 2005 but growth has been slow; Internet cafes are popular in Tirana and have started to spread outside the capital
international: country code - 355; submarine cable provides connectivity to Italy, Croatia, and Greece; the Trans-Balkan Line, a combination submarine cable and land fiber-optic system, provides additional connectivity to Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Turkey; international traffic carried by fiber-optic cable and, when necessary, by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece (2011)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3 public TV networks, one of which transmits by satellite to Albanian-language communities in neighboring countries; more than 60 private TV stations; many viewers can pick up Italian and Greek TV broadcasts via terrestrial reception; cable TV service is available; 2 public radio networks and roughly 25 private radio stations; several international broadcasters are available (2010)
Internet country code:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.al
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
15,528 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 124
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.3 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 91
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 183
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)
Heliports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 (2013)
Pipelines:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
gas 331 km; oil 249 km (2013)
Railways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 339 km
country comparison to the world: 117
standard gauge: 339 km 1.435-m gauge (2009)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 18,000 km
country comparison to the world: 116
paved: 7,020 km
unpaved: 10,980 km (2002)
Waterways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
41 km (on the Bojana River) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 104
Merchant marine:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 17
country comparison to the world: 99
by type: cargo 16, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1)
registered in other countries: 5 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Panama 4) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
major seaport(s): Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Land Forces Command, Navy Force Command, Air Forces Command (2013)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; 18 is the legal minimum age in case of general/partial compulsory mobilization (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 731,111
females age 16-49: 780,216 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 622,379
females age 16-49: 660,715 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 31,986
female: 29,533 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.49% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
stateless persons: 7,443 (2012)
Trafficking in persons:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
current situation: Albania is a source country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; Albanian victims of sexual exploitation are trafficked within Albania and in Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Kosovo, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, and the UK; some Albanian women become sex trafficking victims after accepting offers of legitimate jobs; Albanian children are forced to beg or perform other forms of forced labor; Filipino victims of labor trafficking were identified in Albania during 2012
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Albania does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government decreased its trafficking investigations, prosecutions, and convictions over the last year and, because of inconsistent implementation of operating procedures, continues to punish victims for unlawful acts that are a direct result of being subjected to sex trafficking; the high turnover rate of law enforcement personnel prevents progress at the local level in identifying and protecting trafficking victims; removal of the national anti-trafficking coordinator hinders efforts to implement the 2011 national action plan against trafficking; the government provides limited funding to NGO shelters (2013)