Long Name: Republic of Albania
Short Name (local): Shqiperia
Long Name (local): Republika e Shqiperise
Member of European Union: No
International Dialing Code: +355
Capital City: Tirana
Foreign Embassies in Albania: Australia | Canada | U.K. | U.S.
Embassies and Visa Information: In Australia | In Canada | In the U.K. | In the U.S.
Nationality: Noun - Albanian(s), Adjective - Albanian
Government Type: Emerging democracy
Ethnic Groups: Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Roma (Gypsy), Serb, and Macedonian or Bulgarian) (1989 est.); other estimates of the Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization) in 1989
Religions: Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10% (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), GreekMonetary Unit: 1 lek = 100 qindars
Area: 28,748 sq km - slightly smaller than Maryland
Climate: Mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
Population: 3,544,808 (July 2004 est.)
Sex Ratio: 1.04 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Median Age: 28.2 years, male 27.6 years, female 28.7 years (2004 est.)
Life Expectancy: 77.06 years, male 74.37 years, female 80.02 years (2004 est.)
Population Growth Rate: 0.51% (2004 est.)
Net Migration Rate: -4.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Population Below Poverty Line: 30% (2001 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 15.8% officially; may be as high as 30% (2003 est.)
Gross National Income: US$1,740 (2003, World Bank)
Export Commodities: textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco
Export Partners: Italy 73.2%, Germany 5%, Greece 4.3% (2003 est.)
Import Commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals
Import Partners: Italy 37.9%, Greece 21.3%, Turkey 5.9%, Germany 5.4% (2003 est.)
Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower
Public Television: Albanian TV (RTSh)
Public Radio: Albanian Radio (RTSh)
Graphics and statistics are public domain courtesy of The CIA World Factbook.
Outline map courtesy of WorldAtlas.com.
