Albania-
conventional long form: Republic of Albania-
Capital: Tirana
Type of Government: -
Administrative Divisions: -
Age Structure: -
Agriculture: -
Airports: -
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With Unpaved Runways:
Area: total: 28,748 sq km.
slightly smaller than Maryland
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 government officials, and disruptive political opponents. Albania has made incremental progress in its democratic development since first holding multiiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain - particularly in regard to the rule of law. Despite some lingering problems, international observers have judged elections to be largely free and fair since the restoration of political stability following the collapse of pyramid schemes in 1997. In the 2005 general elections, the Democratic Party and its allies won a decisive victory on pledges of reducing crime and corruption, promoting economic growth, and decreasing the size of government. 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. Albania has played a largely helpful role in managing inter-ethnic tensions in southeastern Europe, and is continuing to work toward joining NATO and the EU.-
Birth rate: -
Budget:
Coastline: 362 km-
Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
Communications: -
Constitution:
Currency:
Current account balance: $-475 million (2005 est.)-
Death rate: -
Debt - external: -
Dependency status: -
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Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marcie B. RIES
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Acting Ambassador Kreshink COLLAKU-
Disputes - international: -
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Economic aid - donor: -
Economic aid - recipient:
Economy - overview: Lagging behind its Balkan neighbors, 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 annual remittances from abroad of $600-$800 million, mostly from Greece and Italy; this helps offset the towering trade deficit. Agriculture, which accounts for about one-quarter of GDP, is held back because of frequent drought and the need to modernize equipment, to clarify property rights, and to consolidate small plots of land. Energy shortages and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure contribute to Albania's poor business environment, which make it difficult to attract and sustain foreign investment. The planned construction of a new thermal power plant near Vlore and improved transmission and distribution facilities will help relieve the energy shortages. Also, the government is moving slowly to improve the poor national road and rail network, a long-standing barrier to sustained economic growth. On the positive side: growth was strong in 2003-05 and inflation is not a problem.-
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Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents-
Environment - International Agreements: -
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Exchange rates:
Executive branch: chief of state: President of the Republic Alfred MOISIU (since 24 July 2002)-
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Flag description: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center-
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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)-
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Internet country code:
Internet hosts: 455 (2004)-
Internet users:
Investment (gross fixed): 22.6% of GDP (2005 est.)-
Irrigated land: -
Judicial branch: -
Labor force: -
Labor force - by occupation:
Land boundaries: total: 720 km-
Land use:
Languages: Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach, Romani, Slavic dialects
Legal system: has a civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; has accepted jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court for its citizens-
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Life expectancy at birth: -
Literacy:
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro-
Major infectious diseases: -
Manpower available for military service: -
Manpower fit for military service: -
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Map references: Europe-
Maritime claims: -
Median age:
Merchant marine: total: 25 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 40,878 GRT/62,676 DWT-
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Population: 3,563,112 (July 2005 est.)-
Population below poverty line: -
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Radio broadcast stations:
Railways: total: 447 km-
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $1.45 billion (2005 est.)-
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