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REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
Location:Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro.
Geographic coordinates:41 00 N, 20 00 E
Area: 28,750 sq km
Coastline:362 km
Climate:mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
Population:3,544,808
Ethnic groups:Albanian 95%, Greeks 3%, other 2% (Vlachs, Gypsies, Serbs, and Bulgarians)
Languages:Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek
conventional long form: Republic of Albania
Government type:emerging democracy
Capital:Tirana
Administrative divisions:36 districts (rrethe, singular—rreth) and 1 municipality* (bashki); Berat, Bulqizë, Delvinë, Devoll (Bilisht), Dibër (Peshkopi), Durrës, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokastër, Gramsh, Has (Krumë), Kavajë, Kolonjë (Ersekë), Korçë, Krujë, Kuçovë, Kukës, Laç, Lezhë, Librazhd, Lushnjë, Malësi e Madhe (Koplik), Mallakastër (Ballsh), Mat (Burrel), Mirditë (Rreshen), Peqin, Përmet, Pogradec, Pukë, Sarandë, Shkodër, Skrapar (Çorovodë), Tepelenë, Tiranë (Tirana), Tiranë* (Tirana), Tropojë (Bajram Curri), Vlorë
Independence:28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)
Economy:An extremely poor country by European standards, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more open-market economy. The economy continues to be bolstered by remittances of some 20% of the labor force which works abroad, mostly in Greece and Italy. These remittances supplement GDP and help offset the large foreign trade deficit. Most agricultural land was privatized in 1992, substantially improving peasant incomes. In 1998,Albania probably recovered most if not all of the 7% drop in GDP of 1997.
Religions:Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, timber, nickel
7/24/2008
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