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Europe :: Albania

- ## Introduction :: ALBANIA

- Background:
  Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, but was conquered by Italy in 1939, and occupied by Germany in 1943. 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, most of Albania's post-communist elections have been marred by claims of electoral fraud. Albania joined NATO in April 2009 and in June 2014 became a candidate for EU accession. Although Albania's economy continues to grow, it has slowed, and the country is still one of the poorest in Europe. A large informal economy and an inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure remain obstacles.

- ## Geography :: ALBANIA

- Location:
  Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece to the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north
  Geographic coordinates:
  41 00 N, 20 00 E
  Map references:
  Europe
  Area:
  total: 28,748 sq km
  land: 27,398 sq km
  water: 1,350 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 145
  Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than Maryland
  Land boundaries:
  total: 691 km
  border countries (4): Greece 212 km, Kosovo 112 km, Macedonia 181 km, Montenegro 186 km
  Coastline:
  362 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  Climate:
  mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
  Terrain:
  mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
  highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m
  Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower, arable land
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 43.8%
  arable land 22.7%; permanent crops 2.7%; permanent pasture 18.4%
  forest: 28.3%
  other: 27.9% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  1,027 sq km (2006)
  Total renewable water resources:
  41.7 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 1.31 cu km/yr (43%/18%/39%)
  per capita: 413.6 cu m/yr (2006)
  Natural hazards:
  destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought
  Environment - current issues:
  deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents
  Environment - international agreements:
  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:
  strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)

- ## People and Society :: ALBANIA

- Nationality:
  noun: Albanian(s)
  adjective: Albanian
  Ethnic groups:
  Albanian 82.6%, Greek 0.9%, other 1% (including Vlach, Roma (Gypsy), Macedonian, Montenegrin, and Egyptian), unspecified 15.5% (2011 est.)
  Languages:
  Albanian 98.8% (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek 0.5%, other 0.6% (including Macedonian, Roma, Vlach, Turkish, Italian, and Serbo-Croatian), unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
  Religions:
  Muslim 56.7%, Roman Catholic 10%, Orthodox 6.8%, atheist 2.5%, Bektashi (a Sufi order) 2.1%, other 5.7%, unspecified 16.2%
  note: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice (2011 est.)
  Population:
  3,029,278 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 138
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18.78% (male 300,661/female 268,369)
  15-24 years: 18.67% (male 291,479/female 274,019)
  25-54 years: 40.39% (male 582,207/female 641,361)
  55-64 years: 10.85% (male 163,003/female 165,805)
  65 years and over: 11.3% (male 160,913/female 181,461) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 44.8%
  youth dependency ratio: 26.9%
  elderly dependency ratio: 18%
  potential support ratio: 5.6% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 32 years
  male: 30.8 years
  female: 33.3 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.3% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Birth rate:
  12.92 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Death rate:
  6.58 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  Net migration rate:
  -3.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 184
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 57.4% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 2.21% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  TIRANA (capital) 454,000 (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 12.75 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 14.19 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 11.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 78.13 years
  male: 75.49 years
  female: 81.04 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Total fertility rate:
  1.5 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 196
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  69.3% (2008/09)
  Health expenditures:
  5.9% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Physicians density:
  1.15 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
  Hospital bed density:
  2.6 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 84.3% of population
  rural: 81.8% of population
  total: 83.6% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 15.7% of population
  rural: 18.2% of population
  total: 16.4% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 95.5% of population
  rural: 90.2% of population
  total: 93.2% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 4.5% of population
  rural: 9.8% of population
  total: 6.8% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.04% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  18.1% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 88
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  6.3% (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Education expenditures:
  3.3% of GDP (2007)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 97.6%
  male: 98.4%
  female: 96.9% (2015 est.)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 72,818
  percentage: 12% (2005 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 22.5%
  male: 23.8%
  female: 20.7% (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46

- ## Government :: ALBANIA

- Country name:
  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
  note: the English-language country name seems to be derived from the ancient Illyrian tribe of the Albani; the native name "Shqiperia" is popularly interpreted to mean "Land of the Eagles"
  Government type:
  parliamentary democracy
  Capital:
  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:
  12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane, Vlore
  Independence:
  28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 28 November (1912) also known as Flag Day
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest approved by parliament 21 October 1998, adopted by popular referendum 22 November 1998, promulgated 28 November 1998; amended 2007, 2008, 2012 (2014)
  Legal system:
  civil law system except in the northern rural areas where customary law known as the "Code of Leke" prevails
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Citizenship:
  birthright citizenship: no
  dual citizenship recognized:
  residency requirement for naturalization:
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President of the Republic Bujar NISHANI (since 24 July 2012)
  head of government: Prime Minister Edi RAMA (since 10 September 2013); Deputy Prime Minister Niko PELESHI
  cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, nominated by the president, and approved by the Assembly
  elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); a candidate needs three-fifths majority vote of the Assembly in one of three rounds or a simple majority in 2 additional rounds to become president; election last held in 4 rounds 30 May-11 June 2012 (next election to be held in 2017); prime minister appointed by the president on the proposal of the majority party or coalition of parties in the Assembly
  election results: Bujar NISHANI elected president; Assembly vote - 73 on fourth round
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Assembly or Kuvendi (140 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms); note - in late 2008, Albania replaced its mixed member electoral system with a proportional representation system
  note: seats by parliamentary group as of April 2015 - ASHE 88, APMI 50, 2 - outside of the majority and opposition groups
  elections: last held on 23 June 2013 (next to be held in 2017)
  election results: percent of vote by party - PS 41.36%, PD 30.63%, LSI 10.46%, PR 3.02%, PDIU 2.61%, other 11.92%; seats by party- PS 65, PD 50, LSI 16, PDIU 4, PR 3, other 2
  Judicial branch:
  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:
  Alliance for Employment, Welfare, and Integration or APMI (coalition of 24 centrist and center-right parties) [Sali BERISHA]:
  Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Nard NDOKA]
  Democratic Party or PD [Lulzim BASHA]
  Movement for National Development of LZHK [Dashamir SHEHI]
  Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]
  Alliance for a European Albania or ASHE (coalition of 38 parties from far left to right wing) [Edi RAMA]:
  Christian Democratic Party of PKD [Mark FRROKU]
  Party for Justice, Integration and Unity or PDIU [Shpetim IDRIZI]
  Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI [Ilir META]
  Socialist Party or PS [Edi RAMA]
  Union for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vangjel DULE]
  other parties:
  New Democratic Spirit or FRD [Bamir TOPI]
  note: only the major parties of each coalition are listed
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania or KSSH [Kol NIKOLLAJ]
  Omonia [Vasil BOLLANO]
  Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA]
  International organization participation:
  BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EITI (compliant country), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, 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:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Floreta FABER (since 18 May 2015)
  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:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Donald LU (since 13 January 2015)
  embassy: Rruga e Elbasanit, 103, Tirana
  mailing address: US Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510
  telephone: [355] (4) 2247-285
  FAX: [355] (4) 2232-222
  Flag description:
  red with a black two-headed eagle in the center; the design is claimed to be that of 15th-century hero George Kastrioti SKANDERBEG, who led a successful uprising against the Ottoman 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 "Shqiptare," which translates as "sons of the eagle"
  National symbol(s):
  double-headed eagle; national colors: red, black
  National anthem:
  name: "Hymni i Flamurit" (Hymn to the Flag)
  lyrics/music: Aleksander Stavre DRENOVA/Ciprian PORUMBESCU
  note: adopted 1912

- ## Economy :: ALBANIA

- Economy - overview:
  Albania, a formerly closed, centrally-planned state, is a developing country with a modern open-market economy. Albania managed to weather the first waves of the global financial crisis but, more recently, its negative effects have put some pressure on the Albanian economy, resulting in a significant economic slowdown. While the government is focused on establishing a favorable business climate through the simplification of licensing requirements and tax codes, it entered into a new arrangement with the IMF for additional financial and technical support. Remittances, a significant catalyst for economic growth, declined from 12-15% of GDP before the 2008 financial crisis to 5.7% of GDP in 2014, 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 a lack of modern equipment, unclear property rights, and the prevalence of small, inefficient plots of land. Complex tax codes and licensing requirements, a weak judicial system, endemic corruption, poor enforcement of contracts and property issues, and antiquated infrastructure contribute to Albania's poor business environment and make attracting foreign investment difficult. Inward FDI has significantly increased in recent years as the government has embarked on an ambitious program to improve the business climate through fiscal and legislative reforms. Albania’s electricity supply is uneven despite upgraded transmission capacities with neighboring countries. Technical and non-technical losses in electricity - including theft and non-payment - continue to undermine the financial viability of the entire system, although the government has taken steps to stem non-technical losses and begin to upgrade the distribution grid. Also, with help from international donors, 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 exceeded its former statutory limit of 60% of GDP in 2013 and reaching 72% in 2014. Strong trade, remittance, and banking sector ties with Greece and Italy make Albania vulnerable to spillover effects of debt crises and weak growth in the euro zone. The government will face critical tests in 2015 as it works to implement IMF-mandated reforms, especially those aimed at improving the electricity sector.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $30.66 billion (2014 est.)
  $29.54 billion (2013 est.)
  $28.98 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  unreported output may be as large as 50% of official GDP
  country comparison to the world: 123
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $13.26 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  1.9% (2014 est.)
  1.4% (2013 est.)
  1.6% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $11,400 (2014 est.)
  $11,100 (2013 est.)
  $11,000 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 125
  Gross national saving:
  17% of GDP (2014 est.)
  17.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
  19.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 78.3%
  government consumption: 10.9%
  investment in fixed capital: 25.9%
  investment in inventories: 2.6%
  exports of goods and services: 35.1%
  imports of goods and services: -52.9%
  (2013 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 22.6%
  industry: 15.1%
  services: 62.4%
  (2013 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products; sheep
  Industries:
  food and tobacco products; textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower
  Industrial production growth rate:
  2.4% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Labor force:
  1.295 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 140
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 41.8%
  industry: 11.4%
  services: 46.8% (2015 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  18% (2014 est.)
  17.1% (2013 est.)
  note: these are official rates that may not include those working at near-subsistence farming
  country comparison to the world: 136
  Population below poverty line:
  14.3% (2012 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 4.1%
  highest 10%: 20.5% (2012)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  26.9 (2012 est.)
  34.5 (2008 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Budget:
  revenues: $3.495 billion
  expenditures: $4.342 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  26% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -6.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Public debt:
  72% of GDP (2014 est.)
  70.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.6% (2014 est.)
  2% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  Central bank discount rate:
  2.25% (31 December 2014)
  3% (31 December 2013)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  7% (31 December 2014 est.)
  9.52% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Stock of narrow money:
  $3.355 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $2.791 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Stock of broad money:
  $6.863 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $6.556 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $5.313 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $5.171 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 109
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $NA
  Current account balance:
  -$1.734 billion (2014 est.)
  -$1.374 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 140
  Exports:
  $2.431 billion (2014 est.)
  $2.331 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 138
  Exports - commodities:
  textiles, footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco
  Exports - partners:
  Italy 45.2%, Kosovo 7.6%, China 7.4%, Spain 6.7%, Greece 4.6% (2014)
  Imports:
  $5.25 billion (2014 est.)
  $4.894 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 132
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals
  Imports - partners:
  Italy 35.4%, Greece 11%, China 8%, Turkey 6.7%, Germany 4.3% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $2.908 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $2.674 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Debt - external:
  $8.782 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $8.209 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $5.557 billion (31 December 2013)
  $4.994 billion (31 December 2012)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Exchange rates:
  leke (ALL) per US dollar -
  105.48 (2014 est.)
  105.67 (2013 est.)
  108.19 (2012 est.)
  100.9 (2011 est.)
  103.94 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: ALBANIA

- Electricity - production:
  4.726 billion kWh (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Electricity - consumption:
  7.793 billion kWh (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Electricity - exports:
  288.5 million kWh (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Electricity - imports:
  3.355 billion kWh (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 58
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  1.878 million kW (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  5.2% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 38
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  94.8% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 152
  Crude oil - production:
  26,600 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 77
  Crude oil - exports:
  23,320 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  168.3 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  3,121 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  28,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  68 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  22,810 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Natural gas - production:
  10 million cu m (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Natural gas - consumption:
  10 million cu m (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 152
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  849.5 million cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  3.962 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 131

- ## Communications :: ALBANIA

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 250,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 3.4 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Telephone system:
  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:
  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)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 13, FM 46, shortwave 1 (2005)
  Television broadcast stations:
  65 (3 national, 62 local); 2 cable networks (2005)
  Internet country code:
  .al
  Internet users:
  total: 1.7 million
  percent of population: 56.5% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 104

- ## Transportation :: ALBANIA

- Airports:
  4 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 4
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)
  Heliports:
  1 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  gas 331 km; oil 249 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 677 km
  standard gauge: 677 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Roadways:
  total: 18,000 km
  paved: 7,020 km
  unpaved: 10,980 km (2002)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Waterways:
  41 km (on the Bojana River) (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Merchant marine:
  total: 17
  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)
  country comparison to the world: 99
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore

- ## Military :: ALBANIA

- Military branches:
  Land Forces Command, Navy Force Command, Air Forces Command (2013)
  Military service age and obligation:
  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:
  males age 16-49: 731,111
  females age 16-49: 780,216 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 622,379
  females age 16-49: 660,715 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 31,986
  female: 29,533 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  0.85% of GDP (2015)
  1.04% of GDP (2014)
  1.5% of GDP (2013)
  1.47% of GDP (2012)
  1.52% of GDP (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 112

- ## Transnational Issues :: ALBANIA

- Disputes - international:
  none
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  stateless persons: 7,443 (2014)
  Illicit drugs:
  increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to a lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; limited opium and expanding cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and expanding in Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with regional trafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal aliens

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