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Mission
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Central Intelligence Agency
The Work of a Nation. The Center of Intelligence
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page last updated on October 4, 2012 |
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(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
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Click flag or map to enlarge
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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, a dilapidated physical 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, there have been claims of electoral fraud in every one of Albania's post-communist elections. The 2009 general elections resulted in no single party gaining a majority of the 140 seats in Parliament, and the Movement for Socialist Integration (LSI) and the Democratic Party (DP) combined to form a coalition government, the first such in Albania's history. The Socialist Party (SP) contested the results of the 2009 parliamentary elections and the 2011 local elections. 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.
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Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece in the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north
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41 00 N, 20 00 E
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total: 28,748 sq km
country comparison to the world: 145
land:
27,398 sq km
water:
1,350 sq km
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slightly smaller than Maryland
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total: 717 km
border countries:
Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Montenegro 172 km, Kosovo 112 km
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362 km
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territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
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mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast
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lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point:
Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m
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petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower
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arable land: 20.1%
permanent crops:
4.21%
other:
75.69% (2005)
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3,650 sq km (2003)
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41.7 cu km (2001)
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total: 1.71 cu km/yr (27%/11%/62%)
per capita:
546 cu m/yr (2000)
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destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought
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deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents
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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
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strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
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noun: Albanian(s)
adjective:
Albanian
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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)
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Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach, Romani, Slavic dialects
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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
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3,002,859 (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
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0-14 years: 20.6% (male 325,922/ female 292,252)
15-64 years:
68.8% (male 1,009,217/ female 1,055,824)
65 years and over:
10.6% (male 150,901/ female 168,743) (2012 est.)
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total: 30.9 years
male:
29.6 years
female:
32.1 years (2012 est.)
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0.28% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
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12.38 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
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6.25 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
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-3.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
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urban population: 52% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:
2.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
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TIRANA (capital) 433,000 (2009)
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at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.12 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.89 male(s)/female
total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
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27 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 127
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total: 14.12 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 124
male:
15.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
12.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
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total population: 77.59 years
country comparison to the world: 62
male:
74.99 years
female:
80.49 years (2012 est.)
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1.48 children born/woman (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
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6.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 85
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1.146 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
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2.92 beds/1,000 population (2007)
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NA
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NA
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NA
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6.6% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 75
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NA
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definition: age 9 and over can read and write
total population:
98.7%
male:
99.2%
female:
98.3% (2001 census)
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total: 11 years
male:
11 years
female:
11 years (2004)
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total: 35.5%
country comparison to the world: 10
male:
41.6%
female:
27.1% (2001)
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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
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parliamentary democracy
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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
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37 municipalities (komunat/opstine, singular - komuna/opstina); Decan/Decani, Dragash/Dragas, Ferizaj/Urosevac, Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje, Gjakove/Dakovica, Gjilan/Gnjilane, Gllogovc/Glogovac, Gracanice/Gracanica, Hani i Elezit/Deneral Jankovic, Istog/Istok, Junik, Kacanik/Kacanik, Kamenice/Kamenica, Kline/Klina, Kllokot/Klokot, Leposaviq/Leposavic, Lipjan/Lipljan, Malisheve/Malisevo, Mamushe/Mamusa, Mitrovice/Mitrovica, Novoberde/Novo Brdo, Obiliq/Obilic, Partesh/Partes, Peje/Pec, Podujeve/Podujevo, Prishtine/Pristina, Prizren, Rahovec/Orahovac, Ranillug/Ranilug, Shterpce/Strpce, Shtime/Stimlje, Skenderaj/Srbica, Suhareke/Suva Reka, Viti/Vitina, Vushtrri/Vucitrn, Zubin Potok, Zvecan/Zvecan
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28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)
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Independence Day, 28 November (1912) also known as Flag Day
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approved by parliament 21 October 1998; adopted by popular referendum 22 November 1998; promulgated 28 November 1998
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civil law system except in the northern rural areas where customary law known as the "Code of Leke" prevails
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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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18 years of age; universal
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chief of state: President of the Republic Bujar NISHANI (since 24 July 2012)
head of government:
Prime Minister Sali BERISHA (since 10 September 2005)
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 )
elections:
president elected by three-fifths the Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); four election rounds held between 30 May and 11 June 2012 (next election to be held in 2017); prime minister appointed by the president
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 will take office 24 July 2012
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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 4-year term)
elections:
last held on 28 June 2009 (next to be held in 2013)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PD 68, PS 65, LSI 4, other 3
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Constitutional Court consists of 9 members appointed by the president with the consent of the Assembly who serve 9-year terms (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term); the High Court members appointed by the president with the consent of the Assembly for a 9-year term; note - there are also courts of appeal and courts of first instance
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Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; New Democracy Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party for Justice and Integration or PDI [Shpetim IDRIZ]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social Democracy Party or PDS [Paskel MILO]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI [Ilir META]; Socialist Party or PS [Edi RAMA]; Unity for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vangjel DULE]
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Red and Black Alliance [Kreshnik SPAHIU]; Front for Albanian National Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI]; Mjaft Movement [Elton KACIDHJA]; Omonia [Vasil BOLLANO]; Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA]
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BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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chief of mission: Ambassador Gilbert GALANXHI
chancery:
S1312 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
[1] (202) 223-4942
FAX:
[1] (202) 628-7342
consulate(s) general:
New York
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chief of mission: Ambassador Alexander ARVIZU
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
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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"
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double-headed eagle
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name: "Hymni i Flamurit" (Hymn to the Flag)
lyrics/music:
Aleksander Stavre DRENOVA/Ciprian PORUMBESCU
note:
adopted 1912
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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. 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, approaching its statutory limit of 60% of GDP. Strong trade, remittance, and banking sector ties with Greece and Italy make Albania vulnerable to spillover effects of the global financial crisis.
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$25.23 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
$24.74 billion (2010 est.)
$23.9 billion (2009 est.)
note:
data are in 2011 US dollars
Albania has an informal, and unreported, sector that may be as large as 50% of official GDP
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$12.85 billion (2011 est.)
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2% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
3.5% (2010 est.)
3.3% (2009 est.)
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$7,800 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
$7,700 (2010 est.)
$7,500 (2009 est.)
note:
data are in 2011 US dollars
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agriculture: 20.7%
industry:
19.7%
services:
59.6% (2011 est.)
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1.053 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
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agriculture: 47.8%
industry:
23%
services:
29.2% (September 2010 est.)
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13.3% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
13.7% (2010 est.)
note:
these are official rates, but actual rates may exceed 30% due to preponderance of near-subsistence farming
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12.5% (2008 est.)
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lowest 10%: 3.5%
highest 10%:
29% (2008)
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34.5 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 88
26.7 (2005)
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29.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
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revenues: $3.289 billion
expenditures:
$3.738 billion (2011 est.)
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25.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
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-3.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
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59.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
57.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
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3.5% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
3.6% (2010 est.)
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5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
5.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
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12.43% (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
12.833% (31 December 2010 est.)
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$3.024 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
$2.648 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$9.951 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
$5.813 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$9.208 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$7.953 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$NA
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wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products
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food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower
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3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
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-$1.595 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
-$1.404 billion (2010 est.)
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$1.954 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
$1.548 billion (2010 est.)
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textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco
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Italy 48.8%, China 8.4%, Turkey 6.7%, Greece 5.6%, Spain 5.4%, India 4.9% (2010 est.)
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$5.076 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
$4.305 billion (2010 est.)
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machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals
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Italy 34.8%, Greece 12.9%, China 6.2%, Turkey 6%, Germany 4.6% (2010 est.)
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$2.665 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$2.541 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$5.7 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
$5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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leke (ALL) per US dollar -
100.89 (2011 est.)
103.94 (2010 est.)
94.98 (2009)
79.546 (2008)
92.668 (2007)
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calendar year
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5.209 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
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4.521 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
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1.906 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
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1.005 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
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1.61 million kW (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
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9.9% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
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0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
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90.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
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0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
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15,520 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
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6,920 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
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0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
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199.1 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
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6,377 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
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38,390 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
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915 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
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24,610 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
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30 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
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30 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
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0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
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0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
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849.5 million cu m (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
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4.893 million Mt (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
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338,800 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 110
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3.1 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 127
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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)
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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)
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.al
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15,505 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 125
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1.3 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 91
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5 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 178
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total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m:
3
1,524 to 2,437 m:
1 (2012)
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total: 1
914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2012)
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1 (2012)
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gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2010)
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total: 339 km
country comparison to the world: 117
standard gauge:
339 km 1.435-m gauge (2009)
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total: 18,000 km
country comparison to the world: 116
paved:
7,020 km
unpaved:
10,980 km (2002)
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41 km (on the Bojana River) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 104
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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)
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Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore
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Land Forces Command, Air Forces Command, Training and Doctrine Command (2010)
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19 years of age (2004)
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males age 16-49: 731,111
females age 16-49:
780,216 (2010 est.)
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males age 16-49: 622,379
females age 16-49:
660,715 (2010 est.)
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male: 31,986
female:
29,533 (2010 est.)
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1.49% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
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Transnational Issues ::Albania |
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none
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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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