GeographyCountry name: Republic of Albania (local: Republika e Shqiperise). Capital: Tirana. Government type: emerging democracy. A constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998. Independence: 28 November 1912, from Ottoman Empire. Administrative divisions: 12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Qarku i Beratit, Qarku i Dibres, Qarku i Durresit, Qarku i Elbasanit, Qarku i Fierit, Qarku i Gjirokastres, Qarku i Korces, Qarku i Kukesit, Qarku i Lezhes, Qarku i Shkodres, Qarku i Tiranes, Qarku i Vlores. Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast. Total area: 28,748 kmē. Coastline: 362 km. Highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,753 m. Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter. Ports and harbors: Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore. |
PeoplePopulation: 3.5 million (July 2004 est.). Population growth rate: 0.51 % (2004 est.).Life expectancy at birth: 77.1 years. Religions: Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%. Note: percentages are estimates; all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice. Ethnic groups: Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Roma (Gypsy), Serb, and Macedonian or Bulgarian) (1989 est.). Note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization). Language: Albanian (official - Tosk is the official dialect), Greek. Nationality: Albanian(s). |
PeoplePopulation: 3.5 million (July 2004 est.). Population growth rate: 0.51 % (2004 est.).Life expectancy at birth: 77.1 years. Religions: Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%. Note: percentages are estimates; all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice. Ethnic groups: Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Roma (Gypsy), Serb, and Macedonian or Bulgarian) (1989 est.). Note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization). Language: Albanian (official - Tosk is the official dialect), Greek. Nationality: Albanian(s). |
PeoplePopulation: 3.5 million (July 2004 est.). Population growth rate: 0.51 % (2004 est.).Life expectancy at birth: 77.1 years. Religions: Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%. Note: percentages are estimates; all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice. Ethnic groups: Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Roma (Gypsy), Serb, and Macedonian or Bulgarian) (1989 est.). Note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization). Language: Albanian (official - Tosk is the official dialect), Greek. Nationality: Albanian(s). |
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Albania - Pictures of Europe |
PeoplePopulation: 3.5 million (July 2004 est.). Population growth rate: 0.51 % (2004 est.).Life expectancy at birth: 77.1 years. Religions: Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%. Note: percentages are estimates; all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice. Ethnic groups: Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Roma (Gypsy), Serb, and Macedonian or Bulgarian) (1989 est.). Note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization). Language: Albanian (official - Tosk is the official dialect), Greek. Nationality: Albanian(s). |
GeographyCountry name: Republic of Albania (local: Republika e Shqiperise). Capital: Tirana. Government type: emerging democracy. A constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998. Independence: 28 November 1912, from Ottoman Empire. Administrative divisions: 12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Qarku i Beratit, Qarku i Dibres, Qarku i Durresit, Qarku i Elbasanit, Qarku i Fierit, Qarku i Gjirokastres, Qarku i Korces, Qarku i Kukesit, Qarku i Lezhes, Qarku i Shkodres, Qarku i Tiranes, Qarku i Vlores. Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast. Total area: 28,748 kmē. Coastline: 362 km. Highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,753 m. Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter. Ports and harbors: Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore. |
GeographyCountry name: Republic of Albania (local: Republika e Shqiperise). Capital: Tirana. Government type: emerging democracy. A constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998. Independence: 28 November 1912, from Ottoman Empire. Administrative divisions: 12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Qarku i Beratit, Qarku i Dibres, Qarku i Durresit, Qarku i Elbasanit, Qarku i Fierit, Qarku i Gjirokastres, Qarku i Korces, Qarku i Kukesit, Qarku i Lezhes, Qarku i Shkodres, Qarku i Tiranes, Qarku i Vlores. Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast. Total area: 28,748 kmē. Coastline: 362 km. Highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,753 m. Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter. Ports and harbors: Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore. |
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 high government officials, and disruptive political opponents.
International observers judged parliamentary elections in 2001 to be acceptable
and a step toward democratic development, but identified serious deficiencies.
Some of these were addressed through reforms in the Albanian electoral code
prior to the nationwide municipal elections in 2003.
