Albania

Geography

Economics

Demographics

Military

Politics

Located in the subtropical belt of southeastern part of Europe, Albania borders Greece to the south, Montenegro and Kosovo to the north and North Macedonia to the east while bordering the Mediterranean Sea in the west. Its main geography is mountainous which covers about seventy percent of the land. Because of its geography, differences in elevation and its location, Albania experiences a wide range of temperatures and rainfall.

Albania, officially republic of Albania, is also known as the land of the Albanians or the land of the eagles. Its name is derived from the rebel Albanoi in the 10th century. During its history, the territory of Albania has been occupied by the Byzantine and the Ottoman Empire. After proclaiming independence in 1912 and becoming the republic of Albania, it enjoyed its independence until it was annexed by Italy in 1939. After the defeat of Italy following the second world war, Albania came under communist rule in 1944. Due to changing alignments with the Soviet Union and Maoist China during the cold war, Albania became one of the most isolated states in the world. This also impacted its economic development which made it one of the least developed states in Europe. At present, the Albanian economy is mainly an agricultural economy with roughly one third of the population living in urban areas and half of the working force working in the agricultural sector.

With a total of 28.891 square kilometers (11.155 square miles), Albania is ranked as the 140th largest state in the world. With Equatorial Guinea being slightly smaller and the Solomon Islands slightly larger.

Surface

Surface (in square kilometers)

Surface (in square miles)

Albania ranks 100th with 1357 square kilometers (522 square miles) of surface water. Its main bodies of water are the lakes Scutari, Prespa and Ohrid. Aside from its lakes, Albania has the Seman, Shkumbin and the Drin as its largest rivers.

Surface (water)

Water Surface (in square kilometers)

Water Surface (in square miles)

Share of water (%)

With its inland lakes, rivers and bordering lakes, Albania has an abundance of water. It is ranked as the 31st state with the largest share of water with just under five percent of its surface consisting of water. However, the potability of its tap water varies per region. Therefore, most Albanians do not drink its tap water.

Due to its adjacency to the Mediterranean, Albania enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. Its climate varies somewhat due to its different geographical characteristics, with a harsher winter in its mountain ranges. Albania is ranked as the 140th warmest state globally with an average temperature of 12.7 degrees Celsius or nearly 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperature

Albania is also ranked 140th with its highest average temperature of 18.8 degrees Celsius or nearly 66 degrees Fahrenheit.

Average temperature (in Celcius)

Average temperature (in Farenheit)

Average high temperature (in Celcius)

Average high temperature (in Farenheit)

Its lowest average temperature is 10.9 degrees Celsius or 51.6 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes it the 65 coldest state globally.

Average low temperature (in Celcius)

Average low temperature (in Farenheit)

Rainfall

With an average rainfall of over 1200mm, or 48.3 inch, Albania is ranked as the 74th state with the highest amount of rainfall. Its rainiest period starts from June and ends in December when it mostly attains its rain from the warm and moist air from the Mediterranean Sea which cools and rains down in its mountain ranges.

Average rainfall (mm)

Average rainfall (inch)

Distance to other capitals (kilometers)

Distance to other capitals (miles)

Proximity

The capital of Albania, Tirana, has a population of over 500.000 people. The capital that is in closest proximity to Tirana is Podgorica, Montenegro with 65,1 miles or 104,7 kilometers. The capital that is the furthest removed from Tirana is Wellington New Zealand with 11157,5 miles or 17955,7 kilometers

Formerly known as a centrally planned economy during the cold war, the Albanian economy has been changing to a semi open economy in recent decades. Due to its socialist past, it has remained mainly an agricultural economy. The agricultural sector employs over fifty percent of its citizens. However, its main export commodities consist mainly of clothing, iron and chrome. Italy and Greece its largest trading partners. With Italy accounting of more than 25 percent of its total imports and Greece accounting for nearly 50 percent of its total exports.

Economic organizations

Gross Domestic Product (US$)

Gross Domestic Product per capita

Amount of memberships (economic organizations)

Absolute earnings for every 1$

Relative earnings

GDP in PPP per capita (in US$)

GDP in PPP per capita

Gross Domestic product (in million US$)

GDP per capita (in US$)

Albania ranks as the 89th economically most interwoven state globally. It is a member of twelve international economic organizations. These organizations are:

Black Sea Trade and Development Bank
Council of Europe Development Bank
Federation of Euro-Asian Stock Exchanges
International Monetary Fund
Islamic Development Bank
World Bank Group
World Customs Organization
World Trade Organization
Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
Energy Charter Treaty Energy Community
International Renewable Energy Agency

Its GDP is just above 1.4 billion us dollar. The amount of GDP accounts for .017 percent of the global GDP. This puts Albania in the bottom half of states with a rank of 127.

Its GDP per capita is just under 5000 US dollar, which ranks it 104th globally.

The absolute earnings (GDP per capita) has shown that the average Afghani earns $517.54 per year. The figure below displays the average amount that inhabitant of other states earn for every 1$ that an average Afghan citizen makes.

The surface GDP of Albania however, puts it on the top half globally. With a GDP of just under 500.000 US dollar per square kilometer or just under 1.3 million US dollar per square mile.

Surface GDP

GDP per square kilometer (in US$)

GDP per square mile(in US$)

Relative GDP in PPP

However, in relative terms, Albania is ranked 96th with a purchase power parity of more than 13.500 US dollars.

The relative Gross Domestic Product in Purchasing Power Parity compares the purchasing power of Afghanistan with the rest of the world.

The graph on the left displays the purchasing power parity of the rest of the world in relation to the purchasing power of 1$ in Afghanistan.

The Albanian population is ethically and religiously mixed. Its main language is Albanian, which is spoken by 99 percent of its inhabitants with the remaining percent mainly consisting of Greek as well as other regional languages.

Population

With a population of over 2.8 million Albanians, Albania is ranked 84th of most populous states. However, this number is declining as a result of its economic changes of the last thirty years. Due to its economy opening up, Albanians have been increasingly migrating to other states. Aside from this, the Albanian birth rates have been declining as well. This has had a significant impact on the population growth over the past decades.

Population density

Its population density is 257 people per square kilometer, or 99 people per square mile, which ranks Albania as the 87 most densely populated states.

Emigration

In recent years, emigration has been increasing. The total amount of emigrated persons is 1.2 million, which accounts to more than 30 percent of its citizens living abroad, or .5 percent of total global emigration. The most popular states for emigration have been Italy, Greece and Germany.

Immigration

Compared to its emigration, its immigration is quite small. The total amount of immigrants in Albania is 44.000 which equates to 1.5 percent of its population or 0.017 percent of total global immigration

Literacy

Literacy in Albania has risen sharply since the end of the first world war. Before that time, the Ottoman rule over Albania forbade the teaching of the Albanian language. The Turkish language was the only allowed language in the state. This resulted in a literacy rate of one in five Albanians. Since the dissolution of the Ottoman empire, the literacy rate has been steadily rising and has reached more than 97 percent.

Health

Healthcare is provided by the Albanian ministry of health. As a result of its socialist past Albania Had inherited a universal Healthcare system Which is insured by the Albanian constitution and consist of mandatory and voluntary contributions. Albania is ranked guess the 46 most healthy he stayed in the world. the Albanian citizens have an average life expectancy of nearly 79 years with women has 80.5 years and men at 77.5 years.

Population density (in km2)

Population density (in mi2)

Religion

Due to the Islamic Ottoman rule for more than four hundred years, Albania has become a predominantly Muslim state. However, after the independence from Ottoman rule, Albania came quickly under communist rule. This has shifted the national religion from Islam to Atheism. During communist rule, religious Albanians were persecuted and religious institutions were banned. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Albania has slowly returned towards religion. It is currently ranked the 72th multi religious state in the world.

Before the establishment of Islam by the Ottomans, Christianity was the main religion in Albania. After the Ottoman and communist rule, it is estimated that in the present approximately 17.8 percent of Albanians identify as Christians. This makes Albania the 144th most Christian state in the world.

On the right, the global share of Christians per state is displayed

Christianity (share of the total population)

Islam (share of the total population)

Islam has entered Albania during the fifteenth century as a result of the Ottoman expansion in the Balkans. As a consequence of nearly five centuries of Islamic rule, most Albanians have converted to Islam. At present, it is the largest religion in Albania with 73.1 percent of Albanians adhering to Islam. The largest branches within Albanian Islam are roughly sixty percent which are adhering to Sunni Islam and twenty percent adhering to Bektashi Islam. With this high share of Muslims, Albania is the 39th most Islamic state in the world.

There is no public information available for Buddhism in Albania. It is estimated that .06 percent of Albanians adhere to the Buddhist faith.

Buddhism (share of the total population)

There are no indigenous Albanians that adhere to Hinduism. However, there is a small amount of Indian natives that have settled in Albania as well as a small amount of Roma that have ties with Hinduism. Therefore, it is estimated that .03 percent of Albanians adhere to Hinduism.

Hinduism (share of the total population)

Judaism (share of the total population)

There is a small amount of Jews living in Albania, which equates to roughly .03 percent of the population. Most of them are situated in the metropolitan area of Tirana. The capital is home to a single synagogue that is providing services. There is one other synagogue registered in Albania which is more than two thousand years old which is not in service.

Other religions (share of the total population)

Other religions have the same amount of freedom as the main religion under the Albanian constitution. However, national holidays and social status favor the larger and established religions in Albania. It is estimated that .17 percent of Albanians adhere to other religions.

Non-religious (share of the total population)

Among the predominant faith of Christianity and Islam religion is also largely present on the Albanian population.  The Ottoman occupation in Albania gave rise to anticlericalism. As a result of the communist rule in 1946 religions were shunned and formerly banned in 1967 when state atheism was adopted.  These restrictions were lifted after 1984 and removed after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1990.  At present about 1% of the Albanian population is irreligious.

Military spending (in % of GDP)

Military spending

. The Albanian military has a budget of over 117 million which equates to 1.21% of its GDP.  This budget ranks Albania is the 124th most funded militaries in the world 

The Albanian Armed forces, also known as the FARSH, were established in 1912 and consists of an air force and naval force and ground forces. It is internationally active as well as nationally when Albania is in a state of emergency due to natural disasters or due to internal threats to its political structure

Military membership

At present Albania Is a member of 5 international military organizations.  These organizations include NATO, The organisation for security and cooperation in Europe, The organisation for the Prohibition of chemical weapons, and The international atomic energy agency. This ranks Albania as the 60th most militarily connected state.

Military membership

International wars

Due to its large history of occupation Albania has partaken in four international Wars these were the Vlora war that took place in 1910, The Italian invasion of Albania in 1939, the Greek civil war from 1946 till 1949, and the Persian Gulf crisis of 2019, where it has been part of an international Maritime Security construct that tries to ensure the security of commercial tankers in the Persian Gulf. 

Number of international wars fought

Military spending (in US$ million)

Membership (international political organizations)

Albania is a member of the following organizations:

Member states of the United Nations
International Labour Organization
The Council of Europe
Central European Initiative
Energy Community
European Cooperation in Science and Technology
Union for the Mediterranean
International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
Member states of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy
International Criminal Court
Interpol
Permanent Court of Arbitration
World Organisation for Animal Health

Political Membership

Democracy/dictatorship rating

The Albanian constitution provides its citizens with a democratic system as well as a separation of powers between the main branches of the Albanian government. However, at present corruption is one of Albania largest problems. This is largely due to these problems as well as some underdevelopment in his democratic system Albania is ranked as the 75th most democratic state globally. 

Democracy/Dictatorship

Politically, Albania is becoming more interwoven into the international system. At present, Albania is a member of 15 international political organisations which ranks Albania is the 38th most politically interwoven States globally. 