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Albania
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BASIC FACTS


Capital
Tirana

Language
Albanian-Tosk (official) and Albanian dialects. Greek, Macedonian, Romanian and Romani are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Area size
27400 sq. km

Area comparison
Slightly smaller than the Netherlands

Population
2009 3.2 million U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007 3.2 million U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006 3.2 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2005 3.2 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2004 3.1 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2003 3.1 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2002 3.1 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2001 3.1 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2000 3.1 million U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
3.3 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)


PEOPLE

Language
Albanian-Tosk (official) and Albanian dialects. Greek, Macedonian, Romanian and Romani are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population
2009 3.2 million U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007 3.2 million U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006 3.2 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2005 3.2 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2004 3.1 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2003 3.1 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2002 3.1 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2001 3.1 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2000 3.1 million U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
3.3 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Ethnic Albanians comprise 95 percent of the population, divided between the Gegs (from the north) and Tosks (from the south). There are Greek, Bulgarian and other minorities.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Religious worship was banned in 1967 but made legal again in 1989. Islam is now the most widely practised religion (70 percent, with a Sunni majority), followed by Christian Orthodox (20 percent) and Catholicism (10 percent).
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population
2007 46.9 percent U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006 46.1 percent U.N. DESA (2005)
2005 45.4 percent U.N. DESA (2005)
2004 44.6 percent U.N. DESA (2005)
2003 43.9 percent U.N. DESA (2005)
2002 43.1 percent U.N. DESA (2005)
2001 42.4 percent U.N. DESA (2005)
2000 41.8 percent U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1920
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available (2005)

Percentage of population under 15
2005 26.3 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004 27.6 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 28.3 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 28.5 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 29.0 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 30.0 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2002


USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT +1

Climate description
Mediterranean on the coast, rain in autumn and winter seasons. Cold, with frequent snow, at higher altitudes inland

Currency
New Lek

Telephone dialling code
(+) 355

Driving (left/right)
Right


STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy
2005 76.2 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004 73.9 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 73.7 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 73.7 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 73.4 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 73.2 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male
2005 73.1 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004 71.1 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 71.0 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 70.8 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 70.6 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 70.4 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female
2005 79.5 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004 76.9 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 76.7 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 76.6 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 76.5 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 76.2 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality
2007 13 per 1,000 live births U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006 15 per 1,000 live births UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005 16 per 1,000 live births U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004 17 per 1,000 live births UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003 18 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 26 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 23 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 27 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
2007 15 per 1,000 live births U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006 17 per 1,000 live births UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005 18 per 1,000 live births UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004 19 per 1,000 live births UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003 21 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 30 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 25 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 31 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel
1997-2005 98 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004 98 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003 94 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002 99 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001 99 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000 99 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality
2005 92 per 100,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000 55 per 100,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)
2005 68 UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004 73 UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 72 UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 65 UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 95 UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 92 UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
2000-2007 8 percent U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006 8 percent UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005 14 percent UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004 14 percent UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003 14 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002 14 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001 14 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000 10 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population
2003-2005 <5 percent U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average 6 percent U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average 6 percent FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water
2006 97 percent UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004 96 percent UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002 97 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000 97 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation
2006 97 percent UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004 91 percent UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002 89 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000 91 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average
2004 98.7 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 98.7 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 98.3 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 85.3 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 84.7 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male
2004 99.2 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 99.2 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 99.2 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 92.5 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 92.1 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female
2004 98.3 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 98.3 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 98.3 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 77.8 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 77.0 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones
2008 101 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2007 96 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2006 91 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2005 90 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2004 89 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2003 83 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2002 72 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2001 64 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2000 50 per 1,000 people ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers
2008 999 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2007 734 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2006 609 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2005 492 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2004 407 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2003 356 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2002 277 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2001 128 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2000 10 per 1,000 people ITU 2009

Internet users
2008 150 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2007 150 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2006 150 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2005 60 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2004 24 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2003 10 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2002 4 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2001 3 per 1,000 people ITU 2009
2000 1 per 1,000 people ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)
2008 85 (joint) Transparency International 2008
2007 105 (joint) Transparency International 2007
2006 111 (joint) Transparency International
2005 126 (joint) Transparency International
2004 108 (joint) Transparency International
2003 92 (joint) Transparency International
2002 81 (joint) Transparency International
2001 Not ranked
2000 Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report


ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method
2007 3300 current US$ World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006 2950 current US$ World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005 2570 current US$ World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004 2080 current US$ World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003 1650 current US$ World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002 1390 current US$ World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001 1330 current US$ World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000 1170 current US$ World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP
2007 10.8 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006 9.1 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005 8.4 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004 7.5 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003 5.7 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002 4.4 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001 4.1 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000 3.7 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth
2006 5.0  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005 5.5  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004 5.9  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003 5.7  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002 2.9  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001 7.0  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000 7.3  percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation
2007 3.2 percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006 2.0 percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005 3.5 percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004 6.0 percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003 3.4 percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002 3.3 percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001 3.5 percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000 4.3 percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
3.4 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
24.4 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008


HEALTH

Physicians
2000-2004 131 per 100,000 people UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004 131 per 100,000 people UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003 137 per 100,000 people UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002 133 per 100,000 people UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
No data available percent

Malaria
No risk
Source: WHO

TB cases
2007 17 per 100,000 people WHO 2009
2006 18 per 100,000 people WHO 2009
2005 20 per 100,000 people WHO 2009
2004 21 per 100,000 people WHO 2009
2003 22 per 100,000 people WHO 2009
2002 23 per 100,000 people WHO 2009
2001 23 per 100,000 people WHO 2009
2000 25 per 100,000 people WHO 2009


CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here
2008 15006 UNHCR
2007 15340 UNHCR
2006 14080 Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005 12702 UNHCR
2004 10470 UNHCR
2003 10386 UNHCR
2002 10761 UNHCR
2001 7626 UNHCR
2000 6802 UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here
2008 65 UNHCR
2007 77 UNHCR
2006 56 UNHCR
2005 56 UNHCR
2004 51 UNHCR
2003 26 UNHCR
2002 17 UNHCR
2001 292 UNHCR
2000 523 UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
No data available

Landmine casualties per year
2007 18 Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2006 0 Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2004 25 Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003 4 Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1998)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military
2005 1.4 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004 1.2 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 1.2 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 1.2 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 1.2 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 1.2 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of GDP spent on education
2002-2005 2.9 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004 2.8 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Percentage of GDP spent on health
2004 3.0 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004 2.7 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002 2.4 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001 2.4 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000 2.1 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003


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Last updated:Wed Feb 3 23:19:39 2010