Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/2.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 13KB | 335 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\Alban.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Albania"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Albania, click {z,"16.776792,38.724329,23.074939,43.516220",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and
Serbia and Montenegro

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 28,750 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 27,400 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} slightly larger than Maryland

{2}Land boundaries:{4}
{3}total:{4} 720 km
{3}border countries:{4} Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 151 km, Serbia
and Montenegro 287 km (114 km with Serbia, 173 km with Montenegro)

{2}Coastline:{4} 362 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
{3}continental shelf:{4} 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
{3}territorial sea:{4} 12 nm

{2}International disputes:{4} the Albanian Government supports protection of the rights of ethnic
Albanians outside of its borders; Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Serbian
Republic; Albanians in Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs
and representation in government; Albania is involved in negotiations with Greece over border
demarcation, the treatment of Albania's ethnic Greek minority, and migrant Albanian workers in
Greece

{2}Climate:{4} mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and
wetter

{2}Terrain:{4} mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast
{3}lowest point:{4} Adriatic Sea 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} Maja e Korabit 2,753 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, timber, nickel

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 21%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 4%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 15%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 38%
{3}other:{4} 22%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} 4,230 sq km (1989)

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents

{2}natural hazards:{4} destructive earthquakes; tsunami occur along southwestern coast

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change

{2}Geographic note:{4} strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and
Mediterranean Sea)


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 3,249,136 (July 1996 est.)
{3}note:{4} the IMF, working with Albanian government figures, estimates that the population was
3,120,000 in 1993 and that it has fallen since 1990

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 34% (male 570,978; female 529,147)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 60% (male 910,873; female 1,049,662)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 6% (male 77,799; female 110,677) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 1.34% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 22.21 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 7.64 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} -1.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.08 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1.08 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 0.87 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 0.7 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 0.92 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 49.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 67.92 years
{3}male:{4} 64.91 years
{3}female:{4} 71.17 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 2.65 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Albanian(s)
{3}adjective:{4} Albanian

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} Albanian 95%, Greeks 3%, other 2% (Vlachs, Gypsies, Serbs, and Bulgarians)
(1989 est.)
{3}note:{4} in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics)
to 12% (from a Greek organization)

{2}Religions:{4} Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%
{3}note:{4} all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in
November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice

{2}Languages:{4} Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek

{2}Literacy:{4} age 9 and over can read and write (1955 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 72%
{3}male:{4} 80%
{3}female:{4} 63%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Republic of Albania
{3}conventional short form:{4} Albania
{3}local long form:{4} Republika e Shqiperise
{3}local short form:{4} Shqiperia
{3}former:{4} People's Socialist Republic of Albania

{2}Type of government:{4} emerging democracy

{2}Capital:{4} Tirane

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 26 districts (rrethe, singular - rreth); Berat, Dibre, Durres, Elbasan, Fier,
Gjirokaster, Gramsh, Kolonje, Korce, Kruje, Kukes, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje, Mat, Mirdite,
Permet, Pogradec, Puke, Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar, Tepelene, Tirane, Tropoje, Vlore; note -
some new administrative units may have been created

{2}Independence:{4} 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)

{2}National holiday:{4} Independence Day, 28 November (1912)

{2}Constitution:{4} an interim basic law was approved by the People's Assembly on 29 April 1991; a
draft constitution was rejected by popular referendum in the fall of 1994 and a new draft is pending

{2}Legal system:{4} has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

{2}Suffrage:{4} 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

{2}Executive branch:{4}
{3}chief of state:{4} President of the Republic Sali BERISHA (since 9 April 1992) was elected for a five-
year term by the People's Assembly
{3}head of government:{4} Prime Minister of the Council of Ministers Aleksander Gabriel MEKSI (since
10 April 1992) was appointed by the president
{3}cabinet:{4} Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

{2}Legislative branch:{4} unicameral
People's Assembly (Kuvendi Popullor): elections last held 22 March 1992; results - DP 62.29%,
ASP 25.57%, SDP 4.33%, RP 3.15%, UHP 2.92%, other 1.74%; seats - (140 total) DP 92, ASP
38, SDP 7, RP 1, UHP 2
{3}note:{4} six members of the Democratic Party defected, making the present seating in the Assembly
DP 86, ASP 38, SDP 7, DAP 6, RP 1, UHP 2

{2}Judicial branch:{4} Supreme Court, chairman of the Supreme Court is elected by the People's
Assembly

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} there are at least 28 political parties; most prominent are the
Albanian Socialist Party (ASP; formerly the Albania Workers Party), Fatos NANO, first secretary;
Democratic Party (DP); Albanian Republican Party (RP), Sabri GODO; Omonia (Greek minority
party), Sotir QIRJAZATI, first secretary; Social Democratic Party (SDP), Skender GJINUSHI;
Democratic Alliance Party (DAP), Neritan CEKA, chairman; Unity for Human Rights Party (UHP),
Vasil MELO, chairman; Ecology Party (EP), Namik HOTI, chairman

{2}International organization participation:{4} BSEC, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory
user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNOMIG, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Lublin DILJA
{3}chancery:{4} Suite 1000, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone], 8187
{3}FAX:{4} [1] [phone]

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Joseph E. LAKE
{3}embassy:{4} Rruga E. Labinoti 103, Tirane
{3}mailing address:{4} PSC 59, Box 100 (A), APO AE 09624
{3}telephone:{4} [355] (42) 328-75, 335-20
{3}FAX:{4} [355] (42) 322-22

{2}Flag:{4} red with a black two-headed eagle in the center


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} An extremely poor country by European standards, Albania is making the
difficult transition to a more open-market economy. The economy rebounded in 1993-95 after a
severe depression accompanying the collapse of the previous centrally planned system in 1990
and 1991. Stabilization policies - including a strict monetary policy, public sector layoffs, and
reduced social services - have improved the government's fiscal situation and reduced inflation.
The recovery has been spurred by the remittances of some 20% of the labor force which works
abroad, mostly in Greece and Italy. These remittances supplement GDP and help offset the large
foreign trade deficit. Foreign assistance and humanitarian aid also supported the recovery. Most
agricultural land was privatized in 1992, substantially improving peasant incomes. Albania's
industrial sector ended its five-year, 78% decline in 1995, recording roughly 6% growth. A sharp
fall in chromium prices has reduced hard currency receipts from the mining sector. Large
segments of the population, especially those living in urban areas, continue to depend on
humanitarian aid to meet basic food requirements. Unemployment remains a severe problem
accounting for approximately one-fifth of the work force. Now that sanctions on Serbia have been
suspended, the falloff in hard currency earnings from smuggling will aggravate unemployment
problems. Growth is expected to continue in 1996, but could falter if workers' remittances from
Greece are reduced or foreign assistance declines.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $4.1 billion (1995 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 6% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $1,210 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} 55%
{3}industry:{4} NA%
{3}services:{4} NA% (1995 est.)

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 16% (1994 est.)

{2}Labor force:{4} 1.692 million (1994 est.) (including 352,000 emigrant workers and 261,000
domestically unemployed)
by occupation (of those domestically employed): agriculture (nearly all private) 49.5%, private
sector 22.2%, state (nonfarm) sector 28.3% (including state-owned industry 7.8%)

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} 19% (1994 est.)

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $486.3 million
{3}expenditures:{4} $550.4 million, including capital expenditures of $124 million (1994)

{2}Industries:{4} food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic
metals, hydropower

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} 6% (1995 est.)

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 1,662,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 3.9 billion kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 1,219 kWh (1994 est.)

{2}Agriculture:{4} wide range of temperate-zone crops and livestock

{2}Illicit drugs:{4} transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route and
cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; limited opium production

{2}Exports:{4} $141 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} asphalt, metals and metallic ores, electricity, crude oil, vegetables, fruits, tobacco
{3}partners:{4} Italy, US, Greece, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

{2}Imports:{4} $601 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} machinery, consumer goods, grains
{3}partners:{4} Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

{2}External debt:{4} $977 million (1994 est.)

{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} ODA, $NA

{2}Currency:{4} 1 lek (L) = 100 qintars

{2}Exchange rates:{4} leke (L) per US$1 - 95.65 (January 1996), 100.00 (January 1995), 99.00 (January
1994), 97.00 (January 1993), 50.00 (January 1992), 25.00 (September 1991)

{2}Fiscal year:{4} calendar year


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 670 km
standard gauge: 670 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 18,450 km
{3}paved:{4} 17,450 km
{3}unpaved:{4} 1,000 km (1991 est.)

{2}Waterways:{4} 43 km plus Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake Ohrid, and Lake Prespa (1990)

{2}Pipelines:{4} crude oil 145 km; petroleum products 55 km; natural gas 64 km (1991)

{2}Ports:{4} Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore

{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 11 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 52,967 GRT/76,887 DWT (1995 est.)

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 11
{3}with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 3
{3}with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 2
{3}with unpaved runways over 3,047 m:{4} 2
{3}with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 1
{3}with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 1
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 2 (1994 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 55,000

{2}Telephone system:{4}
{3}domestic:{4} obsolete wire system; no longer provides a telephone for every village; in 1992,
following the fall of the communist government, peasants cut the wire to about 1,000 villages and
used it to build fences
{3}international:{4} inadequate; international traffic carried by microwave radio relay from the Tirane
exchange to Italy and Greece

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 17, FM 1, shortwave 0

{2}Radios:{4} 577,000 (1991 est.)

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 9

{2}Televisions:{4} 300,000 (1993 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Interior Ministry Troops, Border Guards

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} 723,231
{3}males fit for military service:{4} 588,304
males reach military age (19) annually: 29,340 (1996 est.)

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} exchange rate conversion - $45 million, 2.5% of GDP (1995)