Statistics Albania 
Albania in the World
Albania - Introduction 1992
top of pageBackground: In 1990 Albania ended 44 years of xenophobic communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven difficult as corrupt governments have tried to deal with severe unemployment and widespread gangsterism.
Land boundaries: 720 km total; Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km (114 km with Serbia, 173 km with Montenegro)
Maritime claims
Continental shelf: not specified
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Disputes: Kosovo question with Serbia and Montenegro; Northern Epirus question with Greece
Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
Land use: arable land: 21%; permanent crops: 4%; meadows and pastures 15%; forest and woodland 38%; other 22%; includes irrigated 1%
Albania - People 1992
top of pageReligions:
all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice; estimates of religious affiliation - Muslim 70%, Greek
Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%
Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%
Environment
Current issues: subject to destructive earthquakes; tsunami occur along southwestern coast
Current issues note:
strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to
Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
Albania - Government 1992
top of pageAdministrative divisions:
26 districts (rrethe, singular - rreth);
Berat, Dibre, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Gramsh, Kolonje, Kore,
Kruje, Kukes, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje, Mat, Mirdite, Permet, Pogradec,
Puke, Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar, Tepelene, Tirane, Tropoje, Vlore
Berat, Dibre, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Gramsh, Kolonje, Kore,
Kruje, Kukes, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje, Mat, Mirdite, Permet, Pogradec,
Puke, Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar, Tepelene, Tirane, Tropoje, Vlore
Independence:
28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire); People's Socialist
Republic of Albania declared 11 January 1946
Republic of Albania declared 11 January 1946
Constitution: an interim basic law was approved by the People's Assembly on 29 April 1991; a new constitution is to be drafted for adoption in 1992
Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18
People's Assembly: 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
Executive branch: president, prime minister of the Council of Ministers, two deputy prime ministers of the Council of Ministers
International organization participation:
CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO,
ITU, LORCS, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
ITU, LORCS, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation: Minister-Counselor, Charge d'Affaires ad interim (30 April 1991) Sazan Hyda BEJO; chancery (temporary) at 320 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10,021; telephone (212) 249-2,059
US: Ambassador (vacant); Embassy at Rruga Labinoti 103, room 2,921, Tirane (mailing address is APO AE 9,624); telephone 355-42-32,875; FAX 355-42-32,222
Albania - Economy 1992
top of pageEconomy overview:
The Albanian economy, already providing the lowest standard of living in Europe, contracted sharply in 1991, with most industries producing at only a fraction of past levels and an unemployment rate estimated at 40%.
For over 40 years, the Stalinist-type economy has operated on the principle of central planning and state ownership of the means of production. Albania began fitful economic reforms during 1991, including the liberalization of prices and trade, the privatization of shops and transport, and land reform.
These reform measures were crippled, however, by the widespread civil disorder that accompanied the collapse of the Communist state. Following their overwhelming victory in the 22 March 1991 elections, the new
Democratic government announced a program of shock therapy to stabilize the economy and establish a market economy. In an effort to expand international ties, Tirane has reestablished diplomatic relations with the former Soviet
Union and the US and has joined the IMF and World Bank. The Albanians have also passed legislation allowing foreign investment. Albania possesses considerable mineral resources and, until 1990, was largely self-sufficient in food; however, the breakup of cooperative farms in 1991 and general economic decline forced Albania to rely on foreign aid to maintain adequate supplies. Available statistics on Albanian economic activity are rudimentary and subject to an especially wide margin of error.
For over 40 years, the Stalinist-type economy has operated on the principle of central planning and state ownership of the means of production. Albania began fitful economic reforms during 1991, including the liberalization of prices and trade, the privatization of shops and transport, and land reform.
These reform measures were crippled, however, by the widespread civil disorder that accompanied the collapse of the Communist state. Following their overwhelming victory in the 22 March 1991 elections, the new
Democratic government announced a program of shock therapy to stabilize the economy and establish a market economy. In an effort to expand international ties, Tirane has reestablished diplomatic relations with the former Soviet
Union and the US and has joined the IMF and World Bank. The Albanians have also passed legislation allowing foreign investment. Albania possesses considerable mineral resources and, until 1990, was largely self-sufficient in food; however, the breakup of cooperative farms in 1991 and general economic decline forced Albania to rely on foreign aid to maintain adequate supplies. Available statistics on Albanian economic activity are rudimentary and subject to an especially wide margin of error.
GNP: purchasing power equivalent - $2.7 billion, per capita $820; real growth rate --35% (1991 est.)
Agriculture products: arable land: per capita among lowest in Europe; over 60% of arable land: now in private hands; one-half of work force engaged in farming; wide range of temperate-zone crops and livestock; severe dislocations suffered in 1991
Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing, lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, basic metals, hydropower
Labor force: 1,500,000 (1987); agriculture about 60%, industry and commerce 40% (1986)
Organized labor:
Independent Trade Union Federation of Albania;
Confederation of Trade Unions
Confederation of Trade Unions
Budget: revenues $1.1 billion; expenditures $1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $70 million (1991 est.)
Exports: $80 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
Commodoties: asphalt, petroleum products, metals and metallic ores, electricity, crude oil, vegetables, fruits, tobacco
Partners:
Italy, Yugoslavia, Germany, Greece, Czechoslovakia, Poland,
Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary
Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary
Imports: $147 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
Commodoties: machinery, machine tools, iron and steel products, textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Partners:
Italy, Yugoslavia, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Poland,
Hungary, Bulgaria
Hungary, Bulgaria
Albania - Energy 1992
top of pageElectricity
Production: 1,690,000 kW capacity; 5,000 million kWh produced, 1,530 kWh per capita (1990)
Albania - Communication 1992
top of pageAlbania - Military 1992
top of pageMilitary expenditures
Percent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - 1.0 billion leks, NA% of GNP (FY90; note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
Albania - Transportation 1992
top of pageAirports:
12 total, 10 usable; more than 5 with permanent-surface runways; more than 5
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 5
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 5
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Albania - Transnational issues 1992
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