The 2005 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Desertification, Endangered

       Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,

       Wetlands

       signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

      Geography - note:

       strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to

       Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)

      People Albania

      Population:

       3,563,112 (July 2005 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 25.6% (male 476,989/female 434,298)

       15–64 years: 65.8% (male 1,199,964/female 1,144,886)

       65 years and over: 8.6% (male 141,559/female 165,416) (2005 est.)

      Median age:

       total: 28.52 years

       male: 27.95 years

       female: 29.1 years (2005 est.)

      Population growth rate:

       0.52% (2005 est.)

      Birth rate:

       15.08 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

      Death rate:

       5.12 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

      Net migration rate:

       −4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

      Sex ratio:

       at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female

       under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female

       15–64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

       65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female

       total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

      Infant mortality rate:

       total: 21.52 deaths/1,000 live births

       male: 21.96 deaths/1,000 live births

       female: 21.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth:

       total population: 77.24 years

       male: 74.6 years

       female: 80.15 years (2005 est.)

      Total fertility rate:

       2.04 children born/woman (2005 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

       NA%

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

       NA

      HIV/AIDS - deaths:

       NA

      Nationality:

       noun: Albanian(s)

       adjective: Albanian

      Ethnic groups:

       Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Roma (Gypsy), Serb,

       Macedonian, Bulgarian) (1989 est.)

       note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from

       1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization)

      Religions:

       Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%

       note: percentages are estimates; there are no available current

       statistics on religious affiliation; all mosques and churches were

       closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November

       1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice

      Languages:

       Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach,

       Romani, Slavic dialects

      Literacy:

       definition: age 9 and over can read and write

       total population: 86.5%

       male: 93.3%

       female: 79.5% (2003 est.)

      Government Albania

      Country name:

       conventional long form: Republic of Albania

       conventional short form: Albania

       local long form: Republika e Shqiperise

       local short form: Shqiperia

       former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania

      Government type:

       emerging democracy

      Capital:

       Tirana

      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

      Independence:

       28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)

      National holiday:

       Independence Day, 28 November (1912)

      Constitution:

       adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998

      Legal system:

       has a civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ

       jurisdiction; has accepted jurisdiction of the International

       Criminal Court for its citizens

      Suffrage:

       18 years of age; universal

      Executive branch:

       chief of state: President of the Republic Alfred MOISIU (since 24

       July 2002)

       head of government: Prime Minister Sali BERISHA (since 10 September

       2005)

       cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister,

       nominated by the president, and approved by parliament

       elections: president elected by the People's Assembly for a

       five-year term; election last held 24 June 2002 (next to be held

       June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president

       election results: Alfred MOISIU elected president; People's Assembly

       vote by number - total votes 116, for 97, against 19

      Legislative branch:

       unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (140 seats; 100

       are elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote for

       four-year terms)

       elections: last held 4 July 2005 (next to be held July 2009)

       election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -

       PD 55, PS 40, PR 11, PSD 7, LSI 5, other 22

      Judicial branch:

       Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the

       People's Assembly for a four-year term), and multiple appeals and

       district courts

      Political parties and leaders:

       Agrarian Environmentalist Party or PAA [Lufter XHUVELI]; Christian

       Democratic Party or PDK [Nikolle LESI]; Communist Party of Albania

       or PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or PAD [Neritan