Albania

Republic of Albania
Republika e Shqipërisë (Albanian)
Motto: Ti Shqipëri, më jep nder,
më jep emrin Shqipëtar

"You Albania, give me honour,
you give me the name Albanian"
Anthem: "Himni i Flamurit"
"Hymn to the Flag"
Location of Albania (green)
Capital
and largest city
Tirana
41°19′N 19°49′E / 41.317°N 19.817°E / 41.317; 19.817
Official languagesAlbanian
Recognised minority languages
Religion
(2020)
Demonym(s)Albanian
GovernmentUnitary parliamentary republic
• President
Bajram Begaj
Edi Rama
Lindita Nikolla
LegislatureKuvendi
Establishment history
1190
February 1272
1368
2 March 1444
1515
1757/1787
• Proclamation of independence from the Ottoman Empire
28 November 1912
29 July 1913
31 January 1925
1 September 1928
10 January 1946
28 December 1976
• 4th Republic of Albania
29 April 1991
28 November 1998
Area
• Total
28,748 km2 (11,100 sq mi) (140th)
• Water (%)
4.7
Population
• January 2022 estimate
Neutral decrease 2,793,592[2]
• 2011 census
2,821,977[3]
• Density
97/km2 (251.2/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)2024 estimate
• Total
Increase $59.099 billion[4] (118th)
• Per capita
Increase $20,739[4] (83rd)
GDP (nominal)2024 estimate
• Total
Increase $25.297 billion[4] (125th)
• Per capita
Increase $8,877[4] (84th)
Gini (2019)Positive decrease 34.3[5]
medium
HDI (2022)Increase 0.789[6]
high (74th)
CurrencyLek (ALL)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)
UTC+2 (CEST)
Driving sideright
Calling code+355
ISO 3166 codeAL
Internet TLD.al

Albania (/ælˈbniə, ɔːl-/ a(w)l-BAY-nee-ə; Albanian: Shqipëri or Shqipëria),[a] officially the Republic of Albania (Albanian: Republika e Shqipërisë),[b] is a country in Southeast Europe. The country is located in the Balkans on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares land borders with Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, North Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south. Spanning an area of 28,748 km2 (11,100 sq mi), it displays a varied range of climatic, geological, hydrological and morphological conditions. The country's landscapes range from rugged snow-capped mountains in the Albanian Alps and the Korab, Skanderbeg, Pindus and Ceraunian Mountains, to fertile lowland plains extending from the coasts of the Adriatic and Ionian seas. Tirana is the capital and largest city in the country, followed by Durrës, Vlorë, and Shkodër.

In ancient times, the Illyrians inhabited northern and central regions of Albania, whilst Epirotes inhabited the south. Several important ancient Greek colonies were also established on the coast. The Illyrian kingdom centered in what is now Albania was the dominant power before the Rise of Macedon.[8] In the 2nd century BCE, the region was annexed by the Roman Republic, and after the division of the Roman Empire it became part of Byzantium. The first known Albanian autonomous principality – Arbanon – was established in the 12th century. The Kingdom of Albania, Principality of Albania and Albania Veneta were formed between the 13th and 15th centuries in different parts of the country, alongside other Albanian principalities and political entities. In the late 15th century, Albania became part of the Ottoman Empire until 1912, when the modern Albanian state declared independence. In 1939, Italy invaded the Kingdom of Albania, which became Greater Albania, and then a protectorate of Nazi Germany during World War II.[9] Following the war, the People's Socialist Republic of Albania was formed, which lasted until the Revolutions of 1991 concluded with the fall of communism in Albania and eventually the establishment of the current Republic of Albania.

Since its independence in 1912, Albania has undergone a diverse political evolution, transitioning from a monarchy to a communist regime before becoming a sovereign parliamentary constitutional republic. Governed by a constitution prioritising the separation of powers, the country's political structure includes a parliament, a ceremonial president, a functional prime minister and a hierarchy of courts. Albania is a developing country with an upper-middle income economy driven by the service sector, with manufacturing and tourism also playing significant roles.[10] The country underwent a transition post the dissolution of communism, shifting from a centralised planning to adopting an open market economy.[11] Citizens in Albania benefit from universal health care access and receive complimentary primary and secondary education.

  1. ^ "Albania". The World Factbook (2024 ed.). Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 1 November 2021. (Archived 2021 edition)
  2. ^ "Popullsia e Shqipërisë" (in Albanian). Instituti i Statistikës (INSTAT). 26 March 2020. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Population and Housing Census 2011" (PDF). Instituti i Statistikës (INSTAT). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d "World Economic Outlook Database, October 2023 Edition. (Albania)". IMF.org. International Monetary Fund. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income – EU-SILC survey". ec.europa.eu. Eurostat. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Human Development Report 2023/24" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 13 March 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  7. ^ Giacomo Jungg (1 January 1895). Fialuur i voghel scc...p e ltinisct mle...un prei P. Jak Junkut t' Scocniis ... N'Sckoder t' Scc...pniis. Retrieved 23 July 2016 – via Internet Archive.
  8. ^ Howe, T. (2017). "Plain tales from the hills: Illyrian influences on Argead military development". In Müller, S.; Howe, Tim; Bowden, H.; Rollinger, R. (eds.). The History of the Argeads: New Perspectives. Wiesbaden. ISBN 978-3447108515. p. 108.
  9. ^ Zolo, D. (27 August 2002). Invoking Humanity: War, Law and Global Order. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 180. ISBN 9780826456564.
  10. ^ "Albania". The World Bank. Archived from the original on 21 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  11. ^ Reports: Poverty Decreases in Albania After Years of Growth. Dow Jones Newswires, 201-938-5500 201-938-5500 201-938-5500.Nasdaq.com


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