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Compare Albania (2002) - Western Sahara (2003)

Compare Albania (2002) z Western Sahara (2003)

 Albania (2002)Western Sahara (2003)
 AlbaniaWestern Sahara
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 none (under de facto control of Morocco)
Age structure 0-14 years: 28.8% (male 528,678; female 493,531)


15-64 years: 64% (male 1,094,034; female 1,175,024)


65 years and over: 7.2% (male 111,524; female 142,050) (2002 est.)
0-14 years: NA%


15-64 years: NA%


65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads)
Airports 11 (2001) 11 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2002)
total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 8


over 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 4 (2002)
total: 8


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Area total: 28,748 sq km


land: 27,398 sq km


water: 1,350 sq km
total: 266,000 sq km


land: 266,000 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland about the size of Colorado
Background 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 high unemployment, a dilapidated infrastructure, widespread gangsterism, and disruptive political opponents. International observers judged local elections in 2001 to be acceptable and a step toward democratic development, but identified serious deficiencies which should be addressed through reforms in the Albanian electoral code. Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed.
Birth rate 18.59 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $697 million


expenditures: $1.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $368 million (2002 est.)
revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Capital Tirana none
Climate mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
Coastline 362 km 1,110 km
Constitution a constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998; note - the opposition Democratic Party boycotted the vote -
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
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Western Sahara


former: Spanish Sahara
Currency lek (ALL) Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Death rate 6.49 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $784 million (2000) $NA
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador James F. JEFFREY


embassy: Rruga Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana


mailing address: U. S. Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Washington, DC 20521-9510


telephone: [355] (4) 247285


FAX: [355] (4) 232222
none
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Fatos TARIFA


chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942


FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342
none
Disputes - international the Albanian Government supports protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians outside of its borders in the Kosovo region of Serbia and Montenegro and in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia while continuing to seek regional cooperation; many Albanians illegally transit neighboring states to emigrate to western Europe Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty remains unresolved; UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties have rejected other proposals; Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara have been dormant in recent years; Morocco allowed Spanish fishermen to fish temporarily off the coast of Western Sahara after an oil spill soiled Spanish fishing grounds
Economic aid - recipient ODA: $315 million (top donors were Italy, EU, Germany) (2000 est.) $NA
Economy - overview Poor and backward by European standards, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. The government has taken measures to curb violent crime and to revive economic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by remittances from abroad of $400-$600 million annually, mostly from Greece and Italy. Agriculture, which accounts for half of GDP, is held back because of frequent drought and the need to modernize equipment and consolidate small plots of land. Severe energy shortages are forcing small firms out of business, increasing unemployment, scaring off foreign investors, and spurring inflation. The government plans to boost energy imports to relieve the shortages. Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. Incomes and standards of living in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level.
Electricity - consumption 5.378 billion kWh (2000) 83.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 100 million kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 1.072 billion kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 4.738 billion kWh (2000) 90 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 3%


hydro: 97%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m


highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,753 m
lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m


highest point: unnamed location 463 m
Environment - current issues deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents sparse water and lack of arable land
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to: none of the selected agreements


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Gypsy, Serb, and Bulgarian) (1989 est.)


note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization)
Arab, Berber
Exchange rates leke per US dollar - 140.16 (November 2001), 143.71 (2000) 137.69 (1999), 150.63 (1998), 148.93 (1997); note - leke is the plural of lek Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 11.584 (2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.626 (2000), 9.804 (1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997)
Executive branch chief of state: President of the Republic Alfred MOISIU (since 24 July 2002)


head of government: Prime Minister Fatos NANO (since 31 July 2002)


cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and approved by the president


elections: president elected by the People's Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 24 June 2002 (next to be held NA 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
none
Exports $340 million f.o.b. (2002 est.) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco phosphates 62%
Exports - partners Italy 71%, Greece 12%, Germany 7%, Yugoslavia 3% (2001) Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description red with a black two-headed eagle in the center -
GDP purchasing power parity - $14 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 49%


industry: 27%


services: 24% (2002 est.)
agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: 40% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $4,500 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate 5% (2002 est.) NA%
Geographic coordinates 41 00 N, 20 00 E 24 30 N, 13 00 W
Geography - note strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea) the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas
Heliports 1 (2002) -
Highways total: 18,000 km


paved: 5,400 km


unpaved: 12,600 km (1998 est.)
total: 6,200 km


paved: 1,350 km


unpaved: 4,850 km (1991 est)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to a far lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; limited opium and growing cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and rapidly expanding in Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with regional trafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal aliens -
Imports $1.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Imports - partners Italy 32%, Greece 26%, Turkey 6%, Germany 6%, Bulgaria 2% (2001) Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2000)
Independence 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire) -
Industrial production growth rate 9% (2000 est.) NA%
Industries food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower phosphate mining, handicrafts
Infant mortality rate 38.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) total: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 6% (2002 est.) NA%
International organization participation ACCT, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO none
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 10 (2001) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 3,400 sq km (1998 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term) -
Labor force 1.283 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers and 261,000 domestically unemployed) (2000 est.) 12,000
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 50%, industry and services 50% animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%
Land boundaries total: 720 km


border countries: Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km
total: 2,046 km


border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Land use arable land: 21.09%


permanent crops: 4.45%


other: 74.46% (1998 est.)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (1998 est.)
Languages Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Legal system has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction -
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 24 June with subsequent rounds on 8 July, 22 July, 29 July, 19 August 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005)


election results: percent of vote by party - PS 41.5%, PD and coalition allies 36.8%, NDP 5.2%, PSD 3.6%, PBDNJ 2.6%, PASH 2.6%, PAD 2.5%; seats by party - PS 73, PD and coalition allies 46, NDP 6, PSD 4, PBDNJ 3, PASH 3, PAD 3, independents 2
-
Life expectancy at birth total population: 72.1 years


male: 69.27 years


female: 75.14 years (2002 est.)
total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: age 9 and over can read and write


total population: 93% (1997 est.)


male: NA%


female: NA%
definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
Map references Europe Africa
Maritime claims continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation


territorial sea: 12 NM
contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
Merchant marine total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,423 GRT/20,837 DWT


ships by type: cargo 7, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Croatia 1, Honduras 1 (2002 est.)
-
Military branches Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Interior Ministry Troops, Border Guards -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $56.5 million (FY02) $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.49% (FY02) NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 888,086 (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 727,406 (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - military age 19 years of age (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 35,792 (2002 est.) -
National holiday Independence Day, 28 November (1912) -
Nationality noun: Albanian(s)


adjective: Albanian
noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)


adjective: Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Natural hazards destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility
Natural resources petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, timber, nickel, hydropower phosphates, iron ore
Net migration rate -1.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) -
Pipelines crude oil 196 km; petroleum products 55 km; natural gas 64 km (1996) -
Political parties and leaders Agrarian Party or PASH [Lufter XHUVELI]; Albanian National Front (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Shptim ROQI]; Albanian Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Albanian Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albania Workers Party) [Fatos NANO, chairman]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Zef BUSHATI]; Democratic Alliance or PAD [Nerltan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Group of Reformist Democrats [Leonard NDOKA]; Legality Movement Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIA]; Liberal Union Party or PBL [Teodor LACO]; New Democratic Party or NDP [Genc POLLO]; OMONIA [Vagjelis DULES]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQUIRI]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Unity for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vasil MELO, chairman] -
Political pressure groups and leaders NA none
Population 3,544,841 (July 2002 est.) 261,794 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 30% (2001 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 1.06% (2002 est.) NA% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun)
Radio broadcast stations AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 2 (2001) AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 1 million (2001) -
Railways total: 447 km


standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2001 est.)
0 km
Religions Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%


note: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice
Muslim
Sex ratio at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
NA (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal and compulsory none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed
Telephone system general assessment: Albania has the poorest telephone service in Europe with fewer than two telephones per 100 inhabitants; it is doubtful that every village has telephone service


domestic: 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


international: inadequate; international traffic carried by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece
general assessment: sparse and limited system


domestic: NA


international: tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
Telephones - main lines in use 120,000 (2001) about 2,000 (1999 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular 250,000 (2001) 0 (1999)
Television broadcast stations 3 (plus 58 repeaters) (2001) NA
Terrain mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
Total fertility rate 2.27 children born/woman (2002 est.) NA children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 17% officially (2001 est.); may be as high as 30% (2001) NA%
Waterways 43 km


note: includes Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake Ohrid, and Lake Prespa (1990)
none
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