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Compare Albania (2004) - British Virgin Islands (2002)

Compare Albania (2004) z British Virgin Islands (2002)

 Albania (2004)British Virgin Islands (2002)
 AlbaniaBritish Virgin Islands
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 (overseas territory of the UK)
Age structure 0-14 years: 26.4% (male 489,363; female 446,586)


15-64 years: 65.3% (male 1,184,670; female 1,130,065)


65 years and over: 8.3% (male 135,177; female 158,947) (2004 est.)
0-14 years: 22.4% (male 2,401; female 2,351)


15-64 years: 72.7% (male 7,962; female 7,509)


65 years and over: 4.9% (male 565; female 484) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Airports 11 (2003 est.) 3 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2004 est.)
total: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (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 (2004 est.)
total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Area total: 28,748 sq km


land: 27,398 sq km


water: 1,350 sq km
total: 153 sq km


land: 153 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the island of Anegada
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Background Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven difficult as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a dilapidated infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks with links to high government officials, and disruptive political opponents. International observers judged parliamentary elections in 2001 and local elections in 2003 to be acceptable and a step toward democratic development, but identified serious deficiencies. Many of these deficiencies have been addressed through bi-partisan changes to the electoral code in 2003 and 2005, but implementation of these changes will not be demonstrated until parliamentary elections in July 2005. First settled by the Dutch in 1648, the islands were annexed in 1672 by the English. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.
Birth rate 15.08 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 15.09 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $1.36 billion


expenditures: $1.627 billion, including capital expenditures of $406 million (2003 est.)
revenues: $121.5 million


expenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Capital Tirana Road Town
Climate mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Coastline 362 km 80 km
Constitution a constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998 1 June 1977
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: British Virgin Islands


abbreviation: BVI
Currency lek (ALL) US dollar (USD)
Death rate 5.02 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $1.41 billion (2003) $36.1 million (1997)
Dependency status - overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Marcie B. RIES


embassy: Rruga Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana


mailing address: U. S. Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510


telephone: [355] (4) 247285


FAX: [355] (4) 374957 and [355] (4) 232222
none (overseas territory of the UK)
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 (overseas territory of the UK)
Disputes - international the Albanian Government calls for the protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians in neighboring countries, and the peaceful resolution of interethnic disputes; some ethnic Albanian groups in neighboring countries advocate for a "greater Albania," but the idea has little appeal among Albanian nationals none
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 spur economic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by remittances from abroad of $400-$600 million annually, mostly from Greece and Italy; this helps offset the sizable trade deficit. Agriculture, which accounts for one-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 and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure make it difficult to attract and sustain foreign investment. The government plans to boost energy imports to relieve the shortages and is moving slowly to improve the poor national road and rail network, a long-standing barrier to sustained economic growth. The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, generating an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 1998. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the dollar as its currency since 1959.
Electricity - consumption 5.898 billion kWh (2001) 39.1 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 221 million kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 1.2 billion kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 5.289 billion kWh (2001) 42 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m


highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Environment - current issues deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands


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


note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization)
black 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed
Exchange rates leke per US dollar - 121.863 (2003), 140.155 (2002), 143.485 (2001), 143.709 (2000), 137.691 (1999) the US dollar is used
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 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 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
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Tom MACAN (since 14 October 2002)


head of government: Chief Minister Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 15 May 1995)


cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor
Exports NA (2001) $6.2 million
Exports - commodities textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Exports - partners Italy 74.9%, Greece 12.8%, Germany 3.4% (2003) Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description red with a black two-headed eagle in the center blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
GDP purchasing power parity - $16.13 billion (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $311 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 47.5%


industry: 24.6%


services: 27.8% (2003 est.)
agriculture: 2%


industry: 6%


services: 92% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $4,500 (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $16,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 7% (2003 est.) 4.4% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 41 00 N, 20 00 E 18 30 N, 64 30 W
Geography - note strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea) strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Heliports 1 (2003 est.) -
Highways total: 18,000 km


paved: 5,400 km


unpaved: 12,600 km (2000)
total: 177 km


paved: 177 km


unpaved: 0 km (2000)
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 expanding in Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with regional trafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal aliens transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center
Imports NA (2001) $230 million (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
Imports - partners Italy 33.6%, Greece 20.2%, Turkey 6.6%, Germany 5.7% (2003) Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Independence 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire) none (overseas territory of the UK)
Industrial production growth rate 2.7% (2003 est.) 4% (1985)
Industries food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center
Infant mortality rate total: 22.31 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 23.01 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 21.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
19.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.4% (2003) 3.3% (2000)
International organization participation ACCT, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 16 (2000)
Irrigated land 3,400 sq km (1998 est.) NA sq km
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 Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Labor force 1.35 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers) (2003 est.) 4,911 (1980)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 57%, non-agricultural private sector 20%, public sector 23% (2003 est.) agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Land boundaries total: 720 km


border countries: Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km
0 km
Land use arable land: 21.09%


permanent crops: 4.42%


other: 74.49% (2001)
arable land: 20%


permanent crops: 6.67%


other: 73.33% (1998 est.)
Languages Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach, Romani, Slavic dialects English (official)
Legal system has a civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; has accepted jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court for its citizens English law
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 2001 with subsequent rounds on 8 July, 22 July, 29 July, 19 August 2001 (next to be held July 2005)


election results: percent of vote by party - PS 41.5%, PD and coalition allies 36.8%, PDR 5.2%, PSD 3.6%, PBDNJ 2.6%, PASH (now PAA) 2.6%, PAD 2.5%; seats by party - PS 73, PD and coalition allies 46, PDR 6, PSD 4, PBDNJ 3, PASH (now PAA) 3, PAD 3, independents 2; note - seats by party as of January 2005: PS 65, PD and coalition allies 46, LSI 9, PDR 6, PSD 3, PBDNJ 3, PASH (now PAA) 3, PAD 3, PDS 1, independents 1
unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, one member from each of 9 electoral districts, four at-large members; members serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 17 May 1999 (next to be held NA 2003)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - VIP 7, CCM 1, NDP 5
Life expectancy at birth total population: 77.06 years


male: 74.37 years


female: 80.02 years (2004 est.)
total population: 75.85 years


male: 74.9 years


female: 76.84 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition: age 9 and over can read and write


total population: 86.5%


male: 93.3%


female: 79.5% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 97.8% (1991 est.)


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Map references Europe Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 3 NM
Merchant marine total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 40,878 GRT/62,676 DWT


by type: bulk 1, cargo 19, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1


foreign-owned: Denmark 1, Honduras 1, Netherlands 1


registered in other countries: 7 (2004 est.)
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 70,285 GRT/6,946 DWT


ships by type: passenger 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military branches General Staff Headquarters, Land Forces Command (Army), Naval Forces Command, Air Forces Command, Doctrine and Exercises Command, Logistics Support Command -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $56.5 million (FY02) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.49% (FY02) -
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 956,107 (2004 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 775,422 (2004 est.) -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 36,584 (2004 est.) -
National holiday Independence Day, 28 November (1912) Territory Day, 1 July
Nationality noun: Albanian(s)


adjective: Albanian
noun: British Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: British Virgin Islander
Natural hazards destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
Natural resources petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower NEGL
Net migration rate -4.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) 10.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2004) -
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 CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality Movement Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIU]; Liberal Union Party or PBL [Arjan STAROVA]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Adriatik ALIMADHI]; New Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Renewed Democratic Party or PDR [Dashamir SHEHI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social Democracy Party or PDS [Paskal MILO]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI [Ilir META]; Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albanian Party of Labor) [Fatos NANO]; Union for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vangjel DULE] Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]
Political pressure groups and leaders Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania or KSSH [Kastriot MUCO]; Front for Albanian National Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI]; Omonia [Jani JANI]; Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA] NA
Population 3,544,808 (July 2004 est.) 21,272 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line 30% (2001 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 0.51% (2004 est.) 2.16% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore Road Town
Radio broadcast stations AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 2 (2001) AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios - 9,000 (1997)
Railways total: 447 km


standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2003)
0 km
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
Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2% (1991)
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: 0.85 male(s)/female


total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.17 male(s)/female


total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: Despite new investment in fixed lines, the density of main lines remains the lowest in Europe with roughly 8 lines per 100 people. However, cellular telephone use is widespread and generally effective.


domestic: offsetting the shortage of fixed line capacity, mobile phone service has been available since 1996; by 2003 two companies were providing mobile services at a greater density than some of Albania's Balkan neighbors


international: country code - 355; inadequate fixed main lines; adequate cellular connections; international traffic carried by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece (2003)
general assessment: worldwide telephone service


domestic: NA


international: submarine cable to Bermuda
Telephones - main lines in use 255,000 (2003) 10,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1.1 million (2003) NA
Television broadcast stations 3 (plus 58 repeaters) (2001) 1 (plus one cable company) (1997)
Terrain mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
Total fertility rate 2.05 children born/woman (2004 est.) 1.72 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 15.8% officially; may be as high as 30% (2003 est.) 3% (1995)
Waterways 43 km (2004) none
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