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Compare Albania (2008) - Jordan (2002)

Compare Albania (2008) z Jordan (2002)

 Albania (2008)Jordan (2002)
 AlbaniaJordan
Administrative divisions 12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane, Vlore 12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba
Age structure 0-14 years: 24.1% (male 454,622/female 413,698)


15-64 years: 66.6% (male 1,228,497/female 1,170,489)


65 years and over: 9.3% (male 154,352/female 178,865) (2007 est.)
0-14 years: 36.6% (male 991,370; female 949,247)


15-64 years: 60% (male 1,698,568; female 1,485,261)


65 years and over: 3.4% (male 90,186; female 92,838) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products wheat, barley, citrus, tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep, goats, poultry
Airports 11 (2007) 18 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2007)
total: 15


over 3,047 m: 7


2,438 to 3,047 m: 6


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: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 4 (2007)
total: 2


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Area total: 28,748 sq km


land: 27,398 sq km


water: 1,350 sq km
total: 92,300 sq km


land: 91,971 sq km


water: 329 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland slightly smaller than Indiana
Background Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, but was conquered by Italy in 1939. Communist partizans took over the country in 1944. Albania allied itself first with the USSR (until 1960), and then with China (to 1978). In the early 1990s, Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven challenging as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a dilapidated physical infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks, and combative political opponents. Albania has made progress in its democratic development since first holding multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain. International observers judged elections to be largely free and fair since the restoration of political stability following the collapse of pyramid schemes in 1997. In the 2005 general elections, the Democratic Party and its allies won a decisive victory on pledges of reducing crime and corruption, promoting economic growth, and decreasing the size of government. The election, and particularly the orderly transition of power, was considered an important step forward. Although Albania's economy continues to grow, the country is still one of the poorest in Europe, hampered by a large informal economy and an inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure. Albania has played a largely helpful role in managing inter-ethnic tensions in southeastern Europe, and is continuing to work toward joining NATO and the EU. Albania, with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been a strong supporter of the global war on terrorism. For most of its history since independence from British administration in 1946, Jordan was ruled by King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic ruler, he successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population, through several wars and coup attempts. In 1989 he resumed parliamentary elections and gradually permitted political liberalization; in 1994 a formal peace treaty was signed with Israel. King ABDALLAH II - the eldest son of King HUSSEIN and Princess MUNA - assumed the throne following his father's death in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidated his power and established his domestic priorities, including an aggressive economic reform program. Jordan acceded to the World Trade Organization in January 2000, and signed free trade agreements with the United States in 2000, and with the European Free Trade Association in 2001.
Birth rate 15.16 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 24.58 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $2.752 billion


expenditures: $3.129 billion (2007 est.)
revenues: $2.9 billion


expenditures: $3.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Capital name: Tirana (Tirane)


geographic coordinates: 41 19 N, 19 49 E


time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)


daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Amman
Climate mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
Coastline 362 km 26 km
Constitution adopted by popular referendum on 22 November 1998; promulgated 28 November 1998 8 January 1952
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: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan


conventional short form: Jordan


local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah


local short form: Al Urdun


former: Transjordan
Currency - Jordanian dinar (JOD)
Death rate 5.33 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 2.62 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $1.55 billion (2004) $8.2 billion (2002 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. John L. WITHERS, II


embassy: Rruga e Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana


mailing address: US Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510


telephone: [355] (4) 247285


FAX: [355] (4) 232222
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward William GNEHM, Jr.


embassy: Abdoun, Amman


mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box 5, APO AE 09892-0200


telephone: [962] (6) 5920101


FAX: [962] (6) 5920121
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Aleksander SALLABANDA


chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942


FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342
chief of mission: Ambassador Karim Tawfiq KAWAR


chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664


FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110
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; the mass emigration of unemployed Albanians remains a problem for developed countries, chiefly Greece and Italy none
Economic aid - recipient ODA: $318.7 million


note: top donors were Italy, EU, Germany (2005 est.)
ODA, $600 million (2000 est.)
Economy - overview Lagging behind its Balkan neighbors, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. The government has taken measures to curb violent crime, and recently adopted a fiscal reform package aimed at reducing the large gray economy and attracting foreign investment. The economy is bolstered by annual remittances from abroad of $600-$800 million, mostly from Albanians residing in Greece and Italy; this helps offset the towering trade deficit. Agriculture, which accounts for more than one-fifth of GDP, is held back because of lack of modern equipment, unclear property rights, and the prevalence of small, inefficient plots of land. Energy shortages and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure contribute to Albania's poor business environment, which make it difficult to attract and sustain foreign investment. The completion of a new thermal power plant near Vlore and improved transmission line between Albania and Montenegro will help relieve the energy shortages. Also, the government is moving slowly to improve the poor national road and rail network, a long-standing barrier to sustained economic growth. On the positive side, macroeconomic growth was strong in 2003-07 and inflation is low and stable. Jordan is a small Arab country with inadequate supplies of water and other natural resources such as oil. Debt, poverty, and unemployment are fundamental problems, but King ABDALLAH since assuming the throne in 1999 has undertaken some broad economic reforms in a long-term effort to improve living standards. Amman in the past three years has worked closely with the IMF, practiced careful monetary policy, and made significant headway with privatization. The government also has liberalized the trade regime sufficiently to secure Jordan's membership in the WTrO (2000), an association agreement with the EU (2000), and a free trade accord with US (2000). These measures have helped improve productivity and have put Jordan on the foreign investment map. The substantial trade deficit is covered by tourism receipts, worker remittances, and foreign assistance. Ongoing challenges include fiscal adjustment to reduce the budget deficit and broader investment incentives to promote job-creating ventures.
Electricity - consumption 3.323 billion kWh (2005) 7.092 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 300 million kWh (2005) 5 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 371 million kWh (2005) 650 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 5.385 billion kWh (2005) 6.932 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 99%


hydro: 1%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m


highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m


highest point: Jabal Ram 1,734 m
Environment - current issues deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, 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, 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)
Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
Exchange rates leke per US dollar - 92.668 (2007), 98.384 (2006), 102.649 (2005), 102.78 (2004), 121.863 (2003) Jordanian dinars per US dollar - 0.7090 (1996-present )


note: since May 1989, the Jordanian dinar has been pegged to a group of currencies
Executive branch chief of state: President of the Republic Bamir TOPI (since 24 July 2007)


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 (eligible for a second term); four election rounds held between 8 and 20 July 2007 (next election to be held in 2012); prime minister appointed by the president


election results: Bamir TOPI elected president; People's Assembly vote, fourth round (three-fifths majority (84 votes) required): Bamir TOPI 85 votes, Neritan CEKA 5 votes
chief of state: King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999); Crown Prince HAMZAH (half brother of the monarch, born 29 March 1980)


head of government: Prime Minister Ali Abul RAGHEB (since 19 June 2000)


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the monarch


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
Exports 1,240 bbl/day (2004 est.) $2.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco phosphates, fertilizers, potash, agricultural products, manufactures, pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners Italy 67.7%, Serbia and Montenegro 5.8%, Greece 5.4% (2006) India 11.4%, US 9.6%, Saudi Arabia 5.6%, Israel 3.7% (2001)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description red with a black two-headed eagle in the center three equal horizontal bands of black (top, the Abbassid Caliphate of Islam), white (the Ummayyad Caliphate of Islam), and green (the Fatimid Caliphate of Islam) with a red isosceles triangle (representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916) based on the hoist side bearing a small white seven-pointed star symbolizing the seven verses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Holy Koran; the seven points on the star represent faith in One God, humanity, national spirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations
GDP - purchasing power parity - $22.8 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 21.7%


industry: 20.3%


services: 58% (2007 est.)
agriculture: 4%


industry: 26%


services: 70% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $4,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5% (2007 est.) 3.5% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 41 00 N, 20 00 E 31 00 N, 36 00 E
Geography - note strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea) strategic location at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba and as the Arab country that shares the longest border with Israel and the occupied West Bank
Heliports 1 (2007) 2 (2002)
Highways - total: 8,000 km


paved: 8,000 km


unpaved: 0 km (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 3.4%


highest 10%: 24.4% (2004)
lowest 10%: 3%


highest 10%: 30% (1997) (1997)
Illicit drugs increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to a 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 -
Imports 21,600 bbl/day (2005 est.) $4.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, food, live animals, manufactured goods
Imports - partners Italy 32%, Greece 17.7%, Turkey 8.1%, Germany 5.7% (2006) Germany 8.8%, US 7.8%, Italy 5.6%, France 5.5% (2001)
Independence 28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire) 25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Industrial production growth rate 2% (2007 est.) -1.1% (2002 est.)
Industries food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower phosphate mining, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, potash, light manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, tourism
Infant mortality rate total: 20.02 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 20.46 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 19.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
19.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3% (2007 est.) 3.3% (2002 est.)
International organization participation BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 5 (2000)
Irrigated land 3,530 sq km (2003) 750 sq km (1998 est.)
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 Court of Cassation; Supreme Court (court of final appeal)
Labor force 1.09 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers) (September 2006 est.) 1.26 million


note: in addition, at least 300,000 workers are employed abroad (2001)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 58%


industry: 15%


services: 27% (September 2006 est.)
services 83%, industry 13%, agriculture 5% (2001 est.)
Land boundaries total: 720 km


border countries: Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Montenegro 172 km, Serbia 115 km
total: 1,635 km


border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km
Land use arable land: 20.1%


permanent crops: 4.21%


other: 75.69% (2005)
arable land: 2.87%


permanent crops: 1.52%


other: 95.61% (1998 est.)
Languages Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach, Romani, Slavic dialects Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle classes
Legal system has a civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; has accepted jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court for its citizens based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Assembly or Kuvendi (140 seats; 100 members are elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 2009)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PD 56, PS 42, PR 11, PSD 7, LSI 5, other 19
bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of the Senate, also called the House of Notables (Majlis al-Aayan), a 40-member body appointed by the monarch from designated categories of public figures; members serve four-year terms and the House of Representatives, also called the House of Deputies (Majlis al-Nuwaab), an 80-member body elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms


elections: House of Representatives - last held 4 November 1997 (November 2001 election postponed, next scheduled to be held in June 2003)


election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - National Constitutional Party 2, Arab Land Party 1, independents 75, other 2


note: the House of Representatives has been convened and dissolved by the monarch several times since 1974; in November 1989, the first parliamentary elections in 22 years were held
Life expectancy at birth total population: 77.6 years


male: 74.95 years


female: 80.53 years (2007 est.)
total population: 77.71 years


male: 75.26 years


female: 80.3 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition: age 9 and over can read and write


total population: 98.7%


male: 99.2%


female: 98.3% (2001 census)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 86.6%


male: 93.4%


female: 79.4% (1995 est.)
Location Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece in the south and Montenegro and Serbia to the north Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
Map references Europe Middle East
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 3 NM
Merchant marine total: 24 ships (1000 GRT or over) 56,550 GRT/85,521 DWT


by type: cargo 23, roll on/roll off 1


foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1)


registered in other countries: 3 (Georgia 2, Panama 1) (2007)
total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 41,206 GRT/53,401 DWT


ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 3, container 1, roll on/roll off 2


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Greece 6 (2002 est.)
Military branches Land Forces Command (Army), Naval Forces Command, Air Defense Command, General Staff Headquarters (includes Logistics Command, Training and Doctrine Command) (2007) Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal Naval Force, Royal Jordanian Air Force, and Special Operations Command or Socom); note - Public Security Directorate normally falls under Ministry of Interior but comes under JAF in wartime or crisis situations
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $757.5 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.49% (2005 est.) 8.6% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 1,517,751 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 1,073,991 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 57,131 (2002 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 28 November (1912) Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
Nationality noun: Albanian(s)


adjective: Albanian
noun: Jordanian(s)


adjective: Jordanian
Natural hazards destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought droughts; periodic earthquakes
Natural resources petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower phosphates, potash, shale oil
Net migration rate -4.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) 6.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2007) crude oil 209 km; note - may not be in use
Political parties and leaders Agrarian Environmentalist Party or PAA [Lufter XHUVELI]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Nard NDOKA]; Communist Party of Albania or PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or AD [Neritan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality Movement Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIA]; Liberal Union Party or BLD [Arjan STAROVA]; Movement for National Development or LZhK [Dashamir SHEHI]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Adriatik ALIMADHI]; New Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social Democracy Party of Albania or PDSSh [Paskal MILO]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI [Ilir META]; Socialist Party or PS [Edi RAMA]; Union for Human Rights Party or PBDNj [Vangjel DULE] Al-Umma (Nation) Party [Ahmad al-HANANDEH, secretary general]; Arab Land Party [Dr. Muhammad al-'ORAN, secretary general]; Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'id DHIYAB, secretary general]; National Constitutional Party [Abdul Hadi MAJALI, secretary general]; Islamic Action Front [Abd al latif al-ARABIYAT, secretary general]; National Action (Haqq) Party [Muhammad al-ZUBI, secretary general]; (Arab) Socialist Ba'th Party [Taysif al-HIMSI, secretary general]; Jordanian People's Democratic (Hashd) Party [Salim al-NAHHAS, secretary general]; Pan-Arab (Democratic) Movement [Mahmud al-NUWAYHI, secretary general]; Constitutional Front [Mahdi al-TALL, secretary general]; Jordanian Progressive Party [Fawwaz al-ZUBI, secretary general]; Communist Party [Munir HAMARINAH, secretary general]
Political pressure groups and leaders Citizens Advocacy Office [Kreshnik SPAHIU]; Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania or KSSH [Kastriot MUCO]; Front for Albanian National Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI]; Mjaft Movement; Omonia [Jani JANI]; Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA] Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Muslim Brotherhood [Abd-al-Majid DHUNAYBAT, secretary general]; Anti-Normalization Committee [Ali Abu SUKKAR, president vice chairman]; Jordanian Bar Association [Saleh ARMOUTI, president]
Population 3,600,523 (July 2007 est.) 5,307,470 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line 25% (2004 est.) 30% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate 0.529% (2007 est.) 2.89% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors - Al 'Aqabah
Radio broadcast stations AM 13, FM 46, shortwave 1 (2005) AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1999)
Radios - 1.66 million (1997)
Railways total: 447 km


standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)
total: 677 km


narrow gauge: 677 km 1.050-m gauge (2001)
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
Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shi'a Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.099 male(s)/female


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


65 years and over: 0.863 male(s)/female


total population: 1.042 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female


total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 20 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: despite new investment in fixed lines, the density of main lines remains low with roughly 10 lines per 100 people; however, cellular telephone use is widespread and generally effective; combined fixed line and mobile telephone density is approximately 60 telephones per 100 persons


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; Internet broadband services initiated in 2005; internet cafes are popular in Tirana and have started to spread outside the capital


international: country code - 355; submarine cable provides connectivity to Italy, Croatia, and Greece; the Trans-Balkan Line, a combination submarine cable and land fiber optic system, provides additional connectivity to Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Turkey; international traffic carried by fiber-optic cable and, when necessary, by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece (2007)
general assessment: service has improved recently with the increased use of digital switching equipment, but better access to the telephone system is needed in the rural areas and easier access to pay telephones is needed by the urban public


domestic: microwave radio relay transmission and coaxial and fiber-optic cable are employed on trunk lines; considerable use of mobile cellular systems; Internet service is available


international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat, 1 Arabsat, and 29 land and maritime Inmarsat terminals; fiber-optic cable to Saudi Arabia and microwave radio relay link with Egypt and Syria; connection to international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); participant in MEDARABTEL; international links total about 4,000
Telephones - main lines in use 353,600 (2005) 403,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1.53 million (2005) 11,500 (1995)
Television broadcast stations 65 (3 national, 62 local); 2 cable networks (2005) 20 (plus 96 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
Total fertility rate 2.03 children born/woman (2007 est.) 3.15 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 13% official rate, but may exceed 30% due to preponderance of near-subsistence farming (2007 est.) 16% official rate; actual rate is 25%-30% (2001 est.)
Waterways 43 km (2007) none
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