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Compare Latvia (2003) - Albania (2001)

Compare Latvia (2003) z Albania (2001)

 Latvia (2003)Albania (2001)
 LatviaAlbania
Administrative divisions 26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Liepaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons 36 districts (rrethe, singular - rreth) and 1 municipality* (bashki); Berat, Bulqize, Delvine, Devoll (Bilisht), Diber (Peshkopi), Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Gramsh, Has (Krume), Kavaje, Kolonje (Erseke), Korce, Kruje, Kucove, Kukes, Kurbin, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje, Malesi e Madhe (Koplik), Mallakaster (Ballsh), Mat (Burrel), Mirdite (Rreshen), Peqin, Permet, Pogradec, Puke, Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar (Corovode), Tepelene, Tirane (Tirana), Tirane* (Tirana), Tropoje (Bajram Curri), Vlore

note:
administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Age structure 0-14 years: 15.1% (male 180,976; female 172,988)


15-64 years: 68.9% (male 774,133; female 844,856)


65 years and over: 16% (male 122,850; female 252,981) (2003 est.)
0-14 years:
29.53% (male 536,495; female 500,026)

15-64 years:
63.48% (male 1,073,351; female 1,155,115)

65 years and over:
6.99% (male 107,476; female 138,021) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products
Airports 38 (2002) 11 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 22


2,438 to 3,047 m: 7


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 12 (2002)
total:
3

2,438 to 3,047 m:
3 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 16


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 4


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 10 (2002)
total:
8

over 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
2

under 914 m:
4 (2000 est.)
Area total: 64,589 sq km


land: 63,589 sq km


water: 1,000 sq km
total:
28,748 sq km

land:
27,398 sq km

water:
1,350 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than West Virginia slightly smaller than Maryland
Background After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia continues to revamp its economy for eventual integration into various Western European political and economic institutions and was invited to join NATO and the EU in 2002. 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 2000 to be acceptable and a step toward democratic development, but serious deficiencies remain to be corrected before the the 2001 parliamentary elections.
Birth rate 8.55 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 19.01 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $2.4 billion


expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2002 est.)
revenues:
$393 million

expenditures:
$676 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Capital Riga Tirana
Climate maritime; wet, moderate winters mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
Coastline 531 km 362 km
Constitution the 1991 Constitutional Law, which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms a new 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 Latvia


conventional short form: Latvia


local long form: Latvijas Republika


local short form: Latvija


former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
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
Currency Latvian lat (LVL) lek (ALL)
Death rate 14.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $3.4 billion (2000 est.) $1 billion (2000)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Brian E. CARLSON


embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510


mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723


telephone: [371] 703-6200


FAX: [371] 781-0047
chief of mission:
Ambassador Joseph LIMPRECHT

embassy:
Rruga Elbasanit Labinoti 103, Tirana

mailing address:
PSC 59, Box 100(A), APO AE 09624

telephone:
[355] (42) 32875, 33520

FAX:
[355] (42) 32222
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Aivis RONIS


chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011


telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214


FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785
chief of mission:
Ambassador Petrit BUSHATI

chancery:
2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 223-4942

FAX:
[1] (202) 628-7342
Disputes - international the Russian Duma refuses to ratify boundary delimitation treaty with Latvia; the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights the Albanian Government supports protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians outside of its borders but has downplayed them to further its primary foreign policy goal of regional cooperation; Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Yugoslavia; Albanians in The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs, and representation in government
Economic aid - recipient $96.2 million (1995) $NA; aid for energy from China, Germany, Norway (2000)
Economy - overview Latvia's transitional economy recovered from the 1998 Russian financial crisis, largely due to the SKELE government's budget stringency and a gradual reorientation of exports toward EU countries, lessening Latvia's trade dependency on Russia. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999. Preparing for EU membership continues as a top foreign policy goal. The current account and internal government deficits remain major concerns, but the government's efforts to increase efficiency in revenue collection may lessen the budget deficit. Poor by European standards, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more open-market economy. The economy rebounded in 1993-95 after a severe depression accompanying the end of the previous centrally planned system in 1990 and 1991. However, a weakening of government resolve to maintain stabilization policies in the election year of 1996 contributed to renewal of inflationary pressures, spurred by the budget deficit which exceeded 12% of GDP. The collapse of financial pyramid schemes in early 1997 - which had attracted deposits from a substantial portion of Albania's population - triggered severe social unrest which led to more than 1,500 deaths, widespread destruction of property, and a 7% drop in GDP. The government has taken measures to curb violent crime and to revive economic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by remittances from some 20% of the labor force that works abroad, mostly in Greece and Italy. These remittances supplement GDP and help offset the large foreign trade deficit. Most agricultural land was privatized in 1992, substantially improving peasant incomes. In 1998, Albania recovered the 7% drop in GDP of 1997 and pushed ahead by 8% in 1999 and by 7.5% in 2000. International aid helped defray the high costs of receiving and returning refugees from the Kosovo conflict. Privatization scored some successes in 2000, but other reforms lagged.
Electricity - consumption 6.046 billion kWh (2001) 5.379 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 703 million kWh (2001) 100 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 2.69 billion kWh (2001) 600 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 4.365 billion kWh (2001) 5.332 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 29.1%


hydro: 70.9%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
fossil fuel:
3.81%

hydro:
96.19%

nuclear:
0%

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


highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
lowest point:
Adriatic Sea 0 m

highest point:
Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,753 m
Environment - current issues Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; the main environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, household and hazardous waste management, and reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010 deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents
Environment - international agreements party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2% Albanian 95%, Greeks 3%, other 2% (Vlachs, Gypsies, Serbs, and Bulgarians) (1989 est.)

note:
in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization)
Exchange rates lati per US dollar - 0.62 (2002), 0.63 (2001), 0.61 (2000), 0.59 (1999), 0.59 (1998) leke per US dollar - 146.08 (December 2000),143.71 (2000) 137.69 (1999), 150.63 (1998), 148.93 (1997), 104.50 (1996); note - leke is the plural of lek
Executive branch chief of state: President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)


head of government: Prime Minister Einars REPSE (since 7 November 2002)


cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament


elections: president reelected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be held by June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president


election results: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA reelected president; parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 88 of 94 votes cast
chief of state:
President of the Republic Rexhep MEIDANI (since 24 July 1997)

head of government:
Prime Minister Ilir META (since 29 October 1999)

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 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president

election results:
Rexhep MEIDANI elected president; People's Assembly vote by number - total votes 122, for 110, against 3, abstained 2, invalid 7
Exports NA (2001) $310 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco
Exports - partners UK 21.6%, Sweden 13.1%, Germany 12.5%, US 6.4%, Lithuania 5.9%, Russia 4.6%, Estonia 4.2%, Denmark 4% (2002) Italy 67%, Greece 15%, Germany 5%, Austria 2%, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 2% (2000)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon red with a black two-headed eagle in the center
GDP purchasing power parity - $20.99 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $10.5 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 4.5%


industry: 26%


services: 69.5% (2001)
agriculture:
55%

industry:
24%

services:
21% (2000)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $8,900 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $3,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 6.1% (2002 est.) 7.5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 57 00 N, 25 00 E 41 00 N, 20 00 E
Geography - note most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with some hills in the east strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
Heliports - 1 (2000 est.)
Highways total: 73,202 km


paved: 28,256 km


unpaved: 44,946 km (2000)
total:
18,000 km

paved:
5,400 km

unpaved:
12,600 km (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 2.9%


highest 10%: 25.9% (1998)
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Illicit drugs transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS; money laundering remains a concern despite changes to banking legislation 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 cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and rapidly expanding in Europe
Imports NA (2001) $1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals
Imports - partners Germany 17.9%, Russia 15.1%, Finland 6.6%, Lithuania 6.4%, Sweden 5.5%, Italy 4.8%, Estonia 4.8% (2002) Italy 37%, Greece 28%, Turkey 6%, Germany 6%, Bulgaria 3% (2000)
Independence 21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)
Industrial production growth rate 5.7% (2002 est.) 9% (2000 est.)
Industries buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; note - dependent on imports for energy and raw materials food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower
Infant mortality rate total: 14.59 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 16.74 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 12.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
39.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2% (2002 est.) 1% (2000 est.)
International organization participation BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO ACCT (associate), BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 41 (2001) 7 (2000)
Irrigated land 200 sq km


note: land in Latvia is often too wet, and in need of drainage, not irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage (1998 est.)
3,410 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament) Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term)
Labor force 1.1 million (2001 est.) 1.692 million (including 352,000 emigrant workers and 261,000 domestically unemployed) (1994 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.) agriculture 50%, industry and services 50%
Land boundaries total: 1,150 km


border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km
total:
720 km

border countries:
Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 151 km, Yugoslavia 287 km
Land use arable land: 29.01%


permanent crops: 0.48%


other: 70.51% (1998 est.)
arable land:
21%

permanent crops:
5%

permanent pastures:
15%

forests and woodland:
38%

other:
21% (1993 est.)
Languages Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek
Legal system based on civil law system has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - New Era 23.9%, PCTVL 18.9%, People's Party 16.7%, ZZS 9.5%, First Party 7.6%, LNNK 5.4%; seats by party - New Era 26, PCTVL 24, People's Party 21, ZZS 12, First Party 10, LNNK 7
unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (155 seats; most members are elected by direct popular vote and some by proportional vote for four-year terms)

elections:
last held 29 June 1997 (next held 24 June 2001, 2nd round 8 July 2001)

election results:
percent of vote by party - PS 53.36%, PD 25.33%, PSD 2.5%, PBDNJ 2.78%, PBK 2.36%, PAD 2.85%, PR 2.25%, PLL 3.09%, PDK 1.00%, PBSD 0.84%; seats by party - PS 101, PD 27, PSD 8, PBDNJ 4, PBK 3, PAD 2, PR 2, PLL 2, PDK 1, PBSD 1, PUK 1, independents 3
Life expectancy at birth total population: 69.31 years


male: 63.46 years


female: 75.45 years (2003 est.)
total population:
71.83 years

male:
69.01 years

female:
74.87 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99.8%


male: 99.8%


female: 99.8% (2003 est.)
definition:
age 9 and over can read and write

total population:
93% (1997 est.)

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
Location Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Map references Europe Europe
Maritime claims continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 52,607 GRT/35,650 DWT


ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Greece 3 (2002 est.)
total:
9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,797 GRT/26,324 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 9 (2000 est.)
Military branches Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard, National Guard Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Interior Ministry Troops, Border Guards
Military expenditures - dollar figure $87 million (FY01) $42 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.2% (FY01) 1.5% (FY99)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 592,562 (2003 est.) males age 15-49:
870,768 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 465,788 (2003 est.) males age 15-49:
712,763 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age (2003 est.) 19 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 19,477 (2003 est.) males:
35,792 (2001 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 21 August 1991 is the date of independence from the Soviet Union Independence Day, 28 November (1912)
Nationality noun: Latvian(s)


adjective: Latvian
noun:
Albanian(s)

adjective:
Albanian
Natural hazards NA destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; drought
Natural resources peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, timber, nickel, hydropower
Net migration rate -1.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) -3.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines gas 1,097 km; oil 412 km; refined products 421 km (2003) crude oil 145 km; petroleum products 55 km; natural gas 64 km (1991)
Political parties and leaders Alliance of the Greens and Farmers Union or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS (Farmer's Union); Indulis EMSIS (Green Party)]; CENTER Political Alliance [Juris CELMINS]; First Party of Latvia [Eriks JEKABSONS]; For Fatherland and Freedom or LNNK [Maris GRINBLATS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Janis JURKANS], a coalition of the People's Harmony Party or TSP, the Latvian Socialist Party or LSP, and the Equal Rights Movement; Freedom Party [Ziedonis CEVERS]; Land of Mara [Irena SAPROVSKA]; Latvian Rebirth Party [Andris RUBINS]; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Juris BOJARS]; Latvia's Way Union or LC [Janis NAGLIS]; Light of Latgale or LG [Rihards EIGIMS]; New Era Party [Einars REPSE]; Our Land Party [Ilmars ANCANS]; Party of Latvians [Aivars GARDA]; People's Party [Andris SKELE]; Progressive Center Party [Inta STAMGUTE]; Russian Party [Mihails GAVRILOVS]; Social Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS]; Social Democratic Welfare Party or SLP [Juris ZURAVLOVS]; United Republican Party of Latvia or LARP [Eriks Andrejs SAULUNS, Janis PUKIS, Sarmite JEGERE] Albanian National Front (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Abaz ERMENJI]; 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 [Neritan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Group of Reformist Democrats [Leonard NDOKA]; Liberal Union Party [Teodor LACO]; note - Teodor LACO of the Liberal Union Party was leader of the Social Democratic Union of Albania or PBSD; Movement of Legality Party or PLL [Nderim KUPI]; 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 NA
Population 2,348,784 (July 2003 est.) 3,510,484 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 19.6% (1996 est.)
Population growth rate -0.73% (2003 est.) 0.88% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore
Radio broadcast stations AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios - 810,000 (1997)
Railways total: 2,347 km


broad gauge: 2,314 km 1.520-m gauge (270 km electrified)


narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2002)
total:
447 km

standard gauge:
447 km 1.435-m gauge (2001)
Religions Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox 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
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female


total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
at birth:
1.08 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.07 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.96 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Telephone system general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide an international capability independent of the Moscow international switch; more facilities are being installed for individual use


domestic: expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections, rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied subscriber applications


international: international connections are now available via cable and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling direct connections for most calls (1998)
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
Telephones - main lines in use 734,693 (2000) 87,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 401,263 (2000) 3,100 (1999)
Television broadcast stations 44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995) 9 (plus 264 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain low plain mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast
Total fertility rate 1.2 children born/woman (2003 est.) 2.32 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 7.6% (2001 est.) 16% (2000 est.) officially; may be as high as 25%
Waterways 300 km (perennially navigable) 43 km

note:
includes Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake Ohrid, and Lake Prespa (1990)
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