Surface: 28.748 km²
Population: 3.301.000 inhabitants
Density of population: 115 inhabitants/km²
Capital: Tirana (243.000 inhabitants)
Official language: Albanian
Official currency: Leka
Imported products:
Exported products: petroleum, natural gas, chromium, copper, tobacco
Brut Intern Product: 740 $/inhabitant
State type: Republic

Geographical Characteristics :
The country has a mountainous relief. 85% of the surface is occupied by the Albanian Alps Mountains with medium heights in the north of 2.000-2.600 m, Central Albanian Mountains with its highest peak Korab Peak (2.751 m) and Albanian Epir Mountains with heights less than 2.000 m. The country also has the Korce Depression in the south-east and a coast plain which is higher in the north.

Climate :
The climate is Mediterranean in the lower regions and temperate, with abundant rainfall in the mountainous regions. The rivers are short, with a big energetic potential. In the border regions there are three big tectonically lakes: Shkoder, Ohrit and Prespes. The vegetation, which is Mediterranean until 600 m, is formed of beech and oak forests and pine forests in mountains. The animals which live in forests are wolves, bears, foxes, black goats and others.

Population and Cities
The country has 3.301.000 inhabitants. The birth rate is 25.2% and the death rate is 5.6%. 35% of the populations live in cities. The most important cities are: Durres, Elbasan, Shkoder, Vlore, Korce and Fier. There are 98% Albanians and the rest of the people are Greeks, Turks and Macedonians. In the center of the country (1/5 of the country's surface) lives more than a half of the population. In the mountains regions in East, north and south the population is rarer. Most of the people are Muslims and Christians.

Economy and Mining :
The economy of the country is agrarian and industrial. Albania has many deposits of petroleum, natural gases, chromium and copper. They represent 50% of the exports. The industry is various. There are steel, petroleum, chemical products, textiles and food industries. They are concentrated in Tirana, Elbasan, Vlore, Skhoder, Fier and Berat.

State :
The country is a Presidential republic according to a Law (30.04.1991). The legislative activity is exerted by President and the People Assembly and the executive by Minister Council which is chosen by the People Assembly. Albania has 17 parties. Some of them are: Democratic Party, Republican Albanian Party, Social Democratic Party of Albania, Socialist Party of Albania, Liberal Albanian Party and Ecologist Party.

Agriculture :
60%of the population works in agriculture and they cultivate: corn, sugar cane, tobacco, cotton, grapes, oranges and vegetables. 28% of the country's surface is cultivated. The hydro-electric centrals give 87% of the electric energy and some is exported.

---

Tags: tirana, albanian, leka, republic, korab peak

Date Added: 14 October '07

---

Add a link to this page on any related website, blog or forum using this code :

---