Introduction

Geography

People and Society

Environment

Government

Economy

Energy

Communications

Transportation

Military

Terrorism

Transnational Issues

Introduction
Background
After declaring independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, Albania experienced a period of political upheaval that led to a short-lived monarchy, which ended in 1939 when Italy conquered the country. Germany then occupied Albania in 1943, and communist partisans took over the country in 1944. Albania allied itself first with the USSR (until 1960) and then with China (until 1978). In the early 1990s, Albania ended communist rule and established a multiparty democracy.

Government-endorsed pyramid schemes in 1997 led to economic collapse and civil disorder, which only ended when UN peacekeeping troops intervened. In 1999, some 450,000 ethnic Albanians fled from Kosovo to Albania to escape the war with the Serbs. Albania joined NATO in 2009 and became an official candidate for EU membership in 2014.

Tip
Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Definitions and Notes
Geography
Location
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece to the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north

Geographic coordinates
41 00 N, 20 00 E

Map references
Europe

Area
total : 28,748 sq km

land: 27,398 sq km

water: 1,350 sq km

comparison ranking: total 144

Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Maryland

Area comparison map:

<p>slightly smaller than Maryland</p>
Land boundaries
total: 691 km

border countries (4): Greece 212 km; Kosovo 112 km; North Macedonia 181 km; Montenegro 186 km

Coastline
362 km

Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate
mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter

Terrain
mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast

Elevation
highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m

mean elevation: 708 m

Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower, arable land

Land use
agricultural land: 41.4% (2022 est.)

arable land: 21.8% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 3.2% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 16.4% (2022 est.)

forest: 28.8% (2022 est.)

other: 29.8% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land
1,907 sq km (2022)

Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s): Lake Scutari (shared with Montenegro) - 400 sq km
note - largest lake in the Balkans

Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

Population distribution
a fairly even distribution, with somewhat higher concentrations of people in the western and central parts of the country

Natural hazards
destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought

Geography - note
strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)

People and Society
Population
total: 3,107,100 (2024 est.)

male: 1,531,063

female: 1,576,037

comparison rankings: total 137; male 138; female 137

Nationality
noun: Albanian(s)

adjective: Albanian

Ethnic groups
Albanian 82.6%, Greek 0.9%, other 1% (including Vlach, Romani, Macedonian, Montenegrin, and Egyptian), unspecified 15.5% (2011 est.)

note: data represent population by ethnic and cultural affiliation

Languages
Albanian 98.8% (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek 0.5%, other 0.6% (including Macedonian, Romani, Vlach, Turkish, Italian, and Serbo-Croatian), unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)

major-language sample(s):
Libri i fakteve boterore, burimi i pazevendesueshem per informacione elementare (Albanian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions
Muslim 56.7%, Roman Catholic 10%, Orthodox 6.8%, atheist 2.5%, Bektashi (a Sufi order) 2.1%, other 5.7%, unspecified 16.2% (2011 est.)

note: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice

Age structure
0-14 years: 18% (male 292,296/female 267,052)

15-64 years: 66.9% (male 1,023,515/female 1,055,388)

65 years and over: 15.1% (2024 est.) (male 215,252/female 253,597)

2024 population pyramid:

This is the population pyramid for Albania. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. <br/><br/>For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 47.8 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 24.3 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 23.5 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 4.3 (2024 est.)

Median age
total: 36.3 years (2024 est.)

male: 34.8 years

female: 37.8 years

comparison ranking: total 91

Population growth rate
0.16% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 181

Birth rate
12.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 141

Death rate
7.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 103

Net migration rate
-3.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 185

Population distribution
a fairly even distribution, with somewhat higher concentrations of people in the western and central parts of the country

Urbanization
urban population: 64.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.29% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population
520,000 TIRANA (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth
26.6 years (2020 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio
7 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 160

Infant mortality rate
total: 10.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 9.2 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 130

Life expectancy at birth
total population: 79.9 years (2024 est.)

male: 77.3 years

female: 82.8 years

comparison ranking: total population 61

Total fertility rate
1.55 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 194

Gross reproduction rate
0.75 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
improved:

urban: 95.7% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 94.1% of population (2022 est.)

total: 95.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 4.3% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 5.9% of population (2022 est.)

total: 4.9% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure
7.3% of GDP (2021)

9.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density
1.88 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Hospital bed density
2.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access
improved:

urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate
21.7% (2016)

comparison ranking: 86

Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 4.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 1.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 1.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 1.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

comparison ranking: total 90

Tobacco use
total: 21.4% (2025 est.)

male: 37% (2025 est.)

female: 6.2% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 59

Children under the age of 5 years underweight
1.5% (2017/18)

comparison ranking: 106

Currently married women (ages 15-49)
67.2% (2023 est.)

Child marriage
women married by age 15: 1.4% (2018)

women married by age 18: 11.8% (2018)

men married by age 18: 1.2% (2018)

Education expenditure
2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

10.1% national budget (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 155

Literacy
total population: 98.8% (2017 est.)

male: 98.6% (2017 est.)

female: 99% (2017 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 15 years (2023 est.)

male: 14 years (2023 est.)

female: 15 years (2023 est.)

Environment
Environmental issues
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents; air pollution from industrial and power plants; loss of biodiversity

International environmental agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Climate
mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter

Land use
agricultural land: 41.4% (2022 est.)

arable land: 21.8% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 3.2% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 16.4% (2022 est.)

forest: 28.8% (2022 est.)

other: 29.8% (2022 est.)

Urbanization
urban population: 64.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.29% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions
3.392 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 566,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 2.734 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 93,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 146

Particulate matter emissions
16.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.087 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20.5% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal
municipal: 221 million cubic meters (2022)

industrial: 11 million cubic meters (2022)

agricultural: 565 million cubic meters (2022)

Total renewable water resources
30.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Government
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

etymology: name may be derived from the pre-Celtic word alb, meaning "hill," or from the Indo-European root word albh, meaning "white;" the local name "Shqiperia" is derived from the Albanian word shqiponje ("eagle") and is popularly interpreted to mean "Land of the Eagles"

Government type
parliamentary republic

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

etymology: the name "Tirana" first appears in a 1418 Venetian document; the origin of the name is unclear

Administrative divisions
12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane (Tirana), Vlore

Legal system
civil law system except in the northern rural areas where customary law known as the "Code of Leke" is still present

Constitution
history: several previous; latest approved by the Assembly 21 October 1998, adopted by referendum 22 November 1998, promulgated 28 November 1998

amendment process: proposed by at least one-fifth of the Assembly membership; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; referendum required only if approved by two-thirds of the Assembly; amendments approved by referendum effective upon declaration by the president of the republic

International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Albania

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: President Bajram BEGAJ (since 24 July 2022)

head of government: Prime Minister Edi RAMA (since 10 September 2013)

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

election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); a candidate needs three-fifths majority vote of the Assembly in 1 of 3 rounds or a simple majority in 2 additional rounds to become president; prime minister appointed by the president on the proposal of the majority party or coalition of parties in the Assembly

most recent election date: held in 4 rounds on 16, 23, and 30 May and 4 June 2022

election results:
2022: Bajram BEGAJ elected president in the fourth round; Assembly vote - 78-4, opposition parties boycotted

2017: Ilir META elected president in the fourth round; Assembly vote - 87-2

expected date of next election: 2027

Legislative branch
legislature name: Albanian Parliament

legislative structure: unicameral

chamber name: Parliament (Kuvendi)

number of seats: 140 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 5/11/2025

percentage of women in chamber: 35.7%

expected date of next election: May 2029

Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 19 judges, including the chief justice); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, including the chairman)

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the High Judicial Council with the consent of the president to serve single 9-year terms; Supreme Court chairman is elected for a single 3-year term by the court members; appointments of Constitutional Court judges are rotated among the president, Parliament, and Supreme Court from a list of pre-qualified candidates (each institution selects 3 judges), to serve single 9-year terms; candidates are pre-qualified by a randomly selected body of experienced judges and prosecutors; Constitutional Court chairman is elected by the court members for a single, renewable 3-year term

subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; specialized courts: Court for Corruption and Organized Crime, Appeals Court for Corruption and Organized Crime (responsible for corruption, organized crime, and crimes of high officials)

Political parties
Alliance for Change (electoral coalition led by PD)
Democratic Party or PD
Party for Justice, Integration and Unity or PDIU (part of the Alliance for Change)
Social Democratic Party or PSD
Freedom Party of Albania or PL (formerly the Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI)
Socialist Party or PS

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Ervin BUSHATI (since 15 September 2023)

chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942

FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342

email address and website:
embassy.washington@mfa.gov.al

http://www.ambasadat.gov.al/usa/en

consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Nancy VANHORN (since August 2024)

embassy: Rruga Stavro Vinjau, No. 14, Tirana

mailing address: 9510 Tirana Place, Washington DC 20521-9510

telephone: [355] 4 2247-285

FAX: [355] 4 2232-222

email address and website:
ACSTirana@state.gov

https://al.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation
BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EITI (compliant country), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

note: Albania is an EU candidate country and must complete accession criteria before being granted full membership

Independence
28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)

National holiday
Independence Day, 28 November (1912), also known as Flag Day

Flag
description: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center

meaning: Albanians traditionally see themselves as descendants of the eagle; they refer to themselves as "Shqiptare," which translates as "sons of the eagle"

history: the design is said to originate with 15th-century Albanian hero Georgi Kastrioti SKANDERBEG, who led a successful uprising against the Ottoman Turks

National symbol(s)
black double-headed eagle

National color(s)
red, black

National coat of arms
adopted in 1998 and features the national symbol, the double-headed black eagle, in the national colors of red and black; red represents the courage and strength of the Albanian people, and the golden border represents the country’s wealth; the helmet above the eagle is modeled on the helmet of Skanderbeg, a 15th-century Albanian military hero who led a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire; the goat on top of the helmet represents defiance and resistance

Albania’s coat of arms was adopted in 1998 and features its national symbol, the double-headed black eagle, with the national colors of red and black. Red represents the courage and strength of the Albanian people, and the golden border represents the country’s wealth. The helmet above the eagle is modeled on the helmet of Skanderbeg, a 15th-century Albanian military hero who led a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire. The goat on top of the helmet represents defiance and resistance.
National anthem(s)
title: "Hymni i Flamurit" (Hymn to the Flag)

lyrics/music: Aleksander Stavre DRENOVA/Ciprian PORUMBESCU

history: adopted 1912; only the first two stanzas of the original poem are used, with the second stanza as a chorus

National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 4 (2 cultural, 1 natural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Butrint (c); Historic Berat and Gjirokastër (c); Primeval Beech Forests (n); Lake Ohrid Region (m)

Economy
Economic overview
upper-middle-income Balkan economy; EU accession candidate; growth bolstered by tourism, agriculture, mining, construction, and private consumption; fiscal consolidation through revenue collection and tax compliance enhancements to address public debt; challenges include weak governance, corruption, and high emigration rates

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$51.36 billion (2024 est.)
$49.403 billion (2023 est.)
$47.532 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 127

Real GDP growth rate
4% (2024 est.)
3.9% (2023 est.)
4.8% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 76

Real GDP per capita
$18,900 (2024 est.)
$18,000 (2023 est.)
$17,100 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 106

GDP (official exchange rate)
$27.178 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.2% (2024 est.)
4.8% (2023 est.)
6.7% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 61

GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 15.5% (2024 est.)

industry: 22.4% (2024 est.)

services: 48.9% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

comparison rankings: agriculture 54; industry 116; services 153

GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 70.2% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 12% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 24% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: -1.1% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 38.7% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -43.8% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products
milk, maize, tomatoes, watermelons, potatoes, wheat, grapes, onions, cucumbers/gherkins, olives (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries
food; footwear, apparel and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower

Industrial production growth rate
-0.2% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 140

Labor force
1.37 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

comparison ranking: 138

Unemployment rate
10.3% (2024 est.)
10.2% (2023 est.)
10.2% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 150

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 25.1% (2024 est.)

male: 23.9% (2024 est.)

female: 26.9% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

comparison ranking: total 34

Population below poverty line
22% (2020 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
29.4 (2020 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

comparison ranking: 125

Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.4% (2020 est.)

highest 10%: 22.8% (2020 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances
8.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
8.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
9.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget
revenues: $6.636 billion (2023 est.)

expenditures: $6.966 billion (2023 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt
81.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 38

Taxes and other revenues
17.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 68

Current account balance
-$646.107 million (2024 est.)
-$281.7 million (2023 est.)
-$1.117 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

comparison ranking: 114

Exports
$9.848 billion (2024 est.)
$9.099 billion (2023 est.)
$7.057 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 117

Exports - partners
Italy 41%, Greece 10%, Germany 5%, Spain 5%, Serbia 4% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports - commodities
garments, footwear, electricity, crude petroleum, iron alloys (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports
$11.697 billion (2024 est.)
$10.374 billion (2023 est.)
$9.016 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 113

Imports - partners
Italy 22%, China 11%, Turkey 9%, Germany 7%, Greece 6% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports - commodities
cars, refined petroleum, garments, packaged medicine, iron bars (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$6.516 billion (2024 est.)
$6.455 billion (2023 est.)
$5.266 billion (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

comparison ranking: 89

Debt - external
$5.363 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

comparison ranking: 71

Exchange rates
leke (ALL) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
93.123 (2024 est.)
100.645 (2023 est.)
113.042 (2022 est.)
103.52 (2021 est.)
108.65 (2020 est.)

Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity
installed generating capacity: 2.857 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 7.49 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports: 2.2 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 1.922 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 1.238 billion kWh (2023 est.)

comparison rankings: installed generating capacity 111; consumption 116; exports 56; imports 68; transmission/distribution losses 111

Electricity generation sources
solar: 3.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 96.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
production: 473,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption: 255,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

exports: 345,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 180,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 522 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
total petroleum production: 14,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 21,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 150 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas
production: 49.977 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption: 49.977 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 5.692 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita
27.407 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 120

Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 173,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 122

Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 2.61 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 98 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 145

Broadcast media
over 65 TV stations, including several that broadcast nationally and are sometimes available to neighboring countries; many viewers have access to Italian and Greek TV via terrestrial reception; TV stations have begun a government-mandated conversion from analog to digital broadcast; cable TV service is available; 2 public radio networks and roughly 78 private radio stations; several international broadcasters are available (2024)

Internet country code
.al

Internet users
percent of population: 83% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 632,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total 89

Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
ZA

Airports
3 (2025)

comparison ranking: 185

Heliports
9 (2025)

comparison ranking: 78

Railways
total: 424 km (2017)

2021-All the trains in the country suspended

Merchant marine
total: 69 (2023)

by type: general cargo 46, oil tanker 1, other 22

comparison ranking: total 110

Ports
total ports: 3 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 0

small: 1

very small: 2

ports with oil terminals: 0

key ports: Durres, Shengjin, Vlores

Military and Security
Military and security forces
Republic of Albania Armed Forces (Forcat e Armatosura të Republikës së Shqipërisë (FARSH); aka Albanian Armed Forces (AAF)): Land Forces, Naval Force (includes Coast Guard), Air Forces

Ministry of Interior: Guard of the Republic, State Police (includes the Border and Migration Police) (2025)

note: the State Police are primarily responsible for internal security, including counterterrorism, while the Guard of the Republic protects senior state officials, foreign dignitaries, and certain state properties

Military expenditures
2% of GDP (2025 est.)
1.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 7,500 active-duty military personnel (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
since joining NATO, the military has been in the process of modernizing by retiring its inventory of Soviet-era weapons and replacing them with Western equipment, including donated and secondhand deliveries (2024)

Military service age and obligation
18-27 (up to 32 in some cases) for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription abolished 2010 (2024)

note: as of 2024, women comprised about 15% of the military's full-time personnel

Military - note
the Albanian Armed Forces (AAF) are responsible for defending the country’s independence, sovereignty, and territory, assisting with internal security, providing disaster and humanitarian relief, and participating in international peacekeeping missions; the AAF is a small, lightly armed force that has been undergoing a modernization effort to improve its ability to fulfill NATO missions; the AAF has contributed small numbers of forces to several NATO missions since Albania joined NATO in 2009, including peacekeeping/stability missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Iraq, and multinational battlegroups in Bulgaria and Latvia; it has also contributed to EU and UN missions (2025)

Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Terrorist group(s): Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees: 9,381 (2024 est.)

stateless persons: 2,203 (2024 est.)