Republic of Albania

Wealth and National Well-Being

Country Comparisons:
2010: see chart

Labor force in agriculture:
2010: 47.8%

Unemployment
2010: 13.5%

People

Living in an urban area:
2010: 52%
2008: 47%

Migration
2010: More leaving than arriving. A new loss of 3.34 per 1.000 population.
2009: More leaving than arriving. A net loss of loss of 4.28 per 1,000 population -- largely people leaving for work and sending money back to families.

Ethnicities
1989: Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Roma,, Serb, Macedonian, Bulgarian).

Religions
Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%. (World Factbook 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".

Geography

On the Adriatic Sea in southeastern Europe.

Government

World Factbook: "An emerging democracy." Capital: Tirana

Recent History

Wikipedia: From 1993 human resources in sciences and technology have drastically decreased. Various surveys show that during 1991–2005, approximately 50% of the professors and research scientists of the universities and science institutions in the country have emigrated.

World Factbook 2007: "Lagging behind its Balkan neighbors, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. Macroeconomic growth has averaged around 5% over the last five years and inflation is low and stable. 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 representing about 15% of GDP, mostly from Albanians residing in Greece and Italy; this helps offset the towering trade deficit."