{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "<p>Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, but was conquered by Italy in 1939 and occupied by Germany in 1943. Communist partisans 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 isolated communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven challenging as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, dilapidated infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks, and combative political opponents.</p> <p>Albania has made progress in its democratic development since it first held multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain. Most of Albania's post-communist elections were marred by claims of electoral fraud; however, international observers judged elections to be largely free and fair since the restoration of political stability following the collapse of pyramid schemes in 1997. Albania joined NATO in April 2009 and in June 2014 became an EU candidate. Albania in April 2017 received a European Commission recommendation to open EU accession negotiations following the passage of historic EU-mandated justice reforms in 2016. Although Albania's economy continues to grow, it has slowed, and the country is still one of the poorest in Europe. A large informal economy and a weak energy and transportation infrastructure remain obstacles.</p>"
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece to the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "41 00 N, 20 00 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Europe"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total": {
        "text": "28,748 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "27,398 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "1,350 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "slightly smaller than Maryland"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "691 km"
      },
      "border countries": {
        "text": "Greece 212 km; Kosovo 112 km; Macedonia 181 km; Montenegro 186 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "362 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "continental shelf": {
        "text": "200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Adriatic Sea 0 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "708 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower, arable land"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "42.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 22.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 17.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "28.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "28.2% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "3,537 sq km (2014)"
    },
    "Major lakes (area sq km)": {
      "Fresh water lake(s)": {
        "text": "Lake Scutari (shared with Montenegro) - 400 sq km<br>note - largest lake in the Balkans"
      }
    },
    "Major watersheds (area sq km)": {
      "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: <em>(Black Sea)</em> Danube (795,656 sq km)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "a fairly even distribution, with somewhat higher concentrations of people in the western and central parts of the country"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "text": "3,095,344 (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Albanian(s)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Albanian"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Albanian 82.6%, Greek 0.9%, other 1% (including Vlach, Romani, Macedonian, Montenegrin, and Egyptian), unspecified 15.5% (2011 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data represent population by ethnic and cultural affiliation"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "Languages": {
        "text": "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)": {
        "text": "<br>Libri i fakteve boterore, burim i pa zevendesueshem  per informacione elementare. (Albanian)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information."
      }
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "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": "<strong>note:</strong> 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": {
        "text": "17.6% (male 284,636/female 256,474)"
      },
      "15-24 years": {
        "text": "15.39% (male 246,931/female 226,318)"
      },
      "25-54 years": {
        "text": "42.04% (male 622,100/female 670,307)"
      },
      "55-64 years": {
        "text": "11.94% (male 178,419/female 188,783)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "13.03% (male 186,335/female 214,276) (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "46.9"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "25.3"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "21.6"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "4.6 (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "34.3 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "32.9 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "35.7 years (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "0.22% (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "12.69 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "7.31 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "-3.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "a fairly even distribution, with somewhat higher concentrations of people in the western and central parts of the country"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "63.8% of total population (2022)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "1.29% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "512,000 TIRANA (capital) (2022)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.07 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.1 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-24 years": {
        "text": "1.11 male(s)/female"
      },
      "25-54 years": {
        "text": "0.92 male(s)/female"
      },
      "55-64 years": {
        "text": "0.92 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.66 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Mother's mean age at first birth": {
      "text": "24.8 years (2019 est.)"
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "15 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "10.82 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "11.85 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "9.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "79.47 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "76.8 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "82.33 years (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "1.54 children born/woman (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "46% (2017/18)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 97.3% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 96.4% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 97% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 2.7% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 3.6% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 3% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current Health Expenditure": {
      "text": "5.2% (2018)"
    },
    "Physicians density": {
      "text": "1.22 physicians/1,000 population (2016)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "2.9 beds/1,000 population (2013)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 99.8% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 99.9% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0.2% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 0.5% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "<.1 (2020 est.)"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS": {
      "text": "1,400 (2020 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>estimate does not include children"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - deaths": {
      "text": "&lt;100 (2020 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>estimate does not include children"
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "21.7% (2016)"
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "1.5% (2017/18)"
    },
    "Child marriage": {
      "women married by age 15": {
        "text": "1.4% (2018)"
      },
      "women married by age 18": {
        "text": "11.8% (2018)"
      },
      "men married by age 18": {
        "text": "1.2% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "3.9% of GDP (2019)"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over can read and write"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "98.1%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "98.5%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "97.8% (2018)"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "15 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "14 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "15 years (2020)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment, youth ages 15-24": {
      "total": {
        "text": "27%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "27.8%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "25.9% (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents; air pollution from industrial and power plants; loss of biodiversity due to lack of resources for sound environmental management"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "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": {
        "text": "none of the selected agreements"
      }
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "17.87 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "4.54 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "2.55 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "42.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 22.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 17.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "28.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "28.2% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "63.8% of total population (2022)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "1.29% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "forest revenues": {
        "text": "0.18% of GDP (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "coal revenues": {
        "text": "0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "1,142,964 tons (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major lakes (area sq km)": {
      "Fresh water lake(s)": {
        "text": "Lake Scutari (shared with Montenegro) - 400 sq km<br>note - largest lake in the Balkans"
      }
    },
    "Major watersheds (area sq km)": {
      "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: <em>(Black Sea)</em> Danube (795,656 sq km)"
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "283 million cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "231.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "905 million cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "30.2 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Republic of Albania"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Albania"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "Republika e Shqiperise"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Shqiperia"
      },
      "former": {
        "text": "People's Socialist Republic of Albania"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the English-language country name seems to be derived from the ancient Illyrian tribe of the Albani; the native name \"Shqiperia\" is derived from the Albanian word \"Shqiponje\" (\"Eagle\") and is popularly interpreted to mean \"Land of the Eagles\""
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "parliamentary republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Tirana (Tirane)"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "41 19 N, 19 49 E"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "daylight saving time": {
        "text": "+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the name Tirana first appears in a 1418 Venetian document; the origin of the name is unclear, but may derive from Tirkan Fortress, whose ruins survive on the slopes of Dajti mountain and which overlooks the city"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane, Vlore"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Independence Day, 28 November (1912), also known as Flag Day"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "several previous; latest approved by the Assembly 21 October 1998, adopted by referendum 22 November 1998, promulgated 28 November 1998"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "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; amended several times, last in 2020"
      }
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "civil law system except in the northern rural areas where customary law known as the \"Code of Leke\" is still present"
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of Albania"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "yes"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "5 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President of the Republic Ilir META (since 24 July 2017)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Prime Minister Edi RAMA (since 10 September 2013); Deputy Prime Minister Arben AHMETAJ (since 18 September 2021)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, nominated by the president, and approved by the Assembly"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "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; election last held in 4 rounds on 19, 20, 27, and 28 April 2017 (next election to be held in 2022); prime minister appointed by the president on the proposal of the majority party or coalition of parties in the Assembly"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "Ilir META elected president; Assembly vote - 87 - 2 in fourth round"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "description": {
        "text": "unicameral Assembly or Kuvendi (140 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)"
      },
      "elections": {
        "text": "last held on 25 April 2021 (next to be held in 2025)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "percent of vote by party/coalition - PS 48.7%, PD-Alliance for Change 39.4%, LSI 6.8%, PSD 2.3%, other 2.8%; seats by party/coalition - PS 74, PD-Alliance for Change 59, LSI 4, PSD 3; composition - men 93, women 47, percent of women 33.6%"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest courts": {
        "text": "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": {
        "text": "Supreme Court judges appointed by the High Judicial Council with the consent of the president&nbsp;to serve single 9-year terms; Supreme Court chairman&nbsp;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": {
        "text": "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 and leaders": {
      "text": "Alliance for Change (electoral coalition led by PD)<br>Democratic Party or PD [Enkelejd ALIBEAJ, interim leader]<br>Party for Justice, Integration and Unity or PDIU [Shpetim IDRIZI] (part of the Alliance for Change; formerly part of APMI)<br>Social Democratic Party or PSD [Tom DOSHI]<br>Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI [Monika KRYEMADHI]<br>Socialist Party or PS [Edi RAMA]"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "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, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Floreta LULI-FABER (since 18 May 2015)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 223-4942"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 628-7342"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>embassy.washington@mfa.gov.al<br><br>http://www.ambasadat.gov.al/usa/en"
      },
      "consulate(s) general": {
        "text": "New York"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Yuri KIM (since 27 January 2020)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "Rruga Stavro Vinjau, No. 14, Tirana"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "9510 Tirana Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-9510"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[355] 4 2247-285"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[355] 4 2232-222"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>ACSTirana@state.gov<br><br>https://al.usembassy.gov/"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "red with a black two-headed eagle in the center; the design is claimed to be that of 15th-century hero Georgi Kastrioti SKANDERBEG, who led a successful uprising against the Ottoman Turks that resulted in a short-lived independence for some Albanian regions (1443-78); an unsubstantiated explanation for the eagle symbol is the tradition that Albanians see themselves as descendants of the eagle; they refer to themselves as \"Shqiptare,\" which translates as \"sons of the eagle\""
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "black double-headed eagle; national colors: red, black"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Hymni i Flamurit\" (Hymn to the Flag)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Aleksander Stavre DRENOVA/Ciprian PORUMBESCU"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> adopted 1912"
    },
    "National heritage": {
      "total World Heritage Sites": {
        "text": "4 (2 cultural, 1 natural, 1 mixed)"
      },
      "selected World Heritage Site locales": {
        "text": "Butrint, Historic Berat and Gjirokast&euml;r, Primeval Beech Forests, Lake Ohrid Region"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "<p>Albania, a formerly closed, centrally planned state, is a developing country with a modern open-market economy. Albania managed to weather the first waves of the global financial crisis but, the negative effects of the crisis caused a significant economic slowdown. Since 2014, Albania’s economy has steadily improved and economic growth reached 3.8% in 2017. However, close trade, remittance, and banking sector ties with Greece and Italy make Albania vulnerable to spillover effects of possible debt crises and weak growth in the euro zone.</p> <p>Remittances, a significant catalyst for economic growth, declined from 12-15% of GDP before the 2008 financial crisis to 5.8% of GDP in 2015, mostly from Albanians residing in Greece and Italy. The agricultural sector, which accounts for more than 40% of employment but less than one quarter of GDP, is limited primarily to small family operations and subsistence farming, because of a lack of modern equipment, unclear property rights, and the prevalence of small, inefficient plots of land. Complex tax codes and licensing requirements, a weak judicial system, endemic corruption, poor enforcement of contracts and property issues, and antiquated infrastructure contribute to Albania's poor business environment making attracting foreign investment difficult. Since 2015, Albania has launched an ambitious program to increase tax compliance and bring more businesses into the formal economy. In July 2016, Albania passed constitutional amendments reforming the judicial system in order to strengthen the rule of law and to reduce deeply entrenched corruption.</p> <p>Albania’s electricity supply is uneven despite upgraded transmission capacities with neighboring countries. However, the government has recently taken steps to stem non-technical losses and has begun to upgrade the distribution grid. Better enforcement of electricity contracts has improved the financial viability of the sector, decreasing its reliance on budget support. Also, with help from international donors, the government is taking steps to improve the poor road and rail networks, a long standing barrier to sustained economic growth.</p> <p>Inward foreign direct investment has increased significantly in recent years as the government has embarked on an ambitious program to improve the business climate through fiscal and legislative reforms. The government is focused on the simplification of licensing requirements and tax codes, and it entered into a new arrangement with the IMF for additional financial and technical support. Albania’s three-year IMF program, an extended fund facility arrangement, was successfully concluded in February 2017. The Albanian Government has strengthened tax collection amid moderate public wage and pension increases in an effort to reduce its budget deficit. The country continues to face high public debt, exceeding its former statutory limit of 60% of GDP in 2013 and reaching 72% in 2016.</p>"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": {
        "text": "$37.73 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": {
        "text": "$39.02 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018": {
        "text": "$38.19 billion (2018 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2019": {
        "text": "2.24% (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2018": {
        "text": "4.07% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2017": {
        "text": "3.8% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2020": {
        "text": "$13,300 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2019": {
        "text": "$13,700 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2018": {
        "text": "$13,300 (2018 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$15.273 billion (2019 est.)"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": {
        "text": "1.4% (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018": {
        "text": "2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": {
        "text": "1.9% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Credit ratings": {
      "Moody's rating": {
        "text": "B1 (2007)"
      },
      "Standard & Poors rating": {
        "text": "B+ (2016)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "21.7% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "24.2% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "54.1% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "78.1% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "11.5% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "25.2% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "0.2% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "31.5% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-46.6% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "milk, maize, tomatoes, potatoes, watermelons, wheat, grapes, cucumbers, onions, apples"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "food; footwear, apparel and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "6.8% (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "1.104 million (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force - by occupation": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "41.4%"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "18.3%"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "40.3% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2019": {
        "text": "5.83% (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2018": {
        "text": "6.32% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> these official rates may not include those working at near-subsistence farming"
    },
    "Unemployment, youth ages 15-24": {
      "total": {
        "text": "27%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "27.8%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "25.9% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "14.3% (2012 est.)"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017": {
        "text": "33.2 (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2008": {
        "text": "30 (2008 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "4.1%"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "19.6% (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "3.614 billion (2017 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "3.874 billion (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": {
      "text": "-2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2017": {
        "text": "71.8% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Public debt 2016": {
        "text": "73.2% of GDP (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "27.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Fiscal year": {
      "text": "calendar year"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2017": {
        "text": "-$908 million (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2016": {
        "text": "-$899 million (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2020": {
        "text": "$3.47 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2019": {
        "text": "$4.82 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2018": {
        "text": "$4.78 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "Italy 45%, Spain 8%, Germany 6%, Greece 5%, France 4%, China 4% (2019)"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "leather footwear and parts, crude petroleum, iron alloys, clothing, electricity, perfumes (2019)"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2020": {
        "text": "$5.67 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2019": {
        "text": "$6.93 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2018": {
        "text": "$6.85 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "Italy 28%, Greece 12%, China 11%, Turkey 9%, Germany 5% (2019)"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "refined petroleum, cars, tanned hides, packaged medical supplies, footwear parts (2019)"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017": {
        "text": "$3.59 billion (31 December 2017 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016": {
        "text": "$3.109 billion (31 December 2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 2019": {
        "text": "$9.311 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Debt - external 2018": {
        "text": "$9.547 billion (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "currency": {
        "text": "leke (ALL) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "102.43 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "111.36 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2018": {
        "text": "108.57 (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2014": {
        "text": "125.96 (2014 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2013": {
        "text": "105.48 (2013 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "100% (2020)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity - production": {
      "text": "7.138 billion kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - consumption": {
      "text": "5.11 billion kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - exports": {
      "text": "1.869 billion kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - imports": {
      "text": "1.827 billion kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - installed generating capacity": {
      "text": "2.109 million kW (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from fossil fuels": {
      "text": "5% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from nuclear fuels": {
      "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from hydroelectric plants": {
      "text": "95% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from other renewable sources": {
      "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - production": {
      "text": "14,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - exports": {
      "text": "17,290 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - imports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - proved reserves": {
      "text": "168.3 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - production": {
      "text": "5,638 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - consumption": {
      "text": "29,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - exports": {
      "text": "3,250 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - imports": {
      "text": "26,660 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - production": {
      "text": "50.97 million cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - consumption": {
      "text": "50.97 million cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - exports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - imports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - proved reserves": {
      "text": "821.2 million cu m (1 January 2018 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "223,469 (2020)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "7.77 (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "2,618,880 (2020)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "91 (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "Albania&rsquo;s small telecom market has improved through signatory status of EU accession plan; EU financial aid will build infrastructure and enhance cooperation; operator committed &euro;100 million to upgrade fixed-line infrastructure, supporting broadband services nationally; consistent with the region, fixed-line telephony use and penetration is declining as subscribers prefer mobile solutions; mobile sector is supported through LTE networks; operators have invested in 5G, including the intention to create a corridor with Kosovo; importer of broadcasting equipment from EU neighbors (2021)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "fixed-line approximately 8 per 100, teledensity continues to decline due to heavy use of mobile-cellular telephone services; mobile-cellular telephone use is widespread and generally effective, 91 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2020)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 355; submarine cables&nbsp;for the Adria 1 and Italy-Albania provide connectivity to Italy, Croatia, and Greece; 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 (2019)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments"
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "Albania has more than 65 TV stations, including several that broadcast nationally; Albanian TV broadcasts are also available to Albanian-speaking populations in neighboring countries; many viewers have access to Italian and Greek TV broadcasts via terrestrial reception; Albania's TV stations have begun a government-mandated conversion from analog to digital broadcast; the government has pledged to provide analog-to-digital converters to low-income families affected by this decision; cable TV service is available; 2 public radio networks and roughly 78 private radio stations; several international broadcasters are available (2019)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".al"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "total": {
        "text": "2.07 million (2022 est.)"
      },
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "72.2% (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "508,937 (2021)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "17.68 (2021)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "number of registered air carriers": {
        "text": "2 (2020)"
      },
      "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": {
        "text": "5"
      },
      "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "303,137 (2018)"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "ZA"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "total": {
        "text": "3 (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Airports - with paved runways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "3"
      },
      "2,438 to 3,047 m": {
        "text": "2"
      },
      "1,524 to 2,437 m": {
        "text": "1 (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Pipelines": {
      "text": "498 km gas (a majority of the network is in disrepair and parts of it are missing), 249 km oil (2015)"
    },
    "Railways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "677 km (447 km of major railway lines and 230 km of secondary lines) (2015)"
      },
      "standard gauge": {
        "text": "677 km 1.435-m gauge (2015)"
      }
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "3,945 km (2018)"
      }
    },
    "Waterways": {
      "text": "41 km (on the Bojana River) (2011)"
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "70"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "general cargo 47, oil tanker 1, other 22 (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Ports and terminals": {
      "major seaport(s)": {
        "text": "Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "Republic of Albania Armed Forces (Forcat e Armatosura t&euml; Republik&euml;s s&euml; Shqip&euml;ris&euml; (FARSH)): Land Forces, Navy Forces (includes Coast Guard), Air Forces (2021)"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2021": {
        "text": "1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2020": {
        "text": "1.3% of GDP (2020)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2019": {
        "text": "1.5% of GDP (approximately $360 million) (2019)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2018": {
        "text": "1.3% of GDP (approximately $330 million) (2018)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2017": {
        "text": "1.1% of GDP (approximately $290 million) (2017)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "information varies; approximately 8,000 total active duty personnel (6,000 Army; 1,500 Navy; 500 Air Force) (2021)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the Albanian military was previously equipped with mostly Soviet-era weapons that were sold or destroyed; its inventory now includes a mix of mostly donated and second-hand European and US equipment; since 2010, it has received limited amounts of equipment from France, Germany, and the US (2021)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "19 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; 18 is the legal minimum age in case of general/partial compulsory mobilization; conscription abolished 2010 (2021)",
      "note": "note - as of 2020, women comprised about 14% of the military's full-time personnel, including 20% of the officers"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "Albania officially became a member of NATO in 2009; Greece and Italy provide NATO's air policing mission for Albania&nbsp;"
    }
  },
  "Terrorism": {
    "Terrorist group(s)": {
      "text": "Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)",
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>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 Appendix T"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Disputes - international": {
      "text": "<p>none</p>"
    },
    "Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
      "stateless persons": {
        "text": "1,528 (mid-year 2021)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> 11,827 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-January 2021)"
    },
    "Illicit drugs": {
      "text": "<p>active transshipment point for Albanian narco-trafficking organizations moving illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin from Turkey and countries in South America and Asia throughout Europe; significant source country for cannabis production</p>"
    }
  }
}