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General Information
Area 27,398 sq km (11,100 sq miles). Population 3,141,000 (UN estimate 2002). Population Density 109.3 per sq km. Capital Tirana. Population: 519,720 (2001). Geography Albania shares borders with Serbia and Montenegro to the north, with Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of) to the northeast, and with Greece to the south; to the west are the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Most of the country is wild and mountainous, with extensive forests. There are fine sandy beaches and, inland, many beautiful lakes. Government Democratic Republic since 1991. Head of State: President Alfred Moisiu since 2002. Head of Government: Prime Minister Fatos Nano since 2002. Gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912. Language The official language is Albanian. Some Albanians also speak Italian and English. Greek is widely spoken in the Gjirokastra and Saranda districts in south Albania. Religion Three religions coexist in Albania: Islam, Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The majority of the population is Muslim. Time GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October). Electricity 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Communications Telephone IDD is available to major towns. Country code: 355. Outgoing international code: 00. City codes: Tirana 42, Durresi 52, Elbasan 545, Shkodra 224, Gjirokastra 726, Kora 824, Kavaja 574. For other regions, international connections are made through the nearest city. Mobile telephone GSM 900/1800 networks. Coverage is limited to main towns and coastal areas. Main network operators are Albanian Mobile Communications (website: www.amc.al) and Vodafone Albania (website: www.vodafone.al). Internet Main ISPs include Adanet (website: www.albnet.net) and Albania Online (website: www.albaniaonline.net). Internet cafes exist in most towns. Telegram/fax These services are offered in post offices and major hotels. Post All mail to and from Albania is subject to delays. Letters can be sent recorded delivery to avoid loss. There are DHL offices in Tirana and Durres, offering services between Albania and other countries. The postal and telecommunications systems are undergoing extensive modernisation. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0700-1400 and Sat 0800-1300. Press There are now about 400 newspapers and periodicals, many of which are independent. The main newspapers are published daily. Rilindja Demokratike, the organ of the ruling Democratic Party, has a circulation of 50,000. English-language newspapers published in Albania include the Albanian Daily News. Some Albanian newspapers contain a few pages in English; these include Albania, Gazeta Shqiptare, Shekulli and Ekonomia. Foreign newspapers are on sale in main towns. Radio BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. |
