Albania

Albania, officially the Republic of Albania, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, North Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south. With an area of 28,748 km2 (11,100 sq mi), it has a varied range of climatic, geological, hydrological and morphological conditions. Albania's landscapes range from rugged snow-capped mountains in the Albanian Alps and the Korab, Skanderbeg, Pindus and Ceraunian Mountains, to fertile lowland plains extending from the Adriatic and Ionian seacoasts. Tirana is the capital and largest city in the country, followed by Durrës, Vlorë, and Shkodër. Albania was inhabited by several Illyrian tribes, among them the Ardiaei, Bylliones, Dassaretii, Enchele, and Taulantians, with the Chaonians settled in the southwest. Several colonies were founded by the Ancient Greeks along the Albanian coast, most notably Apollonia. The Illyrians were the dominant power in Albania before the rise of Macedon. Following the Illyrian Wars, Albania was integrated into the Roman Empire and remained in the Byzantine Empire after its partition. During the Middle Ages, several Albanian principalities emerged, most notably the Principality of Arbanon, Kingdom of Albania, Principality of Albania and Albania Veneta. In the 15th century, Albania became a center of resistance against Ottoman expansion under the leadership of Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg, whose military campaigns repelled Ottoman advances for over two decades. Although incorporated into the Ottoman Empire, Albania retained distinct cultural and social identities throughout four centuries of foreign rule, culminating in the Albanian Renaissance in the 19th century. Albania declared independence in 1912, followed by a turbulent 20th century marked by monarchy, foreign occupation during both World Wars, and a repressive communist regime under Enver Hoxha. Since its independence in 1912, Albania has undergone a number of political changes, transitioning from a monarchy to a communist regime before becoming a sovereign parliamentary constitutional republic. Governed by a constitution prioritising the separation of powers, the country's political structure includes a parliament, a ceremonial president, a functional prime minister and a hierarchy of courts. Albania is a developing country with an upper-middle income economy driven by the service sector, with manufacturing and tourism, which attracted over 11 million visitors in 2024, also playing significant roles. After the dissolution of its communist system the country shifted from centralised planning to an open market economy. Albanian citizens have universal health care access and free primary and secondary education. The country is an official candidate for membership in the European Union and has been negotiating accession since 2022.

Infobox

Capitaland largest city

Tirana 41°19′N 19°49′E / 41.317°N 19.817°E / 41.317; 19.817

Official languages

Albanian

Recognised minority languages

mw- .inline, .inline dl, .inline ol, .inline ul, dl dl, dl ol, dl ul, ol dl, ol ol dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd ol li GreekAromanianMacedonian

Ethnic groups (2023[a])

mw- 97.7% Albanians1.0% Greeks1.3% others

Religion (2023)

mw- li 50.67% Islam 45.86% Sunni 4.81% Bektashism 16.02% Christianity 8.39% Catholicism 7.23% Orthodoxy 0.40% Protestantism 17.37% irreligion 13.83% believers without religion 3.55% atheism 15.92% undeclared

Demonym

Albanian

Government

Unitary parliamentary republic

• President

Bajram Begaj

• Prime Minister

Edi Rama

• Parliament Speaker

Niko Peleshi

Legislature

Kuvendi

• Principality of Arbanon

1190

• Albanian principalities

12th–15th centuries

• Kingdom of Albania

1 September 1928

• Principality of Albania

29 July 1913

• League of Lezhë

2 March 1444

• Pashalik of Scutari/Janina/Berat

1757/1787

• League of Prizren

10 June 1878

• Independent Albania

28 November 1912

• 1st Republic of Albania

31 January 1925

• 2nd Republic of Albania

10 January 1946

• 3rd Republic of Albania

28 December 1976

• 4th Republic of Albania

29 April 1991

• Current constitution

28 November 1998

• Total

$28.372 billion (125th)

• Water (%)

4.7

• 2023 census

2,402,113 (142nd)

• Density

83.6/km2 (216.5/sq mi)

GDP (PPP)

2025 estimate

• Per capita

$10,526 (79th)

GDP (nominal)

2025 estimate

Gini (2021)

29.4 } }low inequality

HDI (2023)

0.810very high (71st)

Currency

Lek (ALL)

Time zone

UTC 1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC 2 (CEST)

Calling code

355

ISO 3166 code

Internet TLD

Tables

· Politics

Bajram BegajPresident

Col 1

Bajram BegajPresident

Col 2

Edi RamaPrime Minister


Bajram BegajPresident	Edi RamaPrime Minister

· Politics › Administrative divisions

References:

Emblem

References:

Emblem	County	Capital	Area (km2)	Population (2023)	HDI (2022)
	Albania (total)	Tirana	28,748	2,402,113	0.806
	Berat	Berat	1,798	140,956	0.793
	Dibër	Peshkopi	2,586	107,178	0.765
	Durrës	Durrës	766	226,863	0.813
	Elbasan	Elbasan	3,199	232,580	0.795
	Fier	Fier	1,890	240,377	0.779
	Gjirokastër	Gjirokastër	2,884	60,013	0.806
	Korçë	Korçë	3,711	173,091	0.801
	Kukës	Kukës	2,374	61,998	0.760
	Lezhë	Lezhë	1,620	99,384	0.780
	Shkodër	Shkodër	3,562	154,479	0.795
	Tirana	Tirana	1,652	758,513	0.832
	Vlorë	Vlorë	2,706	146,681	0.814
References: