Last updated on April 13th, 2019
23. Sex-selective abortion is also very common in Albania. In fact, the country is one of just two in the world to practice such a thing.
24. Tirana, the capital of Albania, is devoid of McDonalds restaurants, unlike many other European capital cities.
25. In Albania, people like to walk in the evening. Some of the roads in some towns are even closed for the local population to take strolls (safely).
26. There is a castle in the city of Berat, locally known as the kala, which was built in the 13th century.
27. An international airport in Albania—Nene Tereza—is named after Mother Teresa.
28. To say yes in Albanian, use the word ‘po’; and to say no, use the word ‘jo.’
29. The capital city of Albania, Tirana, is undergoing a facelift.
Albania – country at a glance
| Independence | 28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire) |
|---|---|
| Capital City | Tirana (41°20′N 19°48′E) |
| Largest City | Tirana (41°20′N 19°48′E) |
| Area | total: 28,748 sq km land: 27,398 sq km water: 1,350 sq km |
| Population | 2,785,471 (2024 est.) |
| Official Language | Albanian |
| Borders | Montenegro, Serbia (Kosovo), the Republic of Macedonia and Greece. |
| Currency | Lek (ALL) |
| Religion | Islam and Christianity |
| Demonym | Albanian |
| Mean elevation | 708 m |
| Life expectancy at birth | 79.9 years (2024 est.) Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life. |
| Literacy | 98.4% (2024 est.) |
| National anthem | "Hymni i Flamurit" (Hymn to the Flag) |
| Government type | parliamentary republic |
| President | Bajram Begaj |
| Prime Minister | Edi Rama |
| National symbol | double-headed eagle |
| National colors | red, black |
| National holiday | Independence Day, 28 November (1912) also known as Flag Day |
| Natural resources | petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower, arable land |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal |
| 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 |
| Mean elevation | 708 m |
| Lowest point | Adriatic Sea 0 m |
| Highest point | Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m |
| Agricultural land | 43.8% |
| Birth rate | 12.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.) |
| Death rate | 7.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.) |
| Sex ratio | 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.) |
| Industries | food; footwear, apparel and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower |
| Exports | $9.178 billion (2023 est.) garments, footwear, iron alloys, electricity, crude petroleum (2022) |
| Imports | $10.373 billion (2023 est.) refined petroleum, garments, electricity, cars, raw iron bars (2022) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $18,100 (2023 est.) |
| Internet country code | .al |
| Calling Code | +355 |
| Time Zone | CET (UTC+1) Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2) |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Table last updated | October 24, 2024 |