Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven challenging as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a dilapidated physical infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks, and combative political opponents. Albania has made progress in its democratic development since first holding multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain. International observers judged elections to be largely free and fair since the restoration of political stability following the collapse of pyramid schemes in 1997. In the 2005 general elections, the Democratic Party and its allies won a decisive victory on pledges of reducing crime and corruption, promoting economic growth, and decreasing the size of government. The election, and particularly the orderly transition of power, was considered an important step forward. Although Albania's economy continues to grow, the country is still one of the poorest in Europe, hampered by a large informal economy and an inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure. Albania has played a largely helpful role in managing inter-ethnic tensions in southeastern Europe, and is continuing to work toward joining NATO and the EU. Albania, with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been a strong supporter of the global war on terrorism.
Full Name: Republic of Albania
Area: 28,748 sq km (water: 1,350 sq km, land: 27,398 sq km)
Population: 3,600,523 (July 2007 est.)
Capital City: Tirana
People: Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Gypsy, Serb, and Bulgarian) (1989 est.)
Language: Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach, Romani, Slavic dialects
Religion: Muslim (70%), Albanian Orthodox (20%), Roman Catholic (10%)
Government Type: Emerging Democracy
Chief of State President of the Republic Bamir TOPI (since 24 July 2007)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Sali BERISHA (since 10 September 2005)
GDP: $20.46 billion
note: Albania has a large grey economy that may be as large as 50% of official GDP (2006 est.)
GDP per Capita: $US 5,700 (2006 est.)
Inflation: 2.5% (2006)
Unemployment: 13.8% official rate, but may exceed 30% due to preponderance of near-subsistence farming (September 2006 est.)
Industries: Food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower
Currency: lek (ALL)
Member of EU: No
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