Area Total | 28,748 sq km |
Climate | mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter |
Natural Resources | petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower, arable land |
Imports | $4.1 billion (2017 est.) partners: Italy 28.5%, Turkey 8.1%, Germany 8%, Greece 8%, China 7.9%, Serbia 4% (2017) |
Government | parliamentary republic |
Capital | Tirana (Tirane) |
Population | 3.1 million (July 2018 est.) |
Ethnicity | Albanian 82.6%, Greek 0.9%, other 1% (including Vlach, Romani, Macedonian, Montenegrin, and Egyptian), unspecified 15.5% (2011 est.) |
Language | 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.) |
Exports | Germany 12.5%, France 10.3%, US 9%, Spain 5.2%, UK 5.2%, Switzerland 4.6% (2017) – engineering products, textiles and clothing, production machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco; minerals, nonferrous metals |
News about Albania
- Albania Parliament’s Disinformation Committee: Welcome Vigilance – or Threat to Free Expression?by Blerjana Bino (Albania | Balkan Insight) on April 25, 2024
While addressing disinformation is a crucial task, the concern is that Albania's new parliamentary committee could be just another tool to silence critical voices.
- Human Rights Regressing in Many Balkan Countries – Amnesty Reportby Gjergj Erebara (Albania | Balkan Insight) on April 24, 2024
As a number of Western Balkan countries join the global trend toward authoritarianism, human rights are suffering, the latest Amnesty International report warns.
- Plans to Allow Surrogacy in Albania Criticised by Oppositionby Gjergj Erebara (Albania | Balkan Insight) on April 23, 2024
A government proposal to extend the abortion time limit by two weeks and allow surrogacy was criticised by an opposition MP who called the practice a form of modern slavery for poor women.
- Shell Dashes Albanians’ Hopes of Major Oil Findby Gjergj Erebara (Albania | Balkan Insight) on April 18, 2024
The government of Edi Rama has been talking up the potential of a major oil discovery beneath Mount Shpirag, but the discovery has yet to materialise.
- Greece’s Ruling Party Fields Man Jailed in Albania as MEP Candidateby Fjori Sinoruka (Albania | Balkan Insight) on April 16, 2024
Fredi Beleri won a mayoral election in Albania in May last year but was put on trial for vote-buying, souring relations between Tirana and Athens.
- Elections and Reporting on Missing Girl Spur Digital Rights Violations Across Regionby Ena Bavcic (Albania | Balkan Insight) on April 16, 2024
Romanian politicians mull social media restrictions; Turkey, Croatia, and other countries face surges in digital rights violations ahead of elections, while the rest of the region is shaken by misinformation on a missing girl in Serbia and phishing attempts.
- Exhibition in Former Albanian Labour Camp Puts Focus on Ex-Inmatesby Fjori Sinoruka (Albania | Balkan Insight) on April 15, 2024
An interactive exhibition at the infamous communist labour camp and prison in Spac has brought visitors closer to the experiences of those who survived it.
- Albania’s Parliament Blocks Court Review of Former Minister’s Immunityby Fjori Sinoruka (Albania | Balkan Insight) on April 12, 2024
Ruling Socialists voted against sending the issue of the immunity of the ex-minister to the Constitutional Court, as the Court had demanded.
- Albania Builds Migrant Centre and Camp as Criticism Continuesby Fjori Sinoruka (Albania | Balkan Insight) on April 12, 2024
Work has started in Albania to build a reception centre and camp to receive migrants from Italy – but activists and locals in both countries remain highly critical of the plan.
- UK Must Ensure Albanian Returnees’s Dignity, Expert Saysby Fjori Sinoruka (Albania | Balkan Insight) on April 10, 2024
Communications expert from Tirana tells BIRN that Britain must ensure returnees' 'dignity, safety, and respectful treatment', after a UK report said some Albanians returning voluntarily were kept waiting for weeks in detention.
- Albanians willing to be repatriated detained for weeks in UK, watchdog findsby Rajeev Syal (Albania | The Guardian) on April 8, 2024
HM chief inspector of prisons says detainees held unnecessarily despite volunteering for fast-track deportationAlbanians volunteering to be repatriated under a fast-track deportation deal are being detained unnecessarily for several weeks at taxpayers’ expense, the prisons watchdog has found.HM chief inspector of prisons also found that staff did not know […]
- ‘Coordinated’ Cyber Attack Targets Albania’s Online Citizens Channelby Fjori Sinoruka (Albania | Balkan Insight) on April 5, 2024
A major cyber attack on the online media outlet Citizens Channel by unknown perpetrators has raised fresh concerns about media freedom and access to independent information in Albania.
- ‘R and M’: Albanian Officials Accused of Siphoning Public Funds via Frontmenby Gjergj Erebara (Albania | Balkan Insight) on April 3, 2024
Two senior public officials in the Albanian capital, Tirana, stand accused of fixing state tenders to enrich a company they owned through front men.
- Seven Migrants Killed in Car Crash While Fleeing Albanian Policeby Fjori Sinoruka (Albania | Balkan Insight) on April 2, 2024
Seven suspected migrants and an alleged people-smuggler were killed when the vehicle in which they were travelling crashed at high speed as the driver was trying to get away from the Albanian police.
- When Crossing Borders was a Death Sentence for Albaniansby Fabio Bego (Albania | Balkan Insight) on April 2, 2024
Crossing borders has become safer for Albanians, but many still are haunted by the new, less visible, frontiers of a capitalist and racist Europe.
- With Two Mayors Behind Bars, Albanian Municipality Elects Caretakerby Fjori Sinoruka (Albania | Balkan Insight) on March 29, 2024
Blerina Bala was elected caretaker mayor of Himara by the municipal council after previous acting mayor Jorgo Goro resigned following his arrest for alleged corruption and election-winner Fredi Beleri was convicted of vote-buying.
- ‘It’s Devastating’: BIRN Maps Illegal Landfills Blighting the Balkansby Arlinda Kqiku (Albania | Balkan Insight) on March 29, 2024
Authorities in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and North Macedonia are failing in the fight against illegal landfills; the environment and the public are paying the price.
- Albanian Court Detains Controversial Acting Mayor on Corruption Chargeby Fjori Sinoruka (Albania | Balkan Insight) on March 26, 2024
Jorgo Goro, who became acting mayor of Himara municipality amid a diplomatic row between Albania and Greece over his election rival’s arrest, was ordered into detention on suspicion that he transferred state land to private individuals.
- Cyberattacks and Ethnically-Fuelled Harassment Mark Start of Yearby Ivana Jeremic (Albania | Balkan Insight) on March 25, 2024
Public institutions faced cyberattacks as countries battled misinformation amid political crises in the region.
- Albanian PM’s ‘Intimidation’ of Woman Journalist Condemnedby Fjori Sinoruka (Albania | Balkan Insight) on March 19, 2024
Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama declined to answer questions from journalist Ambrozia Meta and instead touched her face - a gesture condemned as intimidating by media rights organisations.
- Albania Parties Reach Agreement to End Opposition Protestsby Fjori Sinoruka (Albania | Balkan Insight) on March 18, 2024
Opposition MP Gazmend Bardhi confirmed to BIRN that an agreement had been reached with the ruling Socialists that will enable them to return to normal work in the country's parliament.
- Albania Road Authority Chief Held on Corruption, Money Laundering, Chargesby Gjergj Erebara (Albania | Balkan Insight) on March 14, 2024
In a high-profile anti-corruption case, prosecutors arrested Evis Berberi, General Director of the Albania Road Authority, after uncovering a scheme involving corruption and money laundering.
- Albanians Abroad Start Campaign to Vote for 2025 Electionsby Fjori Sinoruka (Albania | Balkan Insight) on March 14, 2024
Campaigners say it is high time the 1.68 million Albanians living and working outside the country had a right to vote in the country's elections without having to travel home.
- Nowhere to go: Albanian Women Reporting Domestic Violence Risk Homelessnessby Erjola Azizolli (Albania | Balkan Insight) on March 14, 2024
Too many municipalities in Albania lack shelters for domestic violence victims – which are needed to encourage victims to speak out.
- Albanian Parties’ Possible Deal Sparks Fears About Justice Reformby Blerina Gjoka (Albania | Balkan Insight) on March 12, 2024
The ruling Socialist Party and opposition Refoundation Democratic Party told BIRN they are nearing an agreement to end the ongoing disruption of parliament, but concerns have been raised that a deal could derail judicial reform and the fight against corruption.
- More Soldiers, Jets and Javelins: Southeast Europe Seeks Defence Upgradeby BIRN (Albania | Balkan Insight) on March 11, 2024
Whether through compulsory military service or new hardware, some countries in southeast Europe are trying to bolster their defences in light of Russia’s war in Ukraine. But not all states can afford it.
- Women in Albanian Textile Sector Pay High Price for Lek’s Rallyby Fjori Sinoruka (Albania | Balkan Insight) on March 8, 2024
Critics say the government is not doing enough to protect Albanian textile exporters from the rapidly strengthening lek currency. Most of the industry’s employees are women at risk of sliding into poverty.
- Online Video in Albania of Prince’s Fight Raises Privacy Concernsby Fjori Sinoruka (Albania | Balkan Insight) on March 7, 2024
Experts say leak of video showing fight between prince and ex-wife serves no public interest – and raises serious legal and ethical questions about standards of media in Albania.
- TikTok Used Across Balkans to ‘Slutshame’ Women and Girlsby Xhorxhina Bami (Albania | Balkan Insight) on March 6, 2024
A BIRN analysis of hundreds of videos uploaded by TikTok users in eight Balkan countries shows the platform has become a hub for abuse of women and girls based on their appearance and actual or perceived sexual behaviour - ‘slutshaming’.
- Albanian Public Broadcaster Fires Programme Director for Social Media Postby Fjori Sinoruka (Albania | Balkan Insight) on March 5, 2024
A programme director at the Albanian public broadcaster RTSH was fired by the new head of the station, Alfred Peza, a former ruling party MP who has been criticised for other dismissals since he took the job.