Country Profile: Albania

Albania, located in Southeastern Europe, is bordered by the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, sharing land borders with Greece, Montenegro, and Kosovo. With a population of approximately 2.5 million, the country has a rich historical tapestry, having transitioned from a monarchy to a communist regime and finally to a multiparty democracy in the 1990s. The economy, classified as upper-middle-income, relies heavily on sectors such as tourism, agriculture, mining, and construction, although it faces challenges including corruption and high emigration rates. Albania became a NATO member in 2009 and was designated as an official EU candidate in 2014.

Geography

Albania features a diverse landscape characterized by mountains and hills, with a mean elevation of 708 meters. It has a strategic geographical position along the Strait of Otranto, linking the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. The climate is predominantly mild temperate, with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The country is rich in natural resources, including minerals and arable land.

Area: 28,748 sq km
Coastline: 362 km
Highest point: Maja e Korabit at 2,764 m
Natural hazards: Earthquakes, floods, and droughts
Irrigated land: 1,907 sq km (2022)

People and Society

Albania has a population of about 2.55 million, with a median age of 37.9 years. The society is predominantly Albanian (approximately 82.6%), with various ethnic minorities including Greeks and Romani. The country has a rich cultural tapestry with a literacy rate of 97.7% and a significant proportion (64.6%) of its population living in urban areas. Albania’s religious landscape is mainly Muslim (56.7%), with Catholic and Orthodox minorities.

Population (2025 est.): 2,551,837
Urbanization rate: 64.6% (2023)
Life expectancy: 79.9 years (2024)
Infant mortality rate: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025)
Total fertility rate: 1.09 children born/woman (2025)

Economy

Albania's economy is classified as upper-middle-income, driven by key sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and construction. The GDP has shown growth, with a real GDP (PPP) forecasted to be $51.36 billion for 2024. Despite this growth, Albania faces challenges such as corruption and public debt. The labor market shows a high youth unemployment rate of 25.1% among those aged 15-24.

Real GDP (PPP): $51.36 billion (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10.3% (2024 est.)
GDP composition (services): 48.9% (2024 est.)
Exports: $9.848 billion (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 22% (2020 est.)

Government

Albania operates as a parliamentary republic with a unicameral legislature, the Albanian Parliament. The President serves as the head of state, while the Prime Minister acts as the head of government. The Constitution was adopted in 1998, and elections are held every four years. Albania has made significant strides towards integrating with European institutions.

Capital: Tirana
Government type: Parliamentary republic
Most recent elections: 2022
Citizenship: Dual citizenship recognized
Suffrage age: 18 years

Military and Security

The Albanian Armed Forces consist of Land Forces, Naval Force, and Air Forces, with an approximate active-duty personnel of 7,500. Military expenditures are projected to be about 2% of GDP in 2025. The Albanian military is undergoing modernization, transitioning from Soviet-era weapons to NATO-standard armaments.

Active military personnel: ~7,500 (2025)
Military expenditures: 2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military modernization: Transitioning to NATO-standard equipment
Military service age: 18-30 (voluntary)
Military deployments: 250 in Kosovo (2025)

Energy

Albania has achieved a 100% electrification rate for its population. The country generates the majority of its electricity from hydroelectric sources, comprising 96.7% of its total generating capacity. The energy consumption per capita is estimated at 27.407 million Btu for 2023.

Installed capacity: 2.857 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity consumption: 7.49 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Main source of electricity: Hydroelectricity (96.7%)
Coal production: 473,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum production: 14,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Environment

Environmental challenges in Albania include deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution. The country is party to several international environmental agreements, addressing issues from biodiversity to climate change. Urbanization and economic activities have further stressed the natural environment.

Urban population: 64.6% (2023)
Annual waste generation: 1.087 million tons (2024 est.)
Water withdrawal for agriculture: 565 million cubic meters (2022)
CO2 emissions: 3.392 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Biodiversity concerns: Loss of species

Transportation

Albania’s transportation infrastructure includes rail, road, and maritime systems, with a growing emphasis on modernizing it. The civil aviation sector includes a limited number of airports and heliports.

Airports: 3 (2025)
Merchant marine: 69 vessels (2023)
Railways: 424 km (2017)
Civil aircraft registration: ZA
Key ports: Durres, Shengjin, Vlores

Communications

Albania has seen rapid development in telecommunications, with a notable increase in mobile and internet subscriptions. As of 2023, around 83% of the population were internet users.

Mobile subscriptions: 2.49 million (2024 est.)
Internet users: 83% of the population (2023 est.)
Fixed-line subscriptions: 165,000 (2024 est.)
Broadband subscriptions: 632,000 (2023 est.)
Television stations: Over 65, including national and private channels

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	2,551,837 (2025 est.)
Area	28,748 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$51.36 billion (2024 est.)
Energy consumption per capita	27.407 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Birth rate	8.71 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Unemployment rate	10.3% (2024 est.)
Life expectancy	79.9 years (2024 est.)