Country data

Location: Southeast Europe

Time zone: CET

Total area: 28,748 km²

Land area: 27,398 km²

Water area: 1,350 km²

Length of the state border: 691 km

Bordering countries:
Greece: 212 km
Kosovo: 112 km
Macedonia: 181 km
Montenegro: 186 km

Capital: Tirana

Districts: 12
Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane, Vlore

Electric current: 220 V / 50 Hz

Telephone code: 00 355 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m

Population

Population: approx. 3 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 0.3% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 104

Life expectancy: 75 (male), 81 (female)

Official language: Albanian

Religions:

• 57% Muslim
• 10% Roman Catholic
• 7% Albanian Orthodox
• 26% other

Climate

Albania has a temperate Mediterranean climate, with rainfall mainly in the winter half-year from November to February.

The average temperature in January is 7 ° C and in July 25 ° C. However, the daytime temperature can rise to 40 ° C in summer.

In the higher mountains, the temperatures fluctuate greatly between day and night.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Lek (ALL)

Classification: 1 Lek = 100 Qindarka

ATMs: only in the larger cities.

International credit cards: Only a few larger shops and hotels accept them.

Regulations: There is no limit to the amount of foreign currencies that can be imported. There is an obligation to declare. The export is limited to the amount declared upon entry. The import and export of the local currency is prohibited.

It is recommended to carry euros or US dollars in small denominations as foreign currencies, as these are most commonly accepted alongside the local currency.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco
• 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
• small amounts of perfume

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

All technical and valuable items must be declared upon entry and exit.

It is forbidden to bring narcotics, drugs, weapons, erotic literature, antiques and precious metals.

Travel advice

The general condition of many roads in Albania is poor. Especially outside of the big cities, you should only drive very carefully.

Economy

Although Albania is rich in natural resources, it is one of the poorest countries in Europe.

After years of isolation, it tries to eliminate the catastrophic economic situation of recent years.

The existing raw materials in the country are hardly extracted, as the infrastructure is very poorly developed, especially in rural areas.

Industries: chemistry, food production, oil, textiles, hydropower, cement

Natural resources: chrome, gypsum, natural gas, wood, limestone, coal, copper, nickel

Land use:

• Usable land: 21%
• Grain cultivation: 5%
• Pasture area: 15%
• Forests: 38%
• other: 21%

Plants

Over a third of the country is made up of forests. Beech, oak, pine, fir and elm trees are the most common. Many palm trees, oranges and lemon trees also grow on the coastal areas

From an altitude of about 2,000 meters, the forests merge into grasslands, which are home to many different types of shrubs.

With more than 3,000 different plant species, Albania has a very high biodiversity, but it is threatened in many regions by severe environmental pollution. Soils and bodies of water are exposed to heavy loads, especially in densely populated centers.

Animals

In the higher mountain regions in particular, the diversity of animal species (e.g. bears, deer, wolves, wild goats and wild boars) is still very pronounced, as there is little human settlement.

Also represented is the golden eagle, the country’s heraldic animal.

The areas on the coasts and lakes are intermediate stations for a large number of migratory birds that regularly cross the country.