The Republic of Albania is situated in southeastern Europe
and is bordered to the south by Greece, to the east by the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), to the
north by Serbia and Montenegro, and to the west by the
Adriatic Sea. The total area is 28,748 sq km (17,864 sq mi),
of which over two-thirds is mountainous and the rest river
valleys and coastal lowlands.
The country’s total population was estimated at 3.5
million in July 2002. Over 95% are ethnic Albanian, with
Greeks comprising most of the rest. Outside of the country’s
borders live about an equal number of ethnic Albanians,
mainly in the Kosovo region within Serbia and Montenegro,
and also in Macedonia, Greece, and Italy. About 70% of the
population are Muslim; however, atheism is also widespread
as a result of an official ban on religious worship from the
1960s to 1990. By 2002 the government had relaxed this ban,
and the practice of religion increased slightly. The Albanian
language has two main dialects, Geg and Tosk (considered
the official dialect).
The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) was
estimated at US$13.2 billion in 2001, with per capita GDP
estimated at US$3,800 that year. The national currency is the
lek. Albania’s natural resources include oil, gas, coal, and
metals. Agriculture and mining constitute the largest industries.
Frequent drought, obsolete equipment, and the need to
consolidate numerous small farms have hampered the growth
of the agriculture sector.
and is bordered to the south by Greece, to the east by the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), to the
north by Serbia and Montenegro, and to the west by the
Adriatic Sea. The total area is 28,748 sq km (17,864 sq mi),
of which over two-thirds is mountainous and the rest river
valleys and coastal lowlands.
The country’s total population was estimated at 3.5
million in July 2002. Over 95% are ethnic Albanian, with
Greeks comprising most of the rest. Outside of the country’s
borders live about an equal number of ethnic Albanians,
mainly in the Kosovo region within Serbia and Montenegro,
and also in Macedonia, Greece, and Italy. About 70% of the
population are Muslim; however, atheism is also widespread
as a result of an official ban on religious worship from the
1960s to 1990. By 2002 the government had relaxed this ban,
and the practice of religion increased slightly. The Albanian
language has two main dialects, Geg and Tosk (considered
the official dialect).
The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) was
estimated at US$13.2 billion in 2001, with per capita GDP
estimated at US$3,800 that year. The national currency is the
lek. Albania’s natural resources include oil, gas, coal, and
metals. Agriculture and mining constitute the largest industries.
Frequent drought, obsolete equipment, and the need to
consolidate numerous small farms have hampered the growth
of the agriculture sector.
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