Albania

Albania /ælˈbeɪniə/ (help·info), officially the Republic of Albania (Albanian: Republika e Shqipërisë, pronounced [ɾɛˈpublika ɛ ʃcipəˈɾiːs], or simply Shqipëria), is a country in South Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Greece to the south-east, Montenegro to the north, Serbia (Kosovo)^[a] to the northeast, and Macedonia to the east. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the west, and on the Ionian Sea to the southwest. It is less than 72 km (45 mi) from Italy, across the Strait of Otranto which links the Adriatic Sea to the Ionian Sea.

Albania is a member of the United Nations, NATO, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Council of Europe, World Trade Organisation, and one of the founding members of the Union for the Mediterranean. Albania has been a potential candidate for accession to the European Union since January 2003, and it formally applied for EU membership on 28 April 2009.^[3]

Albania is a parliamentary democracy and a transition economy. The Albanian capital, Tirana, is home to approximately 895,000 of the country's 3.6 million people, and it is also the financial capital of the country.^[4] Free-market reforms have opened the country to foreign investment, especially in the development of energy and transportation infrastructure.

Contents

• 1 Etymology
• 2 History
  • 2.1 Prehistory
  • 2.2 The Illyrians
  • 2.3 Roman and Byzantine Empire
  • 2.4 Medieval era
  • 2.5 Ottoman era
  • 2.6 Independence and recent history
    • 2.6.1 1913 to 1928
    • 2.6.2 1928 to 1946
    • 2.6.3 Post-World War II
• 3 Government and politics
  • 3.1 Executive branch
  • 3.2 Legislative branch
• 4 Geography
• 5 Climate
• 6 Economy
• 7 Transport
  • 7.1 Highways
  • 7.2 Airways
  • 7.3 Railway
• 8 Religion
• 9 Demographics
• 10 Culture
  • 10.1 Music and Folklore
  • 10.2 Albanian language and literature
• 11 Education
• 12 Administrative divisions
• 13 Sport
• 14 Entertainment
• 15 Health
• 16 Cuisine
• 17 Armed forces
• 18 International rankings
• 19 See also
• 20 Notes and references
• 21 External links

Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Ti Shqipëri Më Jep Nder, Më Jep Emrin Shqipëtar (You Albania Give Me Honor, You Give Me The Name Albanian)[citation needed]
Anthem: Himni i Flamurit ("Anthem of the Flag")
Location of Albania (green) on the European continent (dark grey) — [Legend]
Capital (and largest city)		Tirana 41°20′N 19°48′E / 41.333°N 19.8°E / 41.333; 19.8
Official languages		Albanian1
Demonym		Albanian
Government		Parliamentary republic
-	President	Bamir Topi
-	Prime Minister	Sali Berisha
Independence
-	from the Ottoman Empire	28 November 1912
Area
-	Total	28,748 km2 (139th) 11,100 sq mi
-	Water (%)	4.7
Population
-	2008 estimate	3,170,048[1] (130th)
-	Density	134/km2 (63) 318.6/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2008 estimate
-	Total	$21.828 billion[2] (110th)
-	Per capita	$6,859[2] (97th)
GDP (nominal)		2008 estimate
-	Total	$12.964 billion[2]
-	Per capita	$4,073[2]
Gini (2005)		26.7 (low)
HDI (2007)		▲ 0.807 (high) (69th)
Currency		Lek (ALL)
Time zone		CET (UTC+1)
-	Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Drives on the		right
Internet TLD		.al
Calling code		355