Country
Countries A-Z
Albania
Republic of Albania
Republika e Shqipëri
Political Status: Independent state since 1912; Communist regime established in 1946; interim democratic constitution adopted April 29, 1991; permanent constitution approved by national referendum on November 22, 1998, and signed into law by the president on November 28.
Area: 11,100 sq. mi. (28,748 sq. km).
Population: 2,881,000 (2018E—World Bank); 3,057,220 (2018E—U.S. Census).
Major Urban Centers (2018E—Government): TIRANË (Tirana, 764,000), Durrës (232,291), Fier (117,292), Elbasan (100,903), Shkodër (88,245).
Official Language: Albanian.
Monetary Unit: Lek (market rate October 19, 2018: 122.08 lekë = $1US).
President: Ilir META (formerly Socialist Movement for Integration); elected in the fourth round of voting by the People’s Assembly on April 28, 2017, and sworn in on July 24, succeeding Bujar NISHANI (formerly Democratic Party of Albania [PDS]). (Upon election the president is constitutionally required ...