Albania
Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven difficult as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a dilapidated infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks with links to high government officials, and disruptive political opponents. International observers judged parliamentary elections in 2001 to be acceptable and a step toward democratic development, but identified serious deficiencies. Some of these were addressed through reforms in the Albanian electoral code prior to the nationwide municipal elections in 2003..

Location:
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro

Area:
total: 28,748 sq km
water: 1,350 sq km
land: 27,398 sq km

Land boundaries:
total: 720 km
border countries: Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km

Climate:
mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter

Terrain:
mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast

Land use:
arable land: 21.09%
permanent crops: 4.45%
other: 74.46% (1998 est.)

Population:
3,544,808 (July 2004 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Albanian(s)
adjective: Albanian

Languages:
Albanian (official - Tosk is the official dialect), Greek