Albania facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Republic of Albania Republika e Shqipërisë (Albanian)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Ti Shqipëri, më jep nder, më jep emrin Shqipëtar "You Albania, give me honour, you give me the name Albanian"
Anthem: "Himni i Flamurit" "Hymn to the Flag"
Location of Albania (green)
Capital and largest city	Tirana 41°19′N 19°49′E / 41.317°N 19.817°E / 41.317; 19.817
Official languages	Albanian
Recognised minority languages	Greek Aromanian Macedonian
Religion (2023)	50.67% Islam 16.02% Christianity 13.83% Non-denominational 3.55% Atheism 0.15% other 15.77% undeclared
Demonym(s)	Albanian
Government	Unitary parliamentary republic

• President	Bajram Begaj
• Prime Minister	Edi Rama
• Parliament Speaker	Elisa Spiropali

Legislature	Kuvendi
Establishment history

• Principality of Arbanon	1190
• Kingdom of Albania	February 1272
• Princedom of Albania	1368
• League of Lezhë	2 March 1444
• Pashalik of Scutari/Janina	1757/1787
• League of Prizren	10 June 1878
• Proclamation of independence from the Ottoman Empire	28 November 1912
• Principality of Albania	29 July 1913
• 1st Republic of Albania	31 January 1925
• Kingdom of Albania	1 September 1928
• 2nd Republic of Albania	10 January 1946
• 3rd Republic of Albania	28 December 1976
• 4th Republic of Albania	29 April 1991
• Current constitution	28 November 1998

Area
• Total	28,748 km² (11,100 sq mi) (140th)
• Water (%)	4.7
Population
• 2023 census	2,402,113
• Density	83.6/km² (216.5/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2024 estimate
• Total	$59.099 billion (118th)
• Per capita	$20,739 (83rd)
GDP (nominal)	2024 estimate
• Total	$25.297 billion (125th)
• Per capita	$8,877 (84th)
Gini (2019)	▼ 34.3 medium
HDI (2022)	0.789 high · 74th
Currency	Lek (ALL)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Driving side	right
Calling code	+355
ISO 3166 code	AL
Internet TLD	.al

Albania, officially called the Republic of Albania, is an independent country in Southeastern Europe. It covers an area of about 28,748 square kilometers. The capital city is Tirana. Other important cities include Durrës, Elbasan, and Vlora. Over 3 million people live in Albania. Most Albanians are Muslims, with others being Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics.

Albania shares borders with Kosovo, Montenegro, Greece, and Macedonia. It has a coastline along the Adriatic Sea to the west and the Ionian Sea to the southwest. The official language is Albanian. The national anthem is Hymni i Flamurit.

History of Albania
Albania's Regions
Major Cities in Albania
Albanian Armed Forces
Geography of Albania
Plants and Animals of Albania
Related pages
Images for kids
See also

History of Albania

Building in Albania

In ancient times, Albania was the southern part of a region called Illyria during the Roman Empire. Later, in the Middle Ages, different foreign countries ruled the Albanians. These included the Byzantine Empire and the Venetian Empires.

During the 16th century, a national hero named Skanderberg led a fight against the Ottoman Empire's rule. After four centuries of Turkish control, Albania finally became an independent country in the 20th century.

In 1939, fascist Italy took over Albania. It was part of the Kingdom of Italy until 1943. After World War II, Albania became independent again. It was then under communist rule, led by Enver Hoxha until his death in 1985. Ramiz Alia took over and later became President. In 1992, Albania became a democracy again. Today, Albania has good relationships with the European Union and hopes to join it.

Albania's Regions

Albania is divided into 12 main areas called counties. These counties are further split into smaller areas like districts and municipalities.

Counties of Albania

Major Cities in Albania

Here is a list of the largest cities in Albania.

Durrës

Tirana

Rank	City	2001 Census	2011 census
1	Tirana	352,581	421,286
2	Durrës	113,465	115,550
3	Vlorë	85,180	79,948
4	Elbasan	95,554	79,810
5	Shkodër	85,798	74,876
6	Fier	56,297	57,198
7	Korçë	58,911	51,683
8	Berat	45,572	36,467
9	Lushnjë	38,336	31,424
10	Kavajë	28,149	20,312

Albanian Armed Forces

The Albanian Armed Forces were first created after Albania became independent in 1912. Albania has made its military smaller over the years. In 1988, there were 65,000 active troops, but by 2009, this number was reduced to 14,500. Today, the military mainly consists of a small number of aircraft and sea vessels.

Geography of Albania

Albania covers a total area of 28,748 square kilometers. Its coastline is about 476 kilometers long. This coastline stretches along the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea. Along the coast, winters are mild and wet, while summers are warm, sunny, and quite dry.

About 70% of Albania is covered by mountains. The highest mountain in the country is Korab.

Albania shares its borders with Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, and Kosovo. Kosovo is a state that is not recognized by Serbia and some other countries. A short stretch of sea separates Albania from the far southeast of Italy.

Plants and Animals of Albania

Golden eagle is the national symbol of Albania

Even though Albania is a small country, it has a wide variety of plants and animals. There are over 3250 different types of plants. The country is home to more than 350 bird species, 330 kinds of freshwater and marine fish, and 80 mammal species. The Golden Eagle is a very important symbol for Albania and is its national animal.

Images for kids

The remains of Kamenica Tumulus in the county of Korçë.
Founded in the 4th century BC, Scodra was a significant city of the Illyrian tribes of the Ardiaei and Labeates.
Apollonia was an important Ancient Greek colony on the Illyrian coast along the Adriatic Sea and one of the western points of the Via Egnatia route, that connected Rome and Constantinople.
The town of Krujë was the capital of the Principality of Arbanon in the Middle Ages.
A relief of the Scuola degli Albanesi commemorating the Siege of Shkodra. It illustrates Sultan Mehmet II laying siege to the Albanian town of Scutari then part of Venetian Empire.
Ismail Qemali is regarded as the founding father of the modern Albanian nation.
Zog I was the first and only king of Albania; his reign lasted 11 years (1928–1939).
Enver Hoxha served as Prime Minister and First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania.
A bunker overlooking the Albanian Alps. By 1983, approximately 173,371 concrete bunkers were scattered across the country.
In 1988, the first foreigners were allowed to walk into the car-free Skanderbeg Square in Tirana.
The earthquake of November 2019 was the strongest to hit Albania in more than four decades.
The Albanian Alps are an extension and simultaneously the highest section of the Dinaric Alps.
Gjipe is located on the confluence of the Adriatic and Ionian Sea.
Panorma Bay on the Albanian Riviera in the south has a mediterranean climate.
The Albanian Alps in the north have a subarctic climate.
The golden eagle is the national symbol and animal of Albania.
The common bottlenose dolphin is a frequent visitor to the waters of the Albanian Adriatic and Ionian Sea Coasts.
The Lagoon of Karavasta within the Divjakë-Karavasta National Park is renowned for hosting the rare Dalmatian pelican.
Assisted by the governments of Kosovo and Albania, an official application for the inclusion of the Arbëreshë people in the list of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage is being prepared.
Albanian soldiers in the Province of Kandahar, Afghanistan.
GPD per capita development of Albanien since 1913
Tirana is the economic hub of the country. It is home to major domestic and foreign companies operating in the country.
Grapes in Berat. Due to the mediterranean climate, wine, olives and citrus fruits are mostly produced in Southern Albania.
The Antea factory in Fushë-Krujë
The Islets of Ksamil in the south of the Albanian Ionian Sea Coast.
Tirana International Airport is named in honour of the Albanian nun and missionary Mother Teresa.
The University of Arts is the largest higher education institute dedicated to the study of arts.
Lake Koman was formed as a result of the construction of the Koman Hydroelectric Power Station in 1985.
The dialects of the Albanian language in Albania.
Representatives of the Sunni, Orthodox, Bektashi and Catholic Albanian communities and in Paris.
The double-headed eagle on the walls of the St. Anthony Church.
Butrint has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites since 1992.
The Codices of Berat are eminently important for the global community and the development of ancient biblical, liturgical and hagiographical literature. In 2005, it was inscribed on the UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.
The Fortress of Bashtovë is on the tentative list for inscribing it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Bukë misri (cornbread) is a staple on the Albanian table.
Speca të ferguara (roasted peppers) served with pite, a traditional and prominent layered Albanian pie.
The former grounds of the headquarters of Radio Tirana in the capital of Tirana. Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) was initially inaugurated as Radio Tirana in 1938 prior to the World War II.
Albanian iso-polyphony is designated as an UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
The Albanian Dancer (1835) by French artist Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps; the dancers are depicted wearing the fustanella, the national costume of Albania
An excerpt from the Meshari (The Missal) written by Gjon Buzuku. (1555)
Parashqevi Qiriazi - teacher and feminist (1880–1970)
Arena Kombëtare in central Tirana