AALBANIA
FACTBOOK
Albania FactbookDraft

November 2026 Edition

← Book contents

Albania Factbook · National chapter / ALB

Government

Albania flag
ⓘ

2021 Factbook flag mirror; image identity has not been individually audited. Source.

Last updated: October 29, 2026

Sections in Government
  1. Country name
  2. Government type
  3. Capital
  4. Administrative divisions
  5. Legal system
  6. Constitution
  7. International law organization participation
  8. Citizenship
  9. Suffrage
  10. Executive branch
  11. Legislative branch
  12. Judicial branch
  13. Political parties
  14. Diplomatic representation in the US
  15. Diplomatic representation from the US
  16. International organization participation
  17. Independence
  18. National holiday
  19. Flag
  20. National symbol(s)
  21. National color(s)
  22. National coat of arms
  23. National anthem(s)
  24. National heritage

Government

Country name:83

conventional long form:Republic of Albania
conventional short form:Albania
local long form:Republika e Shqiperise
local short form:Shqiperia
former:People's Socialist Republic of Albania
etymology:name may be derived from the pre-Celtic word alb , meaning "hill," or from the Indo-European root word albh , meaning "white;" the local name "Shqiperia" is derived from the Albanian word shqiponje ("eagle") and is popularly interpreted to mean "Land of the Eagles"
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [83]

Government type:84

parliamentary republic
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [84]

Capital:85

name:Tirana (Tirane)
geographic coordinates:41 19 N, 19 49 E
time difference:UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
etymology:the name "Tirana" first appears in a 1418 Venetian document; the origin of the name is unclear
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [85]

Administrative divisions:86

12 counties ( qarqe , singular - qark ); Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane (Tirana), Vlore
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [86]

Legal system:87

civil law system except in the northern rural areas where customary law known as the "Code of Leke" is still present
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [87]

Constitution:88

history:several previous; latest approved by the Assembly 21 October 1998, adopted by referendum 22 November 1998, promulgated 28 November 1998
amendment process:proposed by at least one-fifth of the Assembly membership; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; referendum required only if approved by two-thirds of the Assembly; amendments approved by referendum effective upon declaration by the president of the republic
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [88]

International law organization participation:89

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [89]

Citizenship:90

citizenship by birth:no
citizenship by descent only:at least one parent must be a citizen of Albania
dual citizenship recognized:yes
residency requirement for naturalization:5 years
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [90]

Suffrage:91

18 years of age; universal
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [91]

Executive branch:92

chief of state:President Bajram BEGAJ (since 24 July 2022)
head of government:Prime Minister Edi RAMA (since 10 September 2013)
cabinet:Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, nominated by the president, and approved by the Assembly
election/appointment process:president indirectly elected by the Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); a candidate needs three-fifths majority vote of the Assembly in 1 of 3 rounds or a simple majority in 2 additional rounds to become president; prime minister appointed by the president on the proposal of the majority party or coalition of parties in the Assembly
most recent election date:held in 4 rounds on 16, 23, and 30 May and 4 June 2022

election results

2022:Bajram BEGAJ elected president in the fourth round; Assembly vote - 78-4, opposition parties boycotted
2017:Ilir META elected president in the fourth round; Assembly vote - 87-2
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [92]

Legislative branch:93

legislature name:Albanian Parliament
legislative structure:unicameral
chamber name:Parliament (Kuvendi)
number of seats:140 (all directly elected)
electoral system:proportional representation
scope of elections:full renewal
term in office:4 years
most recent election date:5/11/2025
parties elected and seats per party:Socialist Party of Albania (PS) (83); Democratic Party - Alliance for a Greater Albania (PD-ASHM) (50); Other (7)
percentage of women in chamber:35%
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [93]

Judicial branch:94

highest court(s):Supreme Court (consists of 19 judges, including the chief justice); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, including the chairman)
judge selection and term of office:Supreme Court judges appointed by the High Judicial Council with the consent of the president to serve single 9-year terms; Supreme Court chairman is elected for a single 3-year term by the court members; appointments of Constitutional Court judges are rotated among the president, Parliament, and Supreme Court from a list of pre-qualified candidates (each institution selects 3 judges), to serve single 9-year terms; candidates are pre-qualified by a randomly selected body of experienced judges and prosecutors; Constitutional Court chairman is elected by the court members for a single, renewable 3-year term
subordinate courts:Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; specialized courts: Court for Corruption and Organized Crime, Appeals Court for Corruption and Organized Crime (responsible for corruption, organized crime, and crimes of high officials)
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [94]

Political parties:95

Alliance for Change (electoral coalition led by PD)
Democratic Party or PD
Party for Justice, Integration and Unity or PDIU (part of the Alliance for Change)
Social Democratic Party or PSD
Freedom Party of Albania or PL (formerly the Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI)
Socialist Party or PS
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [95]

Diplomatic representation in the US:96

chief of mission:Ambassador Ervin BUSHATI (since 15 September 2023)
chancery:2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 223-4942
FAX:[1] (202) 628-7342

email address and website

embassy.washington@mfa.gov.al
http://www.ambasadat.gov.al/usa/en
consulate(s) general:New York
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [96]

Diplomatic representation from the US:97

chief of mission:Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Nancy VANHORN (since August 2024)
embassy:Rruga Stavro Vinjau, No. 14, Tirana
mailing address:9510 Tirana Place, Washington DC 20521-9510
telephone:[355] 4 2247-285
FAX:[355] 4 2232-222

email address and website

ACSTirana@state.gov
https://al.usembassy.gov/
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [97]

International organization participation:98

BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EITI (compliant country), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
note : Albania is an EU candidate country and must complete accession criteria before being granted full membership
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [98]

Independence:99

28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [99]

National holiday:100

Independence Day, 28 November (1912), also known as Flag Day
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [100]

Flag:101

description:red with a black two-headed eagle in the center
meaning:Albanians traditionally see themselves as descendants of the eagle; they refer to themselves as "Shqiptare," which translates as "sons of the eagle"
history:the design is said to originate with 15th-century Albanian hero Georgi Kastrioti SKANDERBEG, who led a successful uprising against the Ottoman Turks
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [101]

National symbol(s):102

black double-headed eagle
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [102]

National color(s):103

red, black
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [103]

National coat of arms:104

adopted in 1998 and features the national symbol, the double-headed black eagle, in the national colors of red and black; red represents the courage and strength of the Albanian people, and the golden border represents the country’s wealth; the helmet above the eagle is modeled on the helmet of Skanderbeg, a 15 th -century Albanian military hero who led a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire; the goat on top of the helmet represents defiance and resistance
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [104]

National anthem(s):105

title:"Hymni i Flamurit" (Hymn to the Flag)
lyrics/music:Aleksander Stavre DRENOVA/Ciprian PORUMBESCU
history:adopted 1912; only the first two stanzas of the original poem are used, with the second stanza as a chorus
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [105]

National heritage:106

total World Heritage Sites:4 (2 cultural, 1 natural, 1 mixed)
selected World Heritage Site locales:Butrint (c); Historic Berat and Gjirokastër (c); Primeval Beech Forests (n); Lake Ohrid Region (m)
Source context

Reference period: As stated in each note.

Original reference ↗

Source note [106]

Historical observations

Notes & sources

  1. Country name. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  2. Government type. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  3. Capital. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  4. Administrative divisions. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  5. Legal system. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  6. Constitution. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  7. International law organization participation. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  8. Citizenship. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  9. Suffrage. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  10. Executive branch. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  11. Legislative branch. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  12. Judicial branch. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  13. Political parties. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  14. Diplomatic representation in the US. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  15. Diplomatic representation from the US. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  16. International organization participation. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  17. Independence. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  18. National holiday. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  19. Flag. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  20. National symbol(s). Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  21. National color(s). Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  22. National coat of arms. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  23. National anthem(s). Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
  24. National heritage. Reference edition; observation: dates as stated in text. Field last updated: not supplied; profile fallback: 2025-12-09 11:53:33 -0500 (not a field revision date); needs review. Reference source. Edition retrieval date: not supplied (retrieval only). ↩
← EnvironmentNotes & sourcesEconomy →

Countries & territories

Same-year values. Equal values share a rank.

Sources & method

Ranks cover available countries and territories, using the same indicator, source unit and reference year. Unrounded source values determine ties. Coverage is not a sovereign-country or complete global ranking; national definitions may differ. Missing values and other years are excluded. The information icon preserves the original number, unit and evidence.

RankCountry or territoryValue
Source information
International organization

Source observations