The Republic of Albania (in Albanian: Republika e Shqiperise) is a Balkan country located in Southeastern Europe. It borders Montenegro on the north, Kosovo on the northeast, Macedonia on the east, and Greece on the south. Albania has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the west and a coast on the Ionian Sea to the southwest.
The national flag of the Republic of Albania represents a black bicephalous eagle with open wings situated in the middle of a red background. It is one of the oldest flags of Europe (approximately more than 500 years old since 14th century)
Tirana is the capital and largest city. Official language is Albanian. Political system is Parliamentary Republic. Estimated Population on 2005 was 3,581,655) with a density of 123 /kmē or 318.6 /sq mi. Estimated GDP for 2007 total (USD) 19.803 billion (IMF) and per capita (USD) 6,259. Currency: Lek (ALL).. Time zone : CET (UTC+1); Summer (UTC+2).
International Phone Code: +355; Languages: Albanian (Tosk Dialect is the official dialect), Greek; Ethnicity/race: Albanian 95%, Greeks 3%, other 2%: Vlachs, Gypsies, Serbs, and Bulgarians (1989 est.) Religions: Islam 69%, Albanian Orthodox 19%, Roman Catholic 12% (est.) Literacy rate: 87% (2003 est).
