Albania Demographics

What is the population of Albania?

Population	3,107,100
Population: Male/Female	male: 1,531,063 female: 1,576,037
Population Growth Rate	0.16%
Population Distribution	a fairly even distribution, with somewhat higher concentrations of people in the western and central parts of the country
Urban Population	urban population: 64.6% of total population rate of urbanization: 1.29% annual rate of change
Population in Major Urban Areas	520,000 TIRANA (capital)
Nationality Noun	noun: Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian
Ethnic Groups	Albanian 82.6%, Greek 0.9%, other 1% (including Vlach, Romani, Macedonian, Montenegrin, and Egyptian), unspecified 15.5%
Language Note	Albanian 98.8% (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek 0.5%, other 0.6% (including Macedonian, Romani, Vlach, Turkish, Italian, and Serbo-Croatian), unspecified 0.1%

Albania Population Comparison

Albania Health Information

What are the health conditions in Albania?

Life Expectancy at Birth	total population: 79.9 years male: 77.3 years female: 82.8 years
Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population	7.4
Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births	total: 10.3 deaths/1,000 live births male: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Health Expenditures - percent of GDP	6.7%
Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population	1.88
Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population	2.9
Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved	improved: urban: 97.3% of population rural: 96.4% of population total: 97% of population unimproved: urban: 2.7% of population rural: 3.6% of population total: 3% of population
Tobacco Use	total: 22.4% male: 38.8% female: 6%
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births	8
Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)	26.6
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49	46%
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman	1.55
Gross reproduction rate	1
Obesity - adult prevalence rate	21.7%
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved	improved: urban: 99.8% of population rural: 100% of population total: 99.9% of population unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population rural: 0.5% of population total: 0.1% of population
Underweight - percent of children under five years	1.5%
Alcohol consumption per capita	total: 4.4 liters of pure alcohol beer: 1.75 liters of pure alcohol wine: 1.15 liters of pure alcohol spirits: 1.43 liters of pure alcohol other alcohols: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol
Child Marriage	women married by age 15: 1.4% women married by age 18: 11.8% men married by age 18: 1.2%
Currently married women (ages 15-49)	67.2%

Albania Life Expectancy

How long do people live in Albania?

Life Expectancy at Birth	total population: 79.9 years male: 77.3 years female: 82.8 years
Median Age	total: 36.3 years male: 34.8 years female: 37.8 years
Gross reproduction rate	1
Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49	46%
Infant Mortality Rate	total: 10.3 deaths/1,000 live births male: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births	8
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman	1.55

Albania median age, birth rate and death rates

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population	12
Median Age	total: 36.3 years male: 34.8 years female: 37.8 years
Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population	-3.2
Population Growth Rate	0.16%
Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female	t birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female
Age Structure	0-14 years: 18% (male 292,296/female 267,052) 15-64 years: 66.9% (male 1,023,515/female 1,055,388) 65 years and over: 15.1% (male 215,252/female 253,597)
Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49	46%
Gross reproduction rate	1
Infant Mortality Rate	total: 10.3 deaths/1,000 live births male: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births	8
Mother's mean age at first birth	26.6
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman	1.55

Albania Medical Information

What are the health conditions in Albania?

Medical Facilities and Health Information

Medical care at private hospitals and clinics in Tirana has improved in recent years but still remains below western standards. Medical facilities outside Tirana have very limited capabilities. Emergency and major medical care requiring surgery and hospital care outside Tirana are often inadequate because of a lack of medical specialists, diagnostic aids, medical supplies, and prescription drugs. There are very few ambulances in Albania; therefore, injured or seriously ill U.S. citizens may be required to take taxis or other immediately available vehicles to the nearest major hospital rather than waiting for ambulances to arrive. If you have been previously diagnosed with (a) medical condition(s), you may wish to consult your personal health care provider before travel. As some prescription drugs may not be available locally, you may also wish to bring extra supplies of required medications.

Electricity shortages result in sporadic blackouts throughout the country, which can affect the food storage capabilities of restaurants and shops. While some restaurants and food stores have generators to store food properly, you should take care that food is cooked thoroughly to reduce the risk of food-borne illness. Tap water is not considered potable or safe to drink. You should purchase bottled water or drinks while in-country. Air pollution is also a problem throughout Albania, particularly in Tirana. Travelers should consult their doctor prior to travel and consider the impact seasonal smog and heavy particulate pollution may have on them.

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

6.7%

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

2.9

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

1.88

Albania Education

What is school like in Albania?

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP	3.1%
Literacy - female	98.2%
Literacy - male	98.7%
Literacy - total population	98.4%
Literacy Definition	age 15 and over can read and write
Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)	total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 15 years

Albania Literacy

Can people in Albania read?

Literacy - female	98.2%
Literacy - male	98.7%
Literacy - total population	98.4%
Literacy Definition	age 15 and over can read and write

Albania Crime

Is Albania a safe place to visit?

Crime Information

High unemployment and other economic factors encourage criminal activity. Use caution and protect your valuables in Tirana, just as you would in any major U.S. city. Violent crime aimed at U.S. citizens is rare and criminals do not appear to target U.S. citizens or other foreigners, but rather seek targets of opportunity, selecting those who appear to have anything of value. Crime statistics indicate a steady increase in violent crime has occurred throughout Albania since 2009. Organized crime is present in Albania; organized criminal activity occasionally results in violent confrontations between members of rival organizations.

Pick-pocketing, theft, and other petty street crimes are widespread, particularly in areas where tourists and foreigners congregate. Pickpockets use various diversionary tactics to distract victims, and panhandlers – particularly children – may become aggressive. U.S. citizens have reported the theft of their passports and portable electronic devices by pick-pockets. Victims of pick-pocketing should report the crime to the police and cancel their credit cards as soon as possible. Exercise caution in bars and clubs in Tirana, where violent incidents, some involving the use of firearms, have occurred in the past.

Vehicle theft and theft from vehicles are not uncommon in Albania. Carjacking can also occur. You should avoid leaving valuables, including cell phones and electronic items, in plain view in unattended vehicles. You should lock the windows and doors of your residence securely when it is not occupied. In the event you are a victim of carjacking, you should surrender your vehicle without resistance.

Travelers should take standard safety precautions when using Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). Try to use ATMs located inside banks and check for any evidence of tampering with the machine before use. Be cautious when using publicly available Internet terminals, such as in Internet cafes, as sensitive personal information, account passwords, etc., may be subject to compromise. Theft of personal items from hotel rooms can also occur.

Do not buy counterfeit and pirated goods. Doing so is illegal in both the United States and Albania.

Albania Penalties for Crime

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Albania, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. For instance, it is illegal to take pictures of certain physical structures in Albania. Be alert for signage and guidance by security personnel.

There are some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. If you break local laws in Albania your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go.

In Albania, you may be taken in for questioning if you are not carrying your passport. We encourage U.S. citizens to carry a copy of their U.S. passport with them at all times to show proof of identity and U.S. citizenship if questioned by local officials.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. Engaging in sexual conduct with children is also a crime in Albania, as is the production and distribution of child pornography.

Under Albanian law, police can detain any individual for up to 10 hours without filing formal charges. Although this is not a common occurrence reported by U.S. citizens, the possibility remains. Persons violating Albanian laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking illegal drugs in Albania are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.