Pre-Trip Information

The name Albania is derived from an ancient Illyrian tribe, the Albanoi, forbears of the modern Albanians. Although Albania is a relatively homogenous country, there is a sizeable ethnic Greek minority. Today, ethnic Albanians comprise approximately 95 percent of a total population of over three million. An estimated three percent of the population is of Greek descent; Vlachs, Roma, Serbs and Bulgarians make up the remaining two percent.

Albanian is the official language (including Tosk and Gheg dialects), however, other spoken languages have been recorded in Albania. Tosk is the principal Albanian dialect and is more prevalent in the southern part of the country while another dialect, called Gheg, is spoken in northern parts of Albania. Tosk is the basis for standard Albanian and is used in education and other institutions. Linguists suggest that it is very similar to Turkish in typology. Of the non-Albanian spoken languages, Greek, Macedonian, Romani and Serbian have been recorded. Reports suggest that up to 1.8 percent of the population in Albania speaks Greek.

In terms of religious affiliation, 70 percent of Albanians are Muslim; 20 percent are Albanian Orthodox and 10 percent are Roman Catholic. In 1967, all mosques and churches were closed and religious observances prohibited. In late 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice.


Human Development

Albanians are expected to have a life expectancy of 69 years for males and 73 years for females, according to the World Health Organization, although CIA estimates suggest that life expectancy is as high as 74.65 to 80.11 years of age for men and women respectively. The United Nations Development Programme determined that the infant mortality rate is 30 deaths per 1,000 live births, however CIA estimates suggest that the rate is a lower 15.11 deaths per 1,000 live births. An estimated 98.7 percent of the total population, age 15 and older, can read and write. About 6.9 percent of GDP is spent on health expenditures.  Access to sanitation, water,  and health care is considered to be generally good.

One notable measure used to determine a country's quality of life is the Human Development Index (HDI), which has been compiled annually since 1990 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The HDI is a composite of several indicators, which measure a country's achievements in three main arenas of human development: longevity, knowledge and education, as well as economic standard of living. In a recent ranking of 169 countries, the HDI placed Albania in the high human development category, at 64th place -- an improvement in placement when compared with the last time a ranking was issued.

Note: Although the concept of human development is complicated and cannot be properly captured by values and indices, the HDI, which is calculated and updated annually, offers a wide-ranging assessment of human development in certain countries, not based solely upon traditional economic and financial indicators.