Albania
Europe Β· Capital: Tirana
How it is run: Albania is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Albania is home to 2.3 million people in Southeast Europe, where people speak Albanian.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
2.3 million people
That is about 290 people out of every million on Earth (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
28,748 kmΒ²
About the size of a small US state such as Vermont or New Hampshire.
ποΈ How crowded
About 82 people per square kilometre β a comfortable mix of cities and open land.
π Size in its region
31st most people in Europe
34th largest by land in Europe.
π£οΈ Official languages
Albanian
π° Money
Albanian lek (L)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
79.8 years on average
One of the healthier countries β good hospitals and clean water make a big difference.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$12,998
A lower-middle-income country: incomes are rising, but many families still farm or work informally.
π’ Living in cities
58.9% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
16.6% of the population
A fairly balanced mix of young and old.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+355
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.al
π§ People here are called
Albanian
π·οΈ Name at home
ShqipΓ«ria
Also written: ShqipΓ«ri, ShqipΓ«ria, Shqipnia.
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
Eastern European Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Albania touches 4 neighbours by land. Neighbours share rivers, roads and usually a lot of trade.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Albania
French
Albanie
Arabic
Ψ£ΩΨ¨Ψ§ΩΩΨ§
Chinese
ιΏε°ε·΄ε°ΌδΊ
Japanese
γ’γ«γγγ’
Russian
ΠΠ»Π±Π°Π½ΠΈΡ
Portuguese
AlbΓ’nia
German
Albanien
Put it in perspective π
- Russia β the most populated country in Europe β has about 61.1Γ as many people as Albania.
- Albania covers roughly 274 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Albania lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 1,175 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: Albania sits in Southeast Europe, in the northern and eastern half of the globe.
π·οΈ Official name
Republic of Albania
ποΈ Capital
Tirana
π Region
Europe Β· Southeast Europe
π€ Country code
AL
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Albania π
π§ Where on the map
41.0Β° N, 20.0Β° E
π Half of the world
Northern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+1 β when it is noon in London it is about 13:00 in Tirana.
- π¦π± is the flag of Albania. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is AL.
- Albania sits in the temperate zone, the belt where most of the world's farms and big cities are.
- Albania is close to the line of 0Β° longitude, so its clocks are near the world's reference time (UTC).
- Albania is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
- Albania sits in Southeast Europe, in the northern and eastern half of the globe.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Albania has 1 official language. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Albania can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Albania spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Albania?
Tirana
Which money do people spend in Albania?
Albanian lek (L)
How many countries share a land border with Albania?
4 β Montenegro, Greece, North Macedonia, Kosovo.
Roughly how many people live in Albania?
2.3 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.