Albania

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Official name: Republic of Albania
Area:
Government:
Official languages:
Monetary unit:
Cities:

DEMOGRAPHY
Population:
Population density:

ECONOMY
GDP (PPP):
per person:
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LIFE & LIBERTY
HDI

unless otherwise indicated, all statistics as at 2005

Contents

[edit] Geography

[edit] Location

  • Albania is a country in southeastern Europe. It borders Montenegro to the north, Serbia to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the west and a coast on the Ionian Sea to the southwest. Seventy percent of the country is mountainous and rugged, making that region often inaccessible.

[edit] Climate

[edit] Natural Resources

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Peoples

Albanian, many Albanians live in Kosovo or Macedonia. In these countries they are more Muslim than in Albania.
Roma, there are plans to bring them the Gospel.
See the Joshua Project listing of peoples for Albania.

[edit] Provinces of Albania

[edit] Life

  • There is need for internal peace that ethnic and religious hatreds may not erode the present freedoms.
  • There is a need for the development of ministry to children in crisis in Albania. There are many needs amongst the Roma children of Albania and there are many that make a living by begging. Pray that Albanian Christians would develop a deep concern for the children and also take an active interest in the orphans that are in need of loving adoptive parents.

[edit] History

See also Chronology of Albania.

[edit] Economy

  • Lagging behind its Balkan neighbors, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. It is one of Europe’s poorest countries. Communism has been economically, morally and spiritually devastating. The government has taken measures to curb violent crime and reduce the large grey economy. The economy is bolstered by annual remittances from abroad of $600-$800 million, mostly from Albanians residing in Greece and Italy; this helps offset the towering trade deficit. Agriculture, which accounts for about one-quarter of GDP, is held back because of lack of modern equipment, unclear property rights, and the prevalence of small, inefficient plots of land. Energy shortages and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure contribute to Albania's poor business environment, which make it difficult to attract and sustain foreign investment. The planned construction of a new thermal power plant near Vlore and improved transmission and distribution facilities eventually will help relieve the energy shortages. Also, the government is moving slowly to improve the poor national road and rail network, a long-standing barrier to sustained economic growth. On the positive side: growth was strong in 2003-06 and inflation is low and stable.

[edit] Government

[edit] Religion

  • The majority of Albanians are secular in orientation after decades of rigidly enforced atheism. Muslims are spread throughout the country but are concentrated mostly in the middle of the country and to a lesser extent in the south. Orthodox remain mainly in the south, and Catholics in the north of the country; however, this division is not strict, particularly in the case of many urban centers, which have mixed populations. The Greek minority, concentrated in the south, belongs to the Orthodox Church. No data is available on active participation in formal religious services, but estimates are that 30 to 40 percent of the population practices a religion. Foreign religious representatives, including Muslim clerics, Christian and Baha'i missionaries, members of Jehovah's Witnesses, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and many others freely carry out religious activities.

[edit] Islam

  • Muslims make up the largest traditional religious group and are divided into two communities: those who adhere to a moderate form of Sunni Islam and those who adhere to the Bektashi school (a particularly liberal form of Shi’a Sufism). Over one million Qur’ans were distributed, 900 mosques refurbished or built between 1993 and 1995.

[edit] Buddhism

[edit] Christianity

[edit] History

  • The communist revolution of 1945 marked the beginning of extreme persecution of all religious groups in Albania. A number of influential Orthodox clergy were executed, and in 1949 Archbishop Christopher Kissi of Tirana was deposed. In 1967 the communist regime announced that all religious edifices in Albania, including 2,169 churches, mosques, monasteries and other institutions, were being closed and that all religious practices were illegal. Religion was only authorized again in 1991.

[edit] Churches

  • The evangelical witness in Albania has grown dramatically since 1991. There are at least 130 congregations, one in every city or town. Pray that Evangelicals may be recognized as having a wholesome role in the recovery of the country.
See also Denominations in Albania

[edit] Church and State Relations

  • According to the 1998 Constitution, there is no official religion, and all religions are equal. However, the predominant religious communities (Muslim, Orthodox, and Roman Catholic) enjoy de facto recognition by the authorities that gives them the legal right to hold bank accounts, to own property and buildings, and to function as juridical persons based on their historical presence in the country. The State Committee on Cults, which was founded in September 1999 according to a decision of Council Ministers, aims to regulate the relations between the State and religious communities.

[edit] Mission and Evangelization

  • The Christians in this country have a passion to make the Gospel known throughout their nation. May this strengthen them and make them an example to the Christian Church worldwide.

[edit] Challenges for Christians:

  • Culturally, Albania is Muslim and a major target for Muslim countries to send missionaries, but most Albanians do not have much understanding of Islam. In 1995. Albania was the most heavily “evangelized” nation in Europe by both Christians and Muslims.
See Missions in Albania for a full list.

[edit] Broadcasting

[edit] Councils and Networks

[edit] Future Trends

[edit] For More Reading

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