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Albania

Europe · 2.8 million

About Albania

Albania, officially the Republic of Albania, is a sovereign country located in Europe, specifically within the Southeast Europe subregion. Its capital and largest urban centre is Tirana, and the country is home to approximately 2.4 million people. In its native language, the country is known as “Shqipëria”. Albanian serves as the primary official language, shaping daily communication, education, government, and media throughout Albania. The official currency in circulation is the Albanian lek (L), used for all domestic transactions and price-tagged goods. Albania is widely recognised for its Adriatic beaches, mountain villages and bunker-dotted countryside. People from Albania are referred to as Albanian.

Geography & climate

Albania covers approximately 28,748 km² of territory, making it a relatively compact country by land area. It shares land borders with 4 neighbouring countries — a position that has historically influenced migration patterns, regional politics, and cross-border commerce. Geographically, Albania sits in the Northern and Eastern Hemisphere, at roughly 41.0° N, 20.0° E. Standard civil time follows UTC+01:00 year-round, simplifying scheduling for residents and visitors alike. The prevailing climate of Albania can be summarised as: balkan coast & mountains with mild mediterranean. Local weather patterns naturally vary by altitude, latitude, and proximity to oceans or mountain ranges.

People, language & society

With roughly 2.4 million inhabitants, Albania is a modestly populated country. The principal spoken language is Albanian, which dominates public life, schooling, signage, and the workplace. Locals refer to their homeland as “Shqipëria”, a name with linguistic and historical roots that long predate modern borders. Citizens are formally known in English as Albanian, a demonym that appears in passports, official documents, and international reporting. Economically, the Albanian lek (L) is the medium of exchange used by households and businesses, with exchange rates monitored by the country's central monetary authority.

Quick facts at a glance

Practical travel & daily-life info

Visitors planning a trip to Albania should familiarise themselves with the capital, Tirana, the local time zone (UTC+01:00), the local currency (Albanian lek). The international dialling prefix is +355, which is required when phoning a Albania number from abroad. Vehicles drive on the right side of the road, an important detail for anyone renting a car or crossing a land border by vehicle. The country's top-level internet domain is .al, used by local businesses, government sites, and many news organisations. The working week traditionally starts on Monday, which affects business hours, banking, and public holidays.

Government & global standing

Albania is recognised internationally as a sovereign, independent state. It is a member state of the United Nations, participating in the General Assembly and various specialised UN agencies. On the global stage, Albania is generally classified within the Europe region and more specifically the Southeast Europe subregion, alongside neighbouring states with shared geographic, historical, or economic ties. GlobeIQ groups it under "Southern Europe" for the purposes of the game's regional hint.

Bordering countries

Albania shares land borders with 4 countries. Click any neighbour to read about it:

Did you know?

Between 1967 and 1986, a paranoid regime constructed 173,000 concrete bunkers — one for every four citizens — many still visible today.

Albania in the GlobeIQ atlas

Inside the GlobeIQ game, Albania appears as a tougher puzzle reserved for geography fans who can pick up subtler hints. When the daily puzzle selects this country, players progressively unlock six hints — silhouette, climate and terrain, number of land borders, region, "known for" tagline, and finally the capital city — before a flag reveal confirms the answer. On its trophy card, Albania carries the personality tags “🏖️ Adriatic Riviera” and “🛡️ Land of Bunkers”, short flavour labels chosen to evoke the country's most recognisable cultural signatures. Adding Albania to your personal atlas is one of 195 small wins on the road to a complete world map. Each correctly guessed nation also contributes to your running streak and unlocks milestone celebrations at 10, 25, 50, 100, and 150 collected countries.

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