The Human Truth Foundation

Albania (Republic of Albania)

https://www.humantruth.info/albania.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

#albania

Albania
Republic of Albania
Flag
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index56th best
CapitalTirana
Land Area 27 400km21
LocationEurope, The Balkans, The Mediterranean
Population2.9m2
Life Expectancy76.46yrs (2017)3
GNI$14 131 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesAL, ALB, 85
Internet Domain.al6
CurrencyLek (ALL)7
Telephone+3558

1. Overview

Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, but was conquered by Italy in 1939. Communist partisans took over the country in 1944. Albania allied itself first with the USSR (until 1960), and then with China (to 1978). In the early 1990s, Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven challenging as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, dilapidated infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks, and combative political opponents. Albania has made progress in its democratic development since first holding multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain. International observers judged elections to be largely free and fair since the restoration of political stability following the collapse of pyramid schemes in 1997; however, each of Albania's post-Communist elections have been marred by claims of electoral fraud. The 2009 general elections resulted in a coalition government, the first such in the country's history. Albania joined NATO in April 2009 and is a potential candidate for EU accession. Although Albania's economy continues to grow, the country is still one of the poorest in Europe, hampered by a large informal economy and an inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverWith stunning mountain scenery, a thriving, multicoloured capital city and beaches to rival anywhere else in the Mediterranean, Albania has become the sleeper hit of the Balkans. [...] Albania has natural beauty in such abundance that you might wonder why it´s taken 20 years for the country to take off as a tourist destination since the demise of a particularly insular strain of communism in 1991. [Albanians have] just got on with embracing life in a languid and chaotically post-communist way. Albania offers a remarkable array of unique attractions, largely due to this very isolation: ancient mountain codes of behaviours, forgotten archaeological sites and villages where time seems to have stood still are all on the menu. Lively, colourful Tirana is the beating heart of Albania, where this tiny nation´s hopes and dreams coalesce into a vibrant whirl of traffic, brash consumerism and unfettered fun.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Albania National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
64=Georgia0.802
64=Serbia0.802
66Thailand0.800
67Albania0.796
68=Grenada0.795
68=Bulgaria0.795
70Barbados0.790
71Antigua & Barbuda0.788
Europe Avg0.87
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
82Colombia$14 384
83Brazil$14 370
84Azerbaijan$14 257
85Albania$14 131
86Palau$13 819
87Grenada$13 484
88Gabon$13 367
89Ukraine$13 256
Europe Avg$40 512
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Denmark26.9
2Norway29.1
3Sweden29.9
...
53Serbia73.1
54Sri Lanka74.0
55Malaysia74.1
56Albania75.5
57Macedonia76.5
58Cuba77.1
59Mexico77.1
60Peru78.1
Europe Avg55.7
World Avg89.0
q=200.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Albania's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Albania's population is predicted to rise to 3.29 million by 2030. This rise is despite a low fertility rate, meaning, that this country is helping to alleviate problems with growing population in neighbouring countries by accepting immigrants, very likely as a requirement of maintaining an active workforce. This country has a fertility rate of 1.38. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1, once you take mortality into account13. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.14

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
135Mongolia3.2m
136Armenia3.0m
137Jamaica2.9m
138Albania2.9m
139Lithuania2.8m
140Qatar2.8m
141Namibia2.4m
142Gambia2.3m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
47Estonia77.1
48Costa Rica77.0
49Saudi Arabia76.9
50Albania76.5
51Poland76.5
52Sri Lanka76.4
53Algeria76.4
54Montenegro76.3
World Avg71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
15
Pos.202215
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
109St Lucia1.39
110Turkmenistan2.62
111Bahamas1.38
112Albania1.38
113Bosnia & Herzegovina1.35
114Jamaica1.34
115Micronesia2.67
116Canada1.33
World Avg2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
16
Pos.2016
Per 10016
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
144Ukraine30.8
145Australia31.3
146Slovakia31.6
147Albania31.8
148Norway32.2
149Iceland32.5
150Serbia32.7
151Hungary32.9
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants17
Pos.2017
%17
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
132Romania1.9%
133Japan1.8%
134Sudan1.8%
135Albania1.8%
136Pakistan1.7%
137Nepal1.7%
138Poland1.7%
139Senegal1.7%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants18
Pos.2010
%18
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
7Monaco56.3%
8Antigua & Barbuda47.6%
9Tonga45.4%
10Albania45.4%
11Barbados41.0%
12Suriname39.0%
13Bosnia & Herzegovina38.9%
14Palau38.8%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Albania's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#albania #equality #freedom #freethought #gender #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #slavery #tolerance #women

Compared to Europe (2025)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1Sweden7.8
2Netherlands8.7
3Denmark8.8
...
39Macedonia77.4
40Georgia81.4
41Moldova83.7
42Albania86.0
43Bosnia & Herzegovina88.0
44Kosovo96.1
45Turkey98.8
46Armenia99.1
47Vatican City113.6
Europe Avg47.37
q=49.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1Sweden7.8
2Netherlands8.7
3Denmark8.8
...
84Tuvalu83.8
85St Vincent & Grenadines84.8
86Namibia85.9
87Albania86.0
88Belize86.3
89Bosnia & Herzegovina88.0
90Ghana88.7
91Nauru89.3
World Avg89.80
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark20. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia20.

31 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe20, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia20.

For more, see:

4.1. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

#albania #freedom #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #politics #slavery

Press Freedom
Higher is better
21
Pos.202521
1Norway92.31
2Estonia89.46
3Netherlands88.64
...
76Cyprus59.04
77Papua New Guinea58.35
78Qatar58.25
79Albania58.18
80Botswana57.64
81Zambia57.33
82Niger57.05
83Paraguay56.84
Europe Avg70.63
World Avg54.65
q=179. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.
Slavery in the 2020s
Lower is better
22
Pos.Total
Per 100022
1=Switzerland0.50
1=Norway0.50
3=Germany0.60
...
143=Pakistan10.60
144Kazakhstan11.10
145Belarus11.30
146Albania11.80
147Turkmenistan11.90
148Myanmar12.10
149Macedonia12.60
150Ukraine12.80
Europe Avg5.64
World Avg7.15
q=160. Also scored for 2010s-2020s.

The Walk Free Foundation in 2023 lists Albania amongst the 10 countries whose governments have done the most in recent years to curb modern slavery23.

Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom
Lower is better
24
Pos.2014
Rank24
1Hong Kong1
2Switzerland2
3New Zealand3
...
47Mongolia47
48=Bahamas48
48=Greece48
50Albania50
51Seychelles51
52Israel52
53Peru53
54Bosnia & Herzegovina54
Europe Avg33.9
World Avg79.7
q=159.
Freedom in the World
Lower is better
Pos.2024
Score
1=Norway1.0
1=Canada1.0
1=Cape Verde1.0
...
94=Fiji3.0
94=Ecuador3.0
94=Dominican Rep.3.0
94=Albania3.0
94=Bolivia3.0
94=Hungary3.0
100=Papua New Guinea3.5
100=Nepal3.5
Europe Avg2.2
World Avg3.7
q=205. Also scored for 1970s-2010s.
Nominal Commitment to HR
Higher is better
25
Pos.2009
Treaties25
1Argentina24
2=Chile23
2=Costa Rica23
...
29=Hungary20
29=Czechia20
29=Georgia20
29=Albania20
29=Cyprus20
29=Namibia20
29=Ukraine20
29=Macedonia20
Europe Avg19.5
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag
Lower is better
26
Pos.2019
Avg Yrs/Treaty26
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
...
103Croatia10.65
104Zambia10.81
105Iran10.81
106Albania10.94
107Israel10.97
108Armenia11.00
109Lithuania11.03
110Mozambique11.04
Europe Avg9.09
World Avg10.02
q=195.

Amnesty International's 2023-23 summary on human rights in Albania stated:

Intimidation against journalists continued. A specialized forensic psychiatric facility was lacking to accommodate and treat patients. Roma and Egyptian people were subjected to discrimination and segregation in education. Violence persisted against women and LGBTI people. There were fears that the restructuring of the courts would make justice less accessible.

"The State of the World's Human Rights 2022/23" by Amnesty International (2023)27

4.2. Gender Equality Datasets

#gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #politics #women

Albania is on the way towards ending gender inequality.

See:

Gender Inequality
Lower is better
28
Pos.202228
1Denmark0.01
2Norway0.01
3Switzerland0.02
...
32Serbia0.12
33Czechia0.12
34Greece0.12
35Albania0.12
36Montenegro0.12
37Macedonia0.14
38Bosnia & Herzegovina0.14
39Latvia0.15
Europe Avg0.12
World Avg0.34
q=166. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Note there was only 1 datapoint in the 1990s (for 1999) but it's consistent with the following decades' trends, so its still listed as an 'average' for the 1990s.

Year Women Can Vote
Lower is better
Pos.Total
Year
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
...
19=Poland1919
20=Canada1920
20=USA1920
20=Albania1920
23=Lithuania1921
23=Sweden1921
23=Azerbaijan1921
23=Armenia1921
Europe Avg1895
World Avg1930
q=189.

4.3. Prejudice Datasets

#freethought #homosexuality #religious_tolerance

LGBT Equality in the 2020s
Higher is better
29
Pos.Total
Score29
1=Germany4.88
1=Spain4.88
3Portugal4.81
...
102Cambodia-0.12
103Laos-0.13
104Trinidad & Tobago-0.19
105Albania-0.40
106Macedonia-0.43
107Bahamas-0.45
108Mongolia-0.48
109Hungary-0.50
Europe Avg1.77
World Avg-1.21
q=215. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.
Under Ahmet Zog from 1925, homosexuality was outlawed (for the first time). After that from 1952 it was punishable by ten years in prison under the Penal Code of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Article 137 ("Crimes against Societal Moral"). It was decriminalized in 1995, and equal age of consent was granted from 2001 (at 14years, for all). But in 2003, Albania went backwards when it explicitly defined marriage as between a man and a woman in the Family Code of Albania, Law No. 9062.

ILGA researchers in 2017 found that Albania had legal protections against anti-LGBT employment discrimination, hate crime, incitement and other protections.

Actions taken at the United Nations:

Freedom of Thought
Lower is better
30
Pos.202130
1=Belgium1.0
1=Taiwan1.0
1=Netherlands1.0
...
21=Slovenia1.8
21=Palau1.8
21=Burkina Faso1.8
21=Albania1.8
21=Kosovo1.8
21=S. Korea1.8
27=Barbados2.0
27=Gabon2.0
Europe Avg2.6
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Albania's Health

#albania #alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Europe (2025)31
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank31
1Monaco10.3
2Liechtenstein30.1
3Sweden42.3
...
26Poland68.8
27Hungary69.2
28Slovakia70.7
29Albania71.1
30Montenegro71.2
31Malta71.3
32Croatia73.8
33Belarus77.5
34Macedonia78.0
Europe Avg86.87
q=48.
Health (2025)31
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank31
1Monaco10.3
2Liechtenstein30.1
3Japan37.3
...
48Slovakia70.7
49St Martin70.9
50Mauritius71.1
51Albania71.1
52Kuwait71.1
53Montenegro71.2
54Malta71.3
55Greenland72.3
World Avg97.57
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan32. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan32.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean32, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia32.

For more, see:

5.1. Health Datasets

#albania #alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #smoking #suicide

Albania does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Albania does better than average for its suicide rate33, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s34, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-201535, its average life expectancy11 (but low for Europe), its adolescent birth rate36 (but high for Europe) and in childhood mortality in the 2020s37. Albania still has work to do. Albania does worse than average for its smoking rate38, its alcohol consumption rate39 (still good for Europe), its fertility rate15, the prevalence of overweight adults40 (still good for Europe) and in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance41 (the highest in Europe). The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Albania improved by +6.1yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Albania is amongst only 41 countries who have seen their fertility rate drop by more than 4 since the 1960s. Its peak fertility rate was 6.46 in 1960.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
47Estonia77.1
48Costa Rica77.0
49Saudi Arabia76.9
50Albania76.5
51Poland76.5
52Sri Lanka76.4
53Algeria76.4
54Montenegro76.3
Europe Avg78.36
World Avg71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
39
Pos.2016
Per Capita39
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
107=China7.2
107=Paraguay7.2
109Mongolia7.4
110=Albania7.5
110=Burundi7.5
110=Italy7.5
110=Norway7.5
114Kazakhstan7.7
Europe Avg10.3
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
15
Pos.202215
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
109St Lucia1.39
110Turkmenistan2.62
111Bahamas1.38
112Albania1.38
113Bosnia & Herzegovina1.35
114Jamaica1.34
115Micronesia2.67
116Canada1.33
Europe Avg1.53
World Avg2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.
Smoking in the 2020s
Lower is better
38
Pos.Total
%38
1Nigeria3.3%
2Ghana3.4%
3Panama5.2%
...
96=Germany21.3%
97Yemen21.4%
98Malaysia22.0%
99Albania22.0%
100Kazakhstan22.2%
101Finland22.3%
102Italy22.5%
103Samoa22.6%
Europe Avg27.0%
World Avg20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.
Suicide Rate33
Pos.2013
Per 100k33
1Haiti0
2Grenada0
3Egypt0.1
...
21=Barbados7.3
21=Belize7.3
23Bahrain7.5
24Albania8
25=Mexico8.5
25=Israel8.5
27Georgia8.8
28Seychelles8.9
Europe Avg26.99
World Avg20.93
q=91.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
41
Pos.2017
Rank41
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
135Iraq135
136Madagascar136
137Congo, (Brazzaville)137
138Albania138
139Ghana139
140Chad140
141Rwanda141
142Mali142
Europe Avg47.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
40
Pos.1976
%40
1Bangladesh4.7
2Vietnam5.1
3Nepal5.4
...
120Moldova33.4
121Peru33.5
122Netherlands33.7
123Albania33.8
124Syria34.3
125Ireland34.5
126Armenia34.6
127Austria35.1
Europe Avg38.2
World Avg27.1
q=191.
Adult Obesity
Lower is better
42
Pos.2022
%42
1Vietnam2.1%
2Timor-Leste (E. Timor)2.2%
3Ethiopia2.4%
...
107Moldova25.6%
108Serbia26.1%
109Belarus26.6%
110Albania26.6%
111Estonia26.7%
112Ecuador27.0%
113Portugal27.1%
114Peru27.2%
Europe Avg25.9%
World Avg24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
36
Pos.2022
Per 100036
1Hong Kong1.6
2Denmark1.8
3S. Korea2.1
...
55Saudi Arabia11.6
56New Zealand11.8
57Serbia14.4
58Albania14.5
59Russia14.5
60USA15.1
61Ukraine15.2
62Sri Lanka15.4
Europe Avg11.4
World Avg43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.
Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s)
Higher is better
34
Pos.Total
Avg %34
1=Luxembourg99.0
1=Oman99.0
1=Niue99.0
...
30=Belgium97.9
30=Bahrain97.9
30=S. Korea97.9
30=Albania97.9
34Montserrat97.8
35=Bhutan97.8
35=Belarus97.8
37=Norway97.6
Europe Avg93.2
World Avg88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.
7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015)
Higher is better
35
Pos.2015
Avg %35
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
29=St Vincent & Grenadines97.2
30=Dominica97.1
30=Kazakhstan97.1
32Albania97.1
33Andorra97.1
34Russia97.0
35Guyana97.0
36Slovakia97.0
Europe Avg92.7
World Avg88.3
q=194.
Infant Mortality (2020s)
Lower is better37
Pos.Total
Per 100037
1San Marino2.11
2Finland2.59
3Luxembourg2.60
...
61Brunei9.90
62Macedonia9.95
63Maldives10.37
64Albania10.41
65Antigua & Barbuda11.08
66Georgia11.17
67Oman11.23
68China11.43
Europe Avg6.30
World Avg32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

6. Albania's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#albania #biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Europe (2025)43
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank43
1Switzerland45.0
2Denmark50.4
3Liechtenstein56.8
...
30Croatia88.5
31Czechia89.3
32Lithuania89.5
33Albania91.5
34=Monaco92.1
34=Moldova92.1
36Malta92.2
37Ukraine94.8
38=Iceland96.9
Europe Avg86.45
q=48.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)43
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank43
1Sri Lanka34.9
2Uruguay43.2
3Switzerland45.0
...
122Paraguay91.0
123Equatorial Guinea91.2
124Belize91.3
125Albania91.5
126St Vincent & Grenadines92.0
127=Monaco92.1
127=Moldova92.1
129S. Africa92.2
World Avg84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"44. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

Albania ranks 125th in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is computed using 21 data sets. Albania does better than average when it comes to its environmental performance45 (but low for Europe), its forested percent change 2000-202046 and in reducing annual meat consumption per person47. But, things could still be better. Albania does worse than average when it comes to energy to GDP efficiency48 and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. And finally, it is second-from-the-bottom when it comes to the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population49.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
46
Pos.Total46
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
62Croatia2.9%
63Netherlands2.8%
64UAE2.5%
65Albania2.5%
66Luxembourg2.3%
67Georgia2.2%
68USA2.1%
69Ukraine1.9%
Europe Avg8.2%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
45
Pos.201845
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
37Latvia66.1
38Turkmenistan66.1
39Seychelles66.0
40Albania65.5
41Croatia65.5
42Colombia65.2
43Hungary65.0
44Belarus65.0
Europe Avg69.6
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency
Lower is better
48
Pos.2022
Avg48
1Rwanda0.25
2Chad0.26
3Tanzania0.31
...
84Benin1.06
85Namibia1.07
86Cambodia1.07
87Albania1.08
88Jordan1.10
89Mexico1.10
90Taiwan1.10
91Bolivia1.11
Europe Avg1.25
World Avg1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.
From the 1980s to the 1990s, Albania was one of only 7 countries that improved its energy-to-GDP efficiency by more than 1.0; it performed the best in Europe.
International Accords on the Environment
Higher is better
Pos.Total
Avg Rate
1Sweden83%
2Canada82%
3Norway81%
...
156Yemen48%
157Comoros48%
158USA47%
159Albania47%
160Turkey47%
161Cambodia47%
162Kyrgyzstan46%
163Libya46%
Europe Avg62.7%
World Avg57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better
49
Pos.2011
%49
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
138Denmark14.9%
139Libya14.6%
140Iceland13.1%
141Uzbekistan11.3%
142Tajikistan11.1%
143Haiti10.0%
144Albania9.4%
145Turkmenistan8.6%
Europe Avg33.6%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
47
Pos.2021
kg47
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
88Cuba49.6
89Libya50.0
90Ecuador50.9
91Albania52.0
92Kiribati52.4
93Vietnam52.6
94Dominican Rep.53.5
95Peru54.0
Europe Avg71.1
World Avg52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in Albania was reducing.47

7. Albania's Modernity and Learning

#albania #education #english #intelligence #maths #metric #modernity #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Europe (2025)50
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank50
1Vatican City1.0
2Finland4.8
3Belgium8.5
...
41Bosnia & Herzegovina49.5
42Georgia51.9
43Moldova54.1
44Andorra56.8
45Armenia58.9
46Azerbaijan60.6
47Macedonia63.8
48UK64.5
49Albania65.8
Europe Avg31.28
q=49.
Modernity & Learning (2025)50
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank50
1Vatican City1.0
2Finland4.8
3Belgium8.5
...
79Seychelles64.9
80=Panama65.7
80=Dominican Rep.65.7
82Albania65.8
83Thailand66.0
84Venezuela66.3
85Turkmenistan66.8
86Mauritius67.2
World Avg80.33
q=194.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are The Vatican City, Finland and Belgium51. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia51. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots52.

Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.

Bill Emmott (2017)53

23 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe51, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia51.

For more, see:

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation

Research & Development
Higher is better
Pos.2016
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2954
2Israel4.1154
3Japan3.5854
...
98=Bolivia0.1655
98=Kyrgyzstan0.1656
98=Sri Lanka0.1657
101Albania0.1558
102Namibia0.1457
103=Georgia0.1359
103=Gambia0.1356
105=Tajikistan0.1260
Europe Avg1.32
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
41
Pos.2017
Rank41
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
102Peru102
103Cape Verde103
104Swaziland104
105Albania105
106Madagascar106
107Thailand107
108Yemen108
109Brazil109
Europe Avg31.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Metric System Adoption Rate
Higher is better
61
Pos.2025
%61
1=Slovakia100
1=Poland100
1=Portugal100
...
27=Greece95
27=Andorra95
27=Algeria95
27=Albania95
27=Costa Rica95
27=Argentina95
27=Kosovo95
27=China95
Europe Avg97
World Avg92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Albania officially adopted metric in 194862. Progression:

Religiosity
Lower is better
63
Pos.2018
%63
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
13=Belgium11
14Austria12
15Hungary14
16Albania15
17=Lithuania16
17=S. Korea16
17=Russia16
20=Australia18
Europe Avg25.8
World Avg54.3
q=106.
IQ
Higher is better64
Pos.200664
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
...
52=Thailand91
52=Lithuania91
52=Cambodia91
55=Albania90
55=Croatia90
55=Kyrgyzstan90
55=Chile90
59=Costa Rica89
Europe Avg96.6
World Avg85.6
q=138.

7.2. Education Datasets

#albania #education #english #maths #science

In the 1990s, the expected duration of education in Albania fell by almost a year, whereas most of the rest of the world's increased. 65

Secondary Education
Higher is better
66
Pos.201866
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
32Japan93.6%
33Tajikistan93.1%
34Barbados92.9%
35Albania92.9%
36Belarus92.2%
37Marshall Islands92.1%
38Montenegro91.6%
39Australia90.4%
Europe Avg88.3%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
67
Pos.2021
Years67
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
72Trinidad & Tobago14.5
73Slovakia14.5
74Dominican Rep.14.5
75Albania14.4
76Cuba14.4
77Colombia14.4
78Moldova14.4
79Serbia14.4
Europe Avg16.1
World Avg13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.
Maths, Science & Reading
Higher is better
68
Pos.2015
Score68
1Singapore1655
2Hong Kong1598
3Japan1586
...
53Montenegro1256
54=Costa Rica1247
54=Mexico1247
56=Albania1245
56=Thailand1245
58Colombia1231
59Qatar1222
60Georgia1216
Europe Avg1417
World Avg1389
q=70.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#modernity #technology #the_internet

Internet Users
Higher is better
69
Pos.201669
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
70Greece65%
71Saudi Arabia65%
72French Polynesia64%
73Albania63%
74Palestine63%
75Montenegro62%
76Bosnia & Herzegovina62%
77Azerbaijan61%
Europe Avg76.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
70
Pos.2017
Ratio70
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
122=Swaziland0.0
122=Mongolia0.0
122=Samoa0.0
122=Albania0.0
122=Micronesia0.0
122=Algeria0.0
122=Djibouti0.0
122=Guyana0.0
Europe Avg8.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.
Digital Quality of Life
Higher is better
71
Pos.202471
1Germany77.9%
2Finland76.9%
3France73.9%
...
59Indonesia47.5%
60India47.0%
61Costa Rica46.9%
62Albania46.7%
63Azerbaijan46.0%
64Macedonia45.7%
65Moldova45.5%
66S. Africa45.4%
Europe Avg61.0%
World Avg48.4%
q=121.

8. Albania's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charity #corruption #economics #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #internationalism #life_expectancy #morals #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#charity #corruption #happiness #internationalism #morals #politics

World Giving Index
Higher is better
72
Pos.2022
%72
1Indonesia68.0
2Kenya61.0
3USA59.0
...
92=Namibia35.0
93=Togo34.0
93=Mozambique34.0
93=Albania34.0
93=Montenegro34.0
93=Kazakhstan34.0
93=Gabon34.0
93=Taiwan34.0
Europe Avg39.0
World Avg39.6
q=125. Also scored for 2010s.
Corruption
Higher is better
73
Pos.2022
Points73
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
103=Turkey36.0
103=Sri Lanka36.0
103=Panama36.0
103=Albania36.0
103=Ecuador36.0
103=Kazakhstan36.0
103=Thailand36.0
110=Gambia34.0
Europe Avg57.61
World Avg42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.
Happiness
Higher is better
74
Pos.2024
Score74
1Finland7.7
2Denmark7.5
3Iceland7.5
...
86Macedonia5.5
87Armenia5.5
88Hong Kong5.5
89=Albania5.4
89=Tajikistan5.4
91Georgia5.4
92Nepal5.3
93Laos5.3
Europe Avg6.37
World Avg5.58
q=147. Also scored for 2010s.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
41
Pos.2017
Rank41
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
75Turkey75
76Kyrgyzstan76
77Togo77
78Albania78
79Brunei79
80Suriname80
81Fiji81
82Kenya82
Europe Avg35.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Passport Reach (2020s)
Higher is better75
Pos.Total
Q75
1Singapore192.2
2Japan192.0
3S. Korea190.7
...
88Bosnia & Herzegovina119.0
89Russia117.7
90Georgia117.5
91Albania117.0
92Vanuatu113.7
93Turkey112.2
94S. Africa104.3
95Belize102.0
Europe Avg160.7
World Avg108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
41
Pos.2017
Rank41
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
12Philippines12
13Austria13
14Germany14
15Albania15
16Togo16
17France17
18Singapore18
19Malaysia19
Europe Avg42.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
76
Pos.2023
Score76
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
38Macedonia1.71
39Costa Rica1.73
40=Vietnam1.75
40=Albania1.75
42Botswana1.76
43S. Korea1.76
44Mongolia1.77
45Montenegro1.77
Europe Avg1.70
World Avg2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
41
Pos.2017
Rank41
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
77Iceland77
78Turkey78
79Georgia79
80Albania80
81Gabon81
82Russia82
83Iran83
84Serbia84
Europe Avg84.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
41
Pos.2017
Rank41
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
71Guatemala71
72Estonia72
73Guinea-Bissau73
74Albania74
75Botswana75
76Lebanon76
77Bahrain77
78Sri Lanka78
Europe Avg37.8
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
77
Pos.2019
Score77
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
...
37Zambia0.31
38Djibouti0.32
39Bulgaria0.37
40=Albania0.42
40=Cyprus0.42
42=Lithuania0.46
42=Sierra Leone0.46
44Jamaica0.47
Europe Avg1.62
World Avg2.78
q=150.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Poverty (2020s)
Lower is better
78
Pos.Total
%78
1Malaysia0.01%
2Bhutan0.01%
3Cyprus0.02%
...
22Germany0.24%
23S. Korea0.25%
24Canada0.25%
25Albania0.34%
26Croatia0.36%
27Estonia0.39%
28Portugal0.40%
29Tonga0.41%
Europe Avg1.20%
World Avg11.40%
q=106. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.
Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better79
Pos.201979
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
56Sri Lanka7.00
57=Costa Rica7.10
57=Russia7.10
59Albania7.20
60=Lebanon7.40
60=Ukraine7.40
62Brunei7.60
63Kazakhstan7.70
Europe Avg4.86
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better
80
Pos.2023
%80
1Slovakia24.1%81
2Slovenia24.3%81
3Belarus24.4%82
...
26=Hungary29.2%81
26=Kazakhstan29.2%81
28Maldives29.3%83
29Albania29.4%82
30Iraq29.5%84
31=Pakistan29.6%85
31=Guinea29.6%85
33Sweden29.8%81
Europe Avg30.7%
World Avg36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.
Multidimensional Poverty
Lower is better
86
Pos.2018
Severity86
1Armenia.001
2Ukraine.001
3Serbia.001
...
7Montenegro.002
8Trinidad & Tobago.002
9Maldives.003
10Albania.003
11Thailand.003
12Moldova.004
13Palestine.004
14Tunisia.005
Europe Avg.004
World Avg.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)63
Pos.Lower is better
%63
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
13=Belgium11
14Austria12
15Hungary14
16Albania15
17=Lithuania16
17=S. Korea16
17=Russia16
20=Australia18
20=Vietnam18
22=Bulgaria19
22=Norway19
24Netherlands20
25=Italy21
25=Belarus21
27=Ireland22
27=Kazakhstan22
World Avg54.3
q=106.
Disbelief In God (2007)87
Pos.Higher is better
%87
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
...
40=Uruguay12
41USA10
42Trinidad & Tobago9
43Albania8
44=Dominican Rep.7
44=Croatia7
44=Kyrgyzstan7
44=Cambodia7
48=Moldova6
48=Italy6
50=Laos5
50=Ireland5
50=Mozambique5
53=Zimbabwe4
53=Namibia4
53=Iran4
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:88:

20102020
Muslim70.2%74.5%
Christian20.3%17.8%
Unaffiliated9.54%7.65%
Other<0.1%<0.1%
Jewish<0.1%<0.1%
HinduNone<0.1%
BuddhistNone<0.1%

By adding up the Pew Forum data for the major monotheistic religions we can see that these make up 92.3% of the population. Yet there are simply too many who disbelieve in God for this to be true (8%). This is due to the so-called 'Census Effect', whereby many put down a religion for cultural reasons rather than because it reflects their beliefs. In highly Christian countries, as many as half of those who say they're a Christian lack any connection to a Church, and do not hold Christian beliefs (such as believing in God!).

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 92.3% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 15% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%. Note: percentages are estimates; there are no available current statistics on religious affiliation; all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice89.

Links: