(July 1991), growth rate 1.8% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 24 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 50 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 79 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 2.9 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Albanian(s); adjective--Albanian

_#_Ethnic divisions: Albanian 90%, Greeks 8%, other 2% (Vlachs,
Gypsies, Serbs, and Bulgarians) (1989 est.)

_#_Religion: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and
religious observances prohibited; in November 1990 Albania began
allowing private religious practice and was considering the repeal
of the constitutional amendment banning religious activities;
estimates of religious affiliation--Muslim 70%, Greek Orthodox 20%,
Roman Catholic 10%

_#_Language: Albanian (Tosk is official dialect), Greek

_#_Literacy: 72% (male 80%, female 63%) age 9 and over can
read and write (1955)

_#_Labor force: 1,500,000 (1987); agriculture about 60%, industry
and commerce 40% (1986)

_#_Organized labor: Central Council of Albanian Trade Unions, 610,000
members

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Republic of Albania

_#_Type: nascent democracy with strong Communist party influence;
basic law has dropped all references to socialism

_#_Capital: Tirane

_#_Administrative divisions: 26 districts (rrethe, singular--rreth);
Berat, Dibre, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Gramsh,
Kolonje, Korce, Kruje, Kukes, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje,
Mat, Mirdite, Permet, Pogradec, Puke, Sarande, Shkoder,
Skrapar, Tepelene, Tirane, Tropoje, Vlore

_#_Independence: 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire);
People's Socialist Republic of Albania declared 11 January 1946

_#_Constitution: an interim basic law was approved by the People's
Assembly on 29 April 1991; a new constitution is to be drafted for
adoption in four to six months

_#_Legal system: has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

_#_National holiday: Liberation Day, 29 November (1944)

_#_Executive branch: president, prime minister of the Council of
Ministers, one deputy prime minister of the Council of Ministers

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly (Kuvendi
Popullor)

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State--President of the Republic Ram