Culture, Economy & Flag of Albania

Albania is made up of mainly the native people which form 95% of the population. The remaining 5% consists of 3% of Greek population and 2% of the Vlach, Gypsy, Serb, and the Bulgarian population. While 70% of the people are Muslim, 20% are Albanian Orthodox and the remaining 10% Roman Catholic.

Till many years, Albanian culture remained without any identity as the language itself was not taught in schools. But later Albania began to get influenced by China and Russia and today, the country can boast of its traditional dances, festivals, handicrafts and customs. Big museums, libraries and theatres also form part of Albania's educative entertainment section.

The flag of Albania is red in colour with a black two-headed eagle in the center. Gules, the double-headed eagle sable can be traced to George Castriota, an Albanian Christian who became a Turkish general in the 15th century under the name of Iskander Bey, or Skanderbeg. He later returned to the Christian faith and led the fight of the

Albanians against the Turks in the 1440's. He used the Byzantine two-headed eagle on his seals, which now reflect on the modern flag.
Please click here to view the Flag of Albania

Albania ranks very low when it is subjected to an economy comparison with other countries of Europe. In the late 1980s, Albania's entire manufacturing sector and all arable land were still part of a system of collective economy. In 1992, the government introduced a programme on economic reform (with the emphasis on privatizing economic sectors). The economy rebounded in 1993-95 after a severe depression in 1990 and 1991. The new government, installed in July 1997, has taken strong measures to restore public order and to revive economic activity and trade. The government has been actively involved in spurring economic activity and trade. In 1998, Albania recovered the 8% drop in gross domestic product growth of 1997 and pushed ahead by 7% in 1999, experiencing a further 7.8% growth in 2000. The government now plans to boost energy imports too and improve the poor national road network, a long-standing barrier to sustained economic growth.

Albania is rich in deposits of high-grade chromium ores. The country has a mineral inventory dominated by crude oil, copper ore, nickel ore, iron ore, coal, phosphates and natural gas.