Albania

   ALBANIA

A. THE COUNTRY

The Republic of Albania is a mountainous state in southeastern Europe,
with coast on the Adriatic Sea to the west, and on the Ionian Sea to the
southwest.  Since the Communist regime crumbled in 1991, multiparty
elections have generally been peaceful.  Free-market reforms have opened
the country to foreign investment, especially in the development of
energy and transportation infrastructure.  Even with marked improvement,
Albania remains one of Europe’s two poorest nations.  High emigration
rates and corruption hamper further growth.

B. THE PEOPLE

The population is ~3,170,000 and the official language Albanian.  
~91.2% are Albanians, ~9.8% Other (Greek, Romani, Serb, Macedonian).
There are many indigenous Albanians living in other European states and
in the eastern U.S.A.

C. RELIGIONS AND CHRISTIANITY/PENTECOSTALISM

Albanians enjoy religious freedom.  Moderate Sunni and the Bektashi Sufi
sect are the largest Islamic groups, but normally, the people are little
more than affiliated to an inherited culture.
~62.4% are Muslim, ~30.47% claim to be Christian, ~6.98% Non-religious,
~0.14% Baha’i, ~0.01% Jewish.
In the Christian category:
~17% are Orthodox, ~13.12% Catholic, ~0.41% Independent, ~0.31%
Protestant.
Evangelicals represent ~0.5% of the population.
Charismatics represent ~0.4% and of those ~0.2% are Pentecostals.
Groups considered ‘marginal’ that originated in Western society
represent ~0.42% of the population.