Albania - profession
After 1990, the private retail trade with the introduction of market economy
has had a significant recovery, through the sale of imported consumer goods
- as opposed to the state takeover of retail and handicrafts by the 1960's and
1970's.

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population pyramid and resident density about this country.
Industry
Albania has a worn and technologically obsolete production apparatus, built
up by Soviet aid until 1960 and by Chinese from 1960-78. Before 1990, the
industry was concentrated on the production of food and machinery. In addition,
the country had a number of chemical industries that included fertilizers and
the production of PVC, based on the country's own oil resources and refined at
one of the country's four refineries. The processing industry is located in the
triangle Shkodra-Elbasan-Vlora. Many heavy industries were originally founded
based on the desire for self-centered economic development strategy based on a
separate processing of the country's many rich ore deposits. Since 1990, there
has been a marked shift in development economics through adaptation to the world
market and international division of labor.
Mining
The country is the world's third largest producer of chromium. Copper ore is
mined in northern Albania, and all production is exported. Iron ore is mined
especially in eastern Albania. In addition, nickel ore, bauxite, salt and gypsum
are mined. Oil production at Fier and Kuçova (formerly Qyteti in Stalinite)
declined from 1976, and lignite became increasingly important for energy supply
in the 1980's. With concessions to foreign companies, oil exploration in the
Adriatic and Ionian Seas has intensified since 1991.
Agriculture and fisheries
Agriculture is concentrated on the river plains east of the Adriatic coast
and consists of family farms of 2-3 ha with limited use of machinery. It is of
great importance to the country, and approximately half of the employed are employed
in the sector. In the past, self-sufficiency in agricultural products was one of
the country's economic goals, and it was realized for a short period around
1980. The main crops are wheat and maize. In addition, rice, sugar beet,
vegetables, olives, wine and citrus fruits as well as tobacco and cotton. Before
privatization began in 1991, Albania's agriculture was run as cooperatives and
state farms. Many were planted on reclaimed land as a result of terracing and
drainage of swamps, which greatly increased the total agricultural area. Only
weights below 1/2ha was during that period allowed for
the cooperative farmer's private family consumption. When livestock farming from
1981 was collectivized, it led to great resistance and mass slaughter in
protest. From 1989, it was again allowed to keep livestock that could secure
milk and meat for their own consumption. In 1991-92, the cooperatives were
closed down and private property rights were introduced, partly on the basis of
historical property claims. The privatization of state farms, begun in 1992, was
accompanied by the closure of the state machine stations.
Sea fishing is growing, but limited due to a previous ban on private small
boats.
Albania - population
Before 1990, Albania had Europe's largest annual population growth (2.1
percent in 1979-1989); the population doubled from 1960 to 1990. The population
has increased in all parts of the country, but especially in the coastal
areas. Two-thirds of the population lived in rural areas before 1990. The very
closed planned economy 1944-1990 limited the right to free settlement in an
attempt to even out the economic and social differences between coastal and
mountain areas as well as between country and city. Since 1990, Albania's
population development has changed radically with strong migration from country
to city and from north to Tirana and Dürres in central Albania, as well as
extensive labor migration abroad. Despite continued population growth, the
average age due to emigration has increased to 31.7 years in 2004. According to AllCityPopulation.com,
Albania's population remains a young population in Europe. In just 15 years, the
urban population increased from 35 percent in 1989 to 45 percent in 2004. While
before 1990, efforts were made to reduce regional disparities, they have
increased since 1990; for example, the cities in the western and southern part
of the country have the easiest access to health care and education. Lack of
geographical mobility previously meant little social movement and few socially
mixed marriages. The country is nationally and ethnically very
homogeneous; officially only 2 percent of the population is of non-Albanian
nationality. Northeast of Albania lives about 2 million. Albanians in Kosovo,
and half a million live in Macedonia east of Albania.

For the Greek minority, there is the possibility of teaching in the mother
tongue, as well as access to radio and newspaper. A large part of the then
approximately 60,000 Greeks have since emigrated. Other national minorities include
Macedonians and Montenegrins (about 10,000) as well as ethnic groups such
as Roma and Aromanians (traditionally semi-nomadic livestock farmers).
Refugees. From 1990 there were several refugee flows particularly
boat people to Italy, and about 1/2 million, especially
men, are working abroad, especially in the Greek labor market. This is in stark
contrast to the time before 1990, when the country was one of the most closed in
the world. Emigration or labor migration was prevented, and entry and exit were
reduced to an absolute minimum - just like all other communication and
trade. The up to 1/2 million refugees during the Kosovo
war in 1998 sought to Albania, quickly returned to Kosovo in the summer of 1999.
Albania's port cities, especially Vlora to the south, has served as a collection
base for organized human trafficking of poverty refugees from the Middle East
and South Asia to Italy.
The women made up approximately half of the working population in
1990; their share has increased markedly since the introduction of formal
equality and pay in 1944. However, the introduction of market economy hasand the
economic collapse in its wake created widespread unemployment, which has also
affected women, who to a lesser extent than men have sought work abroad. The
workload of women in the household remains high, although most residential
properties have had water installed, and electric household appliances such as
refrigerators, washing machines and stoves have really gained ground since 1990.
Until 1990, the working woman in industry and agriculture was maintained as an
ideal, but with the upheaval also followed a showdown with this, concretely
implemented, for example, in holding beauty pageants, but also increasing wife
violence. Contraception and family planninghas replaced the honor of many
births. While marriage has not been further affected since 1990 - apart from a
slightly higher average age for entering into marriage - there has been a marked
increase in the number of divorces between 2000 and 2005.
Albania - language
The official language is Albanian with the main dialects
being Greek and Tuscan. Greek is spoken north of the river Shkumbin in the
Middle Ages, and Tuscan is spoken south of it. The written language norm,
adopted in 1972, is based on Tuscan, but contains Greek features. It is also
used by Albanian speakers outside Albania.
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