30 Interesting Facts About Albania

Read 30 Interesting Facts About Albania

1. In the evenings, the locals like to walk known as xhiro, it’s an official evening walk where every resident comes out to stretch their legs and catch up with their neighbours.
2. When an Albanian is agreeing with you, he or she will shake their head, and when they are disagreeing with you they will nod.
3. The majority of Albanians are Muslim about 70%. A 2011 census shows that about 60% of Muslims are practicing Sunni and Bektashi Shia. About 17% are Christian and another 17% are either undeclared or atheist.
4. You’re likely to notice a large number of scarecrows in odd places.
5. When the communist era ended in 1991, there were roughly three million people in the country but only 3000 cars.
6. Albanians have a reputation for being some of the worst drivers on the planet. 
7. The heroine of Albania is Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu was born in Skopje, which is now a part of Macedonia. She is also known as Mother Teresa; the only Albanian to win a Nobel prize.
8. In 1995 a law was passed requiring citizens to pay taxes on traffic-lights in their home towns.
9. Shkodra is one of the oldest cities in Europe and the fifth-largest in Albania. Also, the Rozafa Fortress in Shkodra offers incredible views over the lake.
10. The Albanian government declared independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912.
11. Tirana, the capital of Albania is without a McDonalds. 
12. Kolonat, an Albania fast-food chain serves American style hamburger that has a logo suspiciously similar to McDonald’s.
13. Currently, there are more Albanians living outside the country than living inside it.
14. Albania has over 750,000 bunkers spread out across the land. They were all built during the dictatorship of Enver Hoxha in order to protect the country from an invasion.
15. Raki is the national drink, but be warned! Raki made out in the villages is equal to about three normal drinks.
16. The traditional dress of Albania uses wool, cotton, and silk, with embroidered patterns and symbols like the silver and gold Albanian eagle.
17. 70% of Albania has mountainous terrain.
18. Albania’s highest peak is Maje a Korabit and it lies on the border.
19. Edi Rama, a politician and a painter is responsible for the green look of the capital Tirana.
20. The national song of Albania is ‘Himni I Flamurit’
21. Albania is a member of NATO, but it is not a member of the EU.
22. Education is free in Albania to children of primary and secondary school age. 
23. An Albanian village called Lazarat is referred to as the ‘cannabis capital of the country’. This is where the largest amount of cannabis exported to the rest of Europe is produced.
24. Speedboats are banned in Albania. This is due to attempts to reduce human trafficking over to Italy and Greece. 
25. Between the years of 1941 & 1992, religion was banned in Albania, whilst it was under communist rule. This made Albania the first atheist country on the planet. 
26. Albania is home to 91 endangered species of wildlife, including the Dalmatian Pelican.
27. Copper, coal, and nickel are also produced in large amounts in Albania. 
28. Albania had the sixth highest literacy level in the world in 2011. 
29. Albania is also considered one of the world’s most corrupt countries.
30. Albania is one of the few countries in the world to have never won an Olympic medal.