Albania ( /lbeni, l-/, a(w)l-BAY-nee-; Albanian: Shqipri/Shqipria; Gheg Albanian: Shqipni

or Shqipnia, Shqypni or Shqypnia[6]), officially the Republic of Albania (Albanian: Republika e

Shqipris, pronounced [publika cipis]), is a sovereign state in Southeastern Europe. It has
a population of 3.03 million as of 2016. Tirana is the nation's capital and largest city, followed
by Durrs and Vlor. Albania is located in the south-western part of the Balkan peninsula, bordered
by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo[a] to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east,
and Greece to the south and southeast. The country has a coastline on the northern shore of
the Mediterranean Sea, the Adriatic Sea to the west and the Ionian Sea to the southwest where
the Albanian Riviera begins. Albania is less than 72 km (45 mi) from Italy, across the Strait of
Otranto which connects the Adriatic Sea to the Ionian Sea.

Dating back to antiquity, the modern area of Albania was inhabited by several Illyrian
tribes: Ardiaei, Albanoi, Amantini and Taulantii. After the Illyrian Wars, it became part of the Roman
provinces of Dalmatia, Macedonia and Moesia Superior. In 1190, the first Albanian state,
the Principality of Arbr was established by archon Progon in the region of Kruj, which became the
capital. After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in Europe, following the Balkan Wars,
[7]
Albania declared its independence in 1912 and was recognized the following year. The Kingdom of
Albania was invaded by Italy in 1939, which formed Greater Albania, before becoming a Nazi
German protectorate in 1943.[8] The following year, a socialist People's Republic was established
under the leadership of Enver Hoxha and the Party of Labour. Albania experienced widespread
social and political transformations in the communist era, as well as isolation from much of the
international community. In 1991, the Socialist Republic was dissolved and the Republic of Albania
was established.

Albania is a democratic and developing country with an upper-middle income economy. The service
sector dominates the country's economy, followed by the industrial and agriculture sector.[9] After
the fall of communism in Albania, Free-market reforms have opened the country to foreign
investment, especially in the development of energy and transportation infrastructure. [10][11][12] Albania
has a high HDI and provides universal health care system and free primary and secondary
education to its citizens.[5]

Albania is a member of the United Nations, NATO, WTO, World Bank, the Council of Europe,
the OSCE, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. It is also an official candidate for membership in
the European Union.[13] Albania is one of the founding members of the Energy
Community, Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and the Union for the
Mediterranean. It is home to the largest lake in Southern Europe and one of the oldest
lakes in Europe.