Albania Quik Facts

Albania is a southern European country which shares borders with Greece, Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia. It has coasts on the Adriatic Sea and on the Ionian Sea.

In 1912 Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire but was conquered by Italy in 1939. Communist partisans took over the country in 1944 and Albania allied itself with the USSR until 1960 and then with China until 1978.

Albania Fast Facts

1. Full name: The Republic of Albania
2. Capital: Tirana
3. Government: Parlimentary democracy
4. Population: 3,619,778 (2008 est.)1
5. Currency: Albanian Lek
6. Major religions: Islam, Christianity
7. Monetary unit: 1 lek = 100 qindars2
8. Life expectancy: 73 years (men), 80 years (women) (UN)3
9. Main exports: Chromium and chrome products, processed foodstuffs
10. International dialing code: + 355
11. Official language: Albanian
12. GNI per capita: US $3,290 (World bank, 2007)

Algeria Quik Facts

Algeria is the second largest country in Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea and part of the Sahara Desert as well as Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, and Morocco. It became independent of France on July 5, 1962.

Algeria Fast Facts
1. Capital: Algiers
2. Government: Presidential Republic
3. Population: 33,333,216 (July 2007 est.)
4. Currency: Algerian Dinar (DZD)
5. Exchange rate: 67.400
6. Official language: Arabic
7. Independence: July 5, 1962
8. Country code: +213
9. Time zone: CET (UTC+1)
10. Climate: Warm desert climate

Afghanistan Quik Facts

Afghanistan is a landlocked country bordered by Pakistan in the south and east, Iran in the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north and China in the far northeast.

Afghanistan Fast Facts

1. Capital: Kabul
2. Government: Islamic Republic
3. Population: 31,889,923 (July 2007)
4. Currency: Afghani (AFN)
5. Inflation rate: 16.3%
6. Official languages:Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Pashto 35%
7. UN survey shows Afghan civilian deaths rose 40% in 2008

Afghanistan Top 5

• Official Site: Afghanistan
• Wikipedia: Afghanistan
• CIA World Factbook: Afghanistan
• BBC Country Profile: Afghanistan
• U.S. Department of State: Afghanistan
  

YouTube Video: Vacationing in Afghanistan (Time: 9:42)