FACTS

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece in the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north

Area (only Total) total: 28,748 sq km

Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter

Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast

Population: 3,619,778

Main Language (only first): Albanian

Government type: emerging democracy

Capital (Name): Tirana (Tirane)

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+1

Independence: 28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)

National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November

HOLIDAYS

January 1 New Year's Day

February 3 Carnival

March 20 Maundy Thursday

March 21 Good Friday

March 23 Easter Day

March 24 Easter Monday

April 18 Prayer Day

May 1 Labour Day / Ascension Day

May 11 Whit Sunday

May 12 Whit Monday

Jun 5 Constitution Day

December 24 Christmas Eve

December 25 Christmas Day

December 31 New Year's Eve

Weekend Saturday, Sunday