Albania is a country.
Albania ( [ ælˈbeɪniə , _ ɔːl - ] , ; Shqipëri / Shqipëria Shqipni/Shqipnia or Shqypni/Shqypnia ) , officially the Republic of Albania ( Republika e Shqipërisë , [ ɾɛpuˈblika ɛ ʃcipəˈɾiːsə ] ) , is a country in Southeastern Europe . Albania is a democratic and developing country with an upper-middle income economy . A developing country , also called a less developed country or an underdeveloped country , is a nation or a sovereign state with a less developed industrial base and a low Human Development Index ( HDI ) relative to other countries . A republic ( [ res publica , links = yes ] ) is a form of government in which the country is considered a `` public matter '' -- not the private concern or property of the rulers -- and where offices of state are elected or appointed , rather than inherited .