Climate of Albania

Albania is one of the most climatically diverse countries in the world relative to its size. Despite covering just 28,748 square kilometers, it encompasses 9 Köppen climate types, including varieties of Mediterranean, Subtropical, Oceanic, Continental, Subarctic, and Alpine tundra climates. This exceptional variation is the result of Albania’s complex terrain, latitudinal placement in the mid-latitudes of southeastern Europe, proximity to the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, and the presence of major mountain systems and inland freshwater bodies. The country’s topographic relief is among the steepest in Europe, with elevation rising from sea level to over 2000 meters in less than 50 kilometers in many areas. These factors create extreme climatic variability, making Albania a microcosm of the wider European and even Eurasian climate system.