Albania
What exactly constitutes the spatial extent of the city? For these aggregations, we used the Global Human Settlement Layer Urban Center Database (GHS-UCDB) to define the boundaries of the city. These cities -- or urban centers -- cover areas that are densely populated and built-up, and so may extend beyond the spatial borders of these cities that we may be familiar with. The GHS area is shaded in blue.
View Albania on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Albania as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 5.24, which is highly disconnected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 5.2, 5.07, 5.77 and 6.13. The disconnectivity of new streets constructed in Albania fell, then rose. In 1976-1990, new street layouts were the most connected.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Albania spans a total of 19547 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 1976-1990. These roads have an SNDi of 5.07, which is highly disconnected.
Effect on the aggregate network: New construction in each period adds to the total stock of streets, but does not change streets that have already been built. Therefore, it has a limited effect on the street network as a whole. The SNDis of the aggregate street network in the respective time periods are 5.2, 5.11, 5.18 and 5.24. The SNDi of the aggregate street network in fell at first, but Albania has worsened in disconnectivity since 1990.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Albania was at its lowest in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Albania, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Tiranë, Durrës and Elbasan. Out of the three regions, Durrës and Elbasan do not follow the same trend as the country. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Durrës followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Elbasan followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.
How do development practices in Albania fare in comparison to others in the world? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Albania was the 28th-most disconnected out of the 155 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other countries in the world, street construction in Albania has become more connected. Albania ranked 10th in 1975, 23rd in 1976-1990, 28th in 1991-2000 and 28th in 2001-2014.
The largest city in Albania is Tirana, with a population of 719300 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Tirana as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 5.13, which is highly disconnected. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Tirana rose steadily.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Albania is Vlora with an SNDi of 5.71, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Fier with an SNDi of 2.48, which is in the 40th to 60th percentile of disconnectedness. See trends for these cities: Fier, Vlora
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Albania was at its lowest in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Albania, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Tiranë, Durrës and Elbasan. Out of the three regions, Durrës and Elbasan do not follow the same trend as the country. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Durrës rose steadily. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Elbasan followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.
To date, Albania is the 17th-most disconnected out of the 155 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other countries in the world, the street network in Albania has become more connected. Albania ranked 10th in 1975, 15th in 1976-1990, 16th in 1991-2000 and 17th in 2001-2014.
The largest city in Albania is Tirana, with a population of 719300 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Tirana as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 5.13, which is highly disconnected. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Tirana rose steadily.