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Demographics of Albania

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Demographics of Albania
Population2,402,113 (2023 census)[1]
Growth rate0.22%
Birth rate9.7 births/1,000 population (2021)
Death rate10.9 deaths/1,000 population (2021 )
Fertility rate1.32 children born/woman (2021 est.)[2]
Infant mortality rate10.82 deaths/1,000 live births
Net migration rate-3.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Age structure
0–14 years17.6%
65 and over13.03%
Sex ratio
Total0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
At birth1.07 male(s)/female
Under 151.1 male(s)/female
65 and over0.66 male(s)/female
Nationality
NationalityAlbanian
Major ethnicAlbanian (91.0%)
Minor ethnicGreek (0.98%)
Language
OfficialAlbanian

Demographic features of the population of Albania include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects. The demography of Albania is monitored by the Institute of Statistics of Albania. The institute has performed demographic censuses since the 1920s.[3] The latest census in Albania was performed in September 2023.[1]

Albania is a fairly ethnically and linguistically homogeneous country, with ethnic Albanians forming 91% of the total population in the country. The total population residing in Albania in September 2023 was 2,402,113 according to the most recent INSTAT census.

The first official population statistic for Albania was the 1923 census, when the country had a total of 823,000 inhabitants. Previous censuses were carried out by the Ottoman Empire, which are not yet available. A shift in administrative borders in 1913 make comparison of various periods more complicated. Maddison from 2001, estimates that in Albania about 200,000 people lived up to the year 1600, and that the population grew to 300,000 by 1700, implying an annual average growth rate of 0.4% in that period. However, population growth accelerated from the declaration of independence in 1912 to 1944 to 0.7% per year. This was due in part because Albania had the largest birth rate and the smallest death rate in Europe at the time.[4] After the second World War, population increase policies pursued by the communist government and a large life expectancy fuelled a 2.5% annual increase for the following 45 years. The growth strained economic resources during communism in a Malthusian fashion that led to the collapse of the regime and the emigration of about 20 to 25 percent of the population in the following two decades. Albania experienced a demographic transition starting from 1960s, when crude birth rates began a slow decline, despite a government policy that called for a population increase. After the 1990s, the population showed an average decline of about 0.3% per year, caused by emigration. In the 2001 Census, the population declined to 3,023,000 from almost 3,300,000 million in 1990.

The permanent population of Albania at the 2023 census had decreased of 420,000 people compared to the 2011 census. The population density in 2023 was 84 inhabitants per square kilometre. The overall life expectancy in Albania at birth was 78 years in 2011.[5] In 2011, for the first time in the history of population censuses in Albania, the population in urban areas (53.7%) was larger than the population of rural areas (46.3%).[6] The Albanian language is the official language, but minority languages are officially used in some local government units. Albanian is declared as the native language by 98.76% of the population. The Albanian people are considered one of the most polyglot people in Europe.[7] They generally speak more than two languages, which are mainly French, Greek, Italian, and English, which are increasing due to migration return, and new Greek and Italian communities in the country. The main religions of Albania are Islam (50.67%), Christianity (16%) of which Roman Catholicism (8.38%), Eastern Orthodoxy (7.22%) and Evangelicism (0.4%), other religions (0.15%), Believers without denomination (13.83%) and Atheists (3.55%) according to the 2023 census. There were also those who preferred not to answer (10.17%),

The main ethnic groups in Albania are Albanians (91%), Greeks (1%), Egyptians (0.5%), Romani people (0.4%), Bulgarians (0.3%), as well as Bosniaks, Aromanians, Macedonians, Serbs and Montenegrins.

Albania has a high Human Development Index of 0.764, ranking 75th in the world in 2016.[8] In 2016, Albania had a total population of 2,786,026, 1,361,326 being males and 1,424,700 females. 42,922 inhabitants have left Albania and in the same year the number of immigrants in the country was 25,846.[9]

Albanian demographics are difficult to ascertain and verify due to political corruption at the local and central level as noted by the Council of Europe.[10]

Population

[edit]
2020 Albanian population pyramid

With an estimated population of 2.40 million in 2023, Albania ranks 143rd in the world by population. The population density is 101 inhabitants per square kilometre.[11] The overall life expectancy in Albania at birth is 78 years.[12] The total fertility rate of 1.70 children per mother is one of the lowest in the world. In 2016, the population of Albania was about 2.89 million, comprising 1,447 million male and 1,443 female persons.[13] There were 38,003 live births and 20,737 deaths in Albania. The natural increase of the population was positive, as the number of births exceeded the number of deaths by 17,266. Due to external migration and low birth rate, the population declined by 18,307. The total dependency ratio of population in Albania is 46.8%.

In 2001, the number of households amounted to 726,895.[14] The age structure was under 6 years by 10.8% and 65 years and older by 7.5%. However, the sex ratio amounted to 49.9% males and 50.1% females of the total population. Furthermore, 2,737,614 of the population was older than 6 years. In 2011, the total population was 2,831,741.[15] The comparison of the figures shows that the population has decreased by 7.7% in about ten years. Large scale emigration and fertility decline are supposed to be the main causes of the observed population decrease. A preliminary estimate of the number of persons that refused to participate in the census is 29,355 (1.04%). This figure is based on the number of dwellings for which a refusal was recorded and is included in the total population. The total population is composed of 1,421,810 males (50.2%) and 1,409,931 females (49.8%). For the first time in the history of population censuses in the nation, the population in urban areas is larger than the population of rural areas. According to 2011 census preliminary results, 53.7 percent of the population lives in urban areas and 46.3 percent in rural areas.

The 2011 census is regarded as unreliable and inaccurate by the Council of Europe, showing incompatibility with the protection of national minorities.[16] Also, the World Council of Churches sent letters to the United Nations Human Rights Council regarding the matter, having conducted their own questionnaire which showed major irregularities.[17] It was the first census to include ethnicity, was struck by controversy since according to article 20 of the Census law, there is a $1,000 fine for anyone who declares anything other than what was written down on the individual's birth certificate.[18] Some of the minorities, mainly the Greeks, boycotted the census.[19] The religious affiliation of the population was 56.7% Muslims, 13.79% undeclared, 10.03% Catholics, 6.75% Orthodox believers, 5.49% other, 2.5% Atheists, 2.09% Bektashis and 0.14% other Christians.[20]

Albanians

According to the Institute of Statistics INSTAT, the population in 2016 was 2,886,026. Tirana County is the area with the highest population of 811,649 in the country. Fier County remains the population with the second highest population with a total of 312,488. The Counties with the lowest result are Gjirokastër, Kukës and Dibër respectively with 70,331, 84,035 and 134,153 inhabitants.[21] About 53.4% of Albania's population live in cities. The three largest counties account for half of the population.

View of Durrës

Almost 53.4% of the population of Albania living in cities. According to the Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), the three largest counties account for half of the population. Over 1 million people live in Tirana and Durrës, making it the largest urban area in Albania.[22] The area of the capital Tirana, is one of largest cities in the Balkan Peninsula and ranks 7th with a population about 800,000.[23] The second largest is the port city of Durrës, with a population of 201.110, followed by Vlorë, the largest city in southern Albania, with 141.513 inhabitants. The Institute of Statistics forecast that the population may even increase by less than a fifth from 763.560 by 2011 to 909.252 by 2031, depending on the actual birth rate and the level of net migration.[24]

Population censuses in 1923–2023

[edit]
Date Total
population[25][26] 		Change (%) Males Females Population
density 		Urban
population
1923 803,959
1930 1,003,097
1940 1,084,159 +8.1
1945 1,122,044 +3.5% 570,361 551,683 39
1950 1,218,943 +8.6% 625,935 593,008 42 20.5%
1955 1,391,499 +14.1% 713,316 678,183 48 27.5%
1960 1,626,315 +16.9% 835,294 791,021 57 30.9%
1969 2,068,200 +27.2% 72 31.5%
1979 2,590,600 +25.3% 1,337,400 1,253,200 90 33.5%
1989 3,182,417 +22.9% 1,638,100 1,544,300 111 35.5%
2001 3,069,275 -3.6% 1,530,443 1,538,832 107 42.1%
2011 2,831,741 -7.7% 1,421,810 1,409,931 99 53.7%
2023 2,402,113 -14.8% 1,190,448 1,211,665 84

Population by Qark/County

[edit]
Historical population by Qark/County in Albania (INSTAT)[27][28]
Qark/County Population Change (1989-2018)
1989 2001 2018 Number %
Berat 222,901 193,020 127,431 −95,470 −43%
Dibër 226,324 189,854 120,978 −105,346 −47%
Durrës 218,530 245,179 289,628 +71,098 +33%
Elbasan 357,497 362,736 278,547 −78,950 −22%
Fier 379,342 382,544 298,144 −81,198 −21%
Gjirokastër 155,998 112,831 62,952 −93,046 −60%
Korçë 311,448 265,182 210,178 −101,270 −33%
Kukës 146,081 111,393 77,394 −68,687 −47%
Lezhë 165,254 159,182 126,800 −38,464 −23%
Shkodër 285,258 256,473 204,994 −80,264 −28%
Tiranë 449,228 597,899 883,996 +434,768 +97%
Vlorë 264,556 192,982 189,282 −75,274 −28%

Total fertility rate by counties

[edit]
2018 data[29]
County TFR
Albania 1.37
Berat 1.42
Dibër 2.14
Durrës 1.44
Elbasan 1.60
Fier 1.31
Gjirokastër 1.30
Korçë 1.10
Kukës 2.10
Lezhë 1.63
Shkodër 1.32
Tiranë 1.29
Vlorë 1.00

Vital statistics

[edit]

Before WWII

[edit]

After WWII

[edit]

[30][31][32][33]

Source: Institute of Statistics (INSTAT)[34]

Average population Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Natural change (per 1000) Total fertility rate Female fertile population (15–49 years)
1950 1,215,200 47,291 17,215 30,076 38.9 14.2 24.7 6.07 259,472
1951 1,242,000 47,813 18,862 28,951 38.5 15.2 23.3 6.01 266,954
1952 1,270,000 44,727 19,826 24,901 35.2 15.6 19.6 5.47 274,437
1953 1,302,000 53,273 17,822 35,451 40.9 13.7 27.2 6.34 281,919
1954 1,340,000 54,635 17,560 37,075 40.8 13.1 27.7 6.33 289,402
1955 1,379,000 61,300 20,750 40,550 44.5 15.0 29.4 6.93 296,885
1956 1,421,000 59,565 16,370 43,195 41.9 11.5 30.4 6.46 304,367
1957 1,462,000 57,241 17,241 40,000 39.2 11.8 27.4 6.06 311,850
1958 1,507,000 63,007 14,059 48,948 41.8 9.3 32.5 6.51 319,332
1959 1,556,000 65,213 15,305 49,908 41.9 9.8 32.1 6.59 326,815
1960 1,608,800 69,686 16,775 52,911 43.3 10.4 32.9 6.85 334,297
1961 1,659,800 68,452 15,445 53,007 41.2 9.3 31.9 6.57 344,907
1962 1,711,319 67,209 18,363 48,846 39.3 10.7 28.5 6.27 355,516
1963 1,762,621 68,967 17,646 51,321 39.1 10.0 29.1 6.26 366,125
1964 1,814,135 68,599 15,811 52,788 37.8 8.7 29.1 6.06 376,734
1965 1,864,791 65,692 16,731 48,961 35.2 9.0 26.3 5.65 387,343
1966 1,914,573 65,127 16,469 48,658 34.0 8.6 25.4 5.32 397,952
1967 1,965,598 69,261 16,565 52,696 35.2 8.4 26.8 5.53 408,561
1968 2,022,272 71,869 16,214 55,655 35.5 8.0 27.5 5.60 419,170
1969 2,081,695 73,458 15,624 57,834 35.3 7.5 27.8 5.60 429,779
1970 2,135,479 69,507 19,774 49,733 32.5 9.3 23.3 5.16 440,388
1971 2,187,853 72,784 17,768 55,016 33.3 8.1 25.1 5.20 459,327
1972 2,243,126 73,607 17,616 55,991 32.8 7.9 25.0 5.06 478,267
1973 2,296,752 69,754 18,032 51,722 30.4 7.9 22.5 4.62 497,206
1974 2,350,124 71,862 17,726 54,136 30.6 7.5 23.0 4.59 516,145
1975 2,404,831 70,688 17,399 53,289 29.4 7.2 22.2 4.23 535,084
1976 2,458,526 70,510 17,029 53,481 28.7 6.9 21.8 4.08 554,024
1977 2,513,546 73,439 16,638 56,801 29.2 6.6 22.6 4.12 572,963
1978 2,566,266 70,594 16,219 54,375 27.5 6.3 21.2 3.84 591,902
1979 2,617,832 72,055 17,421 54,634 27.5 6.7 20.9 3.80 610,841
1980 2,671,997 70,680 16,981 53,699 26.5 6.4 20.1 3.62 629,780
1981 2,726,056 72,180 18,001 54,179 26.5 6.6 19.9 3.63 642,352
1982 2,784,278 77,232 16,521 60,711 27.7 5.9 21.8 3.80 655,703
1983 2,843,960 73,762 17,416 56,346 25.9 6.1 19.8 3.24 692,188
1984 2,904,429 79,177 16,618 62,559 27.3 5.7 21.5 3.41 706,499
1985 2,964,762 77,535 17,179 60,356 26.2 5.8 20.4 3.26 721,315
1986 3,022,635 76,435 17,369 59,066 25.3 5.7 19.5 3.11 735,739
1987 3,083,605 79,696 17,119 62,577 25.8 5.6 20.3 3.16 751,181
1988 3,142,336 80,241 17,027 63,214 25.5 5.4 20.1 3.03 774,599
1989 3,211,964 78,852 18,168 60,684 24.5 5.7 18.9 2.96 770,154
1990 3,266,790 82,125 18,193 63,932 25.1 5.6 19.6 3.03 800,572
1991 3,247,039 77,361 17,743 59,618 23.8 5.5 18.4 2.90 799,394
1992 3,227,287 75,425 18,026 57,399 23.4 5.6 17.8 2.86 798,216
1993 3,207,536 67,730 17,920 49,810 21.1 5.6 15.5 2.61 797,041
1994 3,187,784 72,179 18,342 53,837 22.6 5.8 16.9 2.82 795,863
1995 3,168,033 72,081 18,060 54,021 22.8 5.7 17.1 2.87 794,685
1996 3,148,281 68,358 17,600 50,758 21.7 5.6 16.1 2.77 793,510
1997 3,128,530 61,739 18,237 43,502 19.7 5.8 13.9 2.55 792,333
1998 3,108,778 60,139 18,250 41,889 19.3 5.9 13.5 2.53 791,156
1999 3,089,027 57,948 16,720 41,228 18.8 5.4 13.3 2.49 789,977
2000 3,060,173 51,242 16,421 34,821 16.7 5.4 11.4 2.25 788,801
2001 3,060,169 53,205 19,013 34,192 17.4 6.2 11.2 2.31 790,295
2002 3,051,006 42,527 19,187 23,340 13.9 6.3 7.6 1.90 788,952
2003 3,039,612 45,313 21,294 24,019 14.9 7.0 7.9 2.06 787,972
2004 3,026,933 40,989 20,269 20,720 13.5 6.7 6.8 1.86 785,321
2005 3,011,482 38,898 20,430 18,468 12.9 6.8 6.1 1.79 781,678
2006 2,992,542 35,891 20,852 15,039 12.0 7.0 5.0 1.67 777,045
2007 2,970,011 34,448 20,886 13,562 11.6 7.0 4.6 1.62 771,134
2008 2,947,311 33,445 20,749 12,696 11.3 7.0 4.3 1.58 762,943
2009 2,927,515 34,114 20,428 13,686 11.7 7.0 4.7 1.63 753,608
2010 2,913,018 34,061 20,107 13,954 11.7 6.9 4.8 1.63 744,637
2011 2,905,185 34,285 20,012 14,273 11.8 6.9 4.9 1.65 736,059
2012 2,900,389 35,473 20,870 14,603 12.2 7.2 5.0 1.70 727,028
2013 2,895,082 35,750 20,442 15,308 12.3 7.1 5.3 1.73 716,210
2014 2,889,095 35,760 20,656 15,104 12.4 7.1 5.2 1.74 705,993
2015 2,880,694 32,715 22,418 10,297 11.4 7.8 3.6 1.59 697,931
2016 2,876,092 31,733 21,388 10,345 11.0 7.4 3.6 1.54 693,111
2017[35] 2,873,458 30,869 22,232 8,637 10.7 7.7 3.0 1.48 692,680
2018[36] 2,866,376 28,934 21,804 7,130 10.1 7.6 2.5 1.37 691,302
2019[37] 2,854,191 28,561 21,937 6,624 10.0 7.7 2.3 1.36 683,995
2020[38] 2,837,848 28,075 27,605 470 9.9 9.7 0.2 1.34 675,482
2021[39] 2,811,666 27,211 30,507 -3,296 9.7 10.9 -1.2 1.32 665,823
2022 2,777,689 24,688 23,998 690 8.9 8.6 0.2 1.21 653,699
2023 2,402,113 23,617 21,286 2,331 9.8 8.9 1.0 1.62 510,223

Current vital statistics

[edit]

[40]

Period Live births Deaths Natural increase
January - June 2023 10,616 10,507 +109
January - June 2024 10,325 10,551 -226
Difference Decrease -291 (-2.74%) Negative increase +44 (+0.42%) Decrease -335

Structure of the population

[edit]
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.I.2021):[41]
Age Group Male Female Total %
Total 1 409 982 1 419 759 2 829 741 100
0–4 73 974 69 572 143 546 5.07
5–9 81 708 80 005 161 713 5.71
10–14 83 041 79 066 162 107 5.73
15–19 96 566 92 509 189 075 6.68
20–24 109 136 109 651 218 787 7.73
25–29 117 857 117 340 235 197 8.31
30–34 108 995 99 057 208 052 7.35
35–39 91 048 85 911 176 959 6.25
40–44 78 999 80 415 159 414 5.63
45–49 81 594 87 253 168 847 5.97
50–54 90 329 97 106 187 435 6.62
55–59 97 462 101 163 198 625 7.02
60–64 92 124 96 329 188 453 6.66
65-69 72 196 77 028 149 224 5.27
70-74 54 148 58 382 112 530 3.98
75-79 40 995 44 359 85 354 3.02
80-84 27 176 30 982 58 158 2.06
85+ 12 634 13 631 26 265 0.93
Age group Male Female Total Percent
0–14 238 723 228 643 467 366 16.52
15–64 964 110 966 734 1 930 844 68.23
65+ 207 149 224 382 431 531 15.25

Marriages and divorces

[edit]

Ethnic groups

[edit]

Albania is inhabited mostly by Albanians. In the 2011 official census, 97.8% of those who disclosed their identity were Albanians (82.58% overall), while 2.3% stated other ethnicities (1.9% overall).[42] Albania recognizes nine national minorities. These include Aromanians, Balkan Egyptians, Greeks, Bulgarians, Bosniaks, Macedonians, Montenegrins, Serbs, and Roma.[43] As conducting a satisfactory census of ethnic minorities is one of the country's commitments to the European Union, the Government of Albania conducted an official census to clarify the ethnic composition of the population in 2011. However this census was deemed unreliable by internal and external organisations, including the Council of Europe and many of Albania's ethnic minority groups.[10] The last census to include data on ethnic minorities was conducted in 1989.[44] The census conducted in 2001 did not collect information about ethnic groups and nationalities in the population.

Since the 21st century, Albania has also witness a significant settlement of foreign expats into the country, such as Italians, Chinese, Turks, Bengalis, Americans, Portuguese[45] and other foreign workers. In 2021 there were as many as 15,000 foreigners living in Albania (0.5% of the population).[46]

Albania also houses 3,200 Afghan refugees and over 3,800 Ukrainian refugees.[47][48][49]

  • Traditional locations of linguistic and religious communities in Albania
    Traditional locations of linguistic and religious communities in Albania
  • Regions with a traditional presence of ethnic or linguistic groups other than Albanian
    Regions with a traditional presence of ethnic or linguistic groups other than Albanian
  • Ethnic composition per the 1989 census: Red - Albanian majority Green - Greek majority Yellow - Macedonian majority
    Ethnic composition per the 1989 census:
    Red - Albanian majority
    Green - Greek majority
    Yellow - Macedonian majority
Population of Albania according to ethnic group 1945–2011
Ethnic group Census 1945 Census 1950 Census 1955 Census 1960 Census 1979 Census 1989[50] Census 20111 Census 2023[51]
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
Albanians 1,075,500 95.9 1,186,100 97.3 1,349,100 97.0 1,581,745 97.3 2,535,913 97.9 3,117,601 98.0 2,312,356 82.58 2,186,917 91.04%
Greeks 26,535 2.4 29,000 2.4 35,345 2.5 40,000 2.5 49,307 1.9 58,758[52] 1.8 24,243 0.87 23,485 0.98
Balkan Egyptians - - - - - - - - - - - - 3,368 0.12 12,375 0.52
Romani - - - - - - - - - - - - 8,301 0.30 9,813 0.41
Bulgarians2 - - - - - - - - - - - - 9,013 0,49 7,057 0.29
Bosniaks - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2,963 0.12
Aromanians - - - - - - - - - - 782[53] - 8,266 0.30 2,459 0.10
Macedonians 14,400 1.3 2,273 0.2 3,341 0.2 4,235 0.3 4,097 0.2 4,697[54] 0.15 5,512 0.20 2,281 0.09
Serbs–Montenegrins - - 1,570 0.1 3,713 0.3 300 0.0 1,283 0.0 100[55] 0.00 366 0.01 1,0953 0.05
Other - - - - - - - - 5,600 0.5 1,261 0.04 2,644 0.11 5,7104 0.24
Did not declare ethnicity - - - - - - - - - - - - 435,082 15.6 13,507 0.56
Data borrowed from administrative sources - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Notes

1 At the 2011 census a total of 390,938 (14% of the total population) did not declare their nationality, while another 44,144 (1.6%) considered the nationality as 'not relevant'. The census is regarded unreliable and inaccurate by the Council of Europe. Vlachs (Aromanians) live in the south of the country,[56] whereas Montenegrins and Serbs live in the north.[57] Macedonians mostly live in Mala Prespa and the regions along the Macedonian border, known as 'Golo Brdo' and 'Gora'.
2 The Bulgarian minority was only recognised in 2017,[58] after decades-long blockade by former Yugoslavia and following a 2016 recommendation by the European Parliament that the rights of people of Bulgarian ethnicity in the Prespa, Gollobordë, and Gora regions should be respected.[59]
3 Includes 584 Serbs and 511 Montenegrins[51].
4 Includes 3,798 people declaring "Other ethnic identity", 770 people declaring "Mixed ethnic identity" and 1,142 people declaring "No ethnic identity"[51].

Religion

[edit]
Main article: Religion in Albania
Population of Albania according to religious group 1923–2023
Religion group Census 1923 Census 1927[60] Census 1942[61] Census 2011[62] Census 2023[63]
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
Sunni Muslim 558,000 68.5 563,729 67.6 599,912 54.2 1,587,608 56.7 1,101,718 45.86
Bektashism 163,811 14.7 58,628 2.09 115,644 4.81
Muslim 558,000 68.5 563,729 67.6 763,723 68.9 1,646,236 58.79 1,217,362 50.67
Catholic 85,000 10.5 88,739 10.6 113,891 10.3 280,921 10.0 201,530 8.38
Eastern Orthodox 171,000 20.5 181,051 21.7 229,080 20.7 188,992 6.75 173,645 7.22
Evangelical 5,616 0.2 9,658 0.4
Christian 256,000 31 269,790 32.3 342,971 31 475,529 16.77 384,833 16.00
Atheists 69,995 2.5 85,311 3.55
Believers without denomination 153,630 5.49 332,155 13.82
Non-religious 223,625 8.0 417,466 17.37
Not stated / other 99 0.01 156 0.01 454,046 16.2 382,452 15.91
TOTAL 814,000 100 833,613 100 1,106,850 100 2,800,138 100 2,402,113 100
Traditional distribution of religions in Albania

According to the 2023 census, there were 1,101,718 (45.86%) Muslims (mostly Sunni Muslims and Non-denominational Muslims) 201,530 (8.38%) Catholics, 173,645 (7.22%) Eastern Orthodox, 115,644 (4.81%) Bektashi Muslims, 9,658 (0.4%) Evangelicals, 3 670 (0.15%) of other religions, 332,155 (13.82%) believers without denomination, 85,311 (3.55%) Atheists and 378,782 (15.76%) did not provide an answer.[1]

The Constitution of Albania extends freedom of religion to all citizens and the government generally respects this right in practice. It declares no official religion and provides for equality of all religions. However, the predominant religious communities enjoy a greater degree of official recognition and social status based on their historical presence in the country. All registered religious groups have the right to hold bank accounts and to own property and buildings. Religious freedoms have in large part been secured by the generally amicable relationship among religions. The Ministry of Education has the right to approve the curricula of religious schools to ensure their compliance with national education standards while the State Committee on Cults oversees implementation. There are also 68 vocational training centers administered by religious communities.[64]

Government policy and practice contributed to the generally free exercise of religion. The government is secular and the Ministry of Education asserts that public schools in the country are secular and that the law prohibits ideological and religious indoctrination. Religion is not taught in public schools.[64]

Language

[edit]
Main articles: Albanian language and Languages of Albania
Map illustrating the various dialects of the Albanian language in Southern Europe

The Albanian language is the official language of Albania. It has two distinct dialects, Tosk, spoken in the south, and Gheg, spoken in the north. The Shkumbin river is the rough dividing line between the two dialects. The language is spoken primarily in Greece, Italy, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro. Centuries-old communities speaking Albanian-based dialects can be found scattered in Greece (Arvanites), Southern Italy, Sicily and Calabria (Arbëreshë) and in Ukraine. However, due to the large Albanian diaspora, the total number of speakers is much higher than the native speakers in Southern Europe. The four dialects include Tosk Albanian, Gheg Albanian, Arbëresh and Arvanitika.

Foreign languages spoken generally include one - or more - amongst the following: English, French, Greek, Italian. Language knowledge is increasing due to returning migrants, as well as new Greek and Italian communities in the country. In particular, Italian is widely spoken throughout Albania. La Francophonie states that 30,000 French speakers can be found in Albania.[65] Greek, the language of the Greek minority of the south, is also very widespread in that region. Nowadays, knowledge of English is growing very rapidly, especially among the youth.

The ethnic minorities languages include Aromanian, Serbian, Macedonian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Gorani, and Roma. Greek is the largest minority language of the country as well as the first largest foreign language. Approximately 5,000 Macedonian language-speakers can be found in Albania. Most of these living in the southeastern part of the country.

Education

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Main article: Education in Albania
The University of Tirana is the largest and highest ranking university in Albania.

Literacy in the country is 98.7 percent.[66] The school life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) of Albania is 16 years. The nation ranks 25th out of 167 countries in the world.[67] In 2015, the overall literacy rate in Albania was 98.7%; the male literacy rate was 99.2% and female literacy rate was 98.3%.

Education for primary (arsimi fillor), secondary (arsimi i mesëm), and tertiary (arsimi universitar) levels are mostly supported by the state. Classes start in September or October and end in June or July.[68] Albanian is the primary language of instruction in all public schools.[69] Education takes place in three stages: primary, secondary, and pre-university. Primary education is obligatory from grade 1 to 9. Students must pass the graduation exams at the end of the 9th grade in order to continue their education. After primary school, the general education is provided at the secondary schools. Students get prepared for the Matura examination, allowing them to obtain their matura diploma, which grants admission to higher education. The country follows the Bologna model in accordance with the 2007 Law on 'Higher Education'.[70] These institutions can be public or private, and may offer one, two or three levels of higher education depending on the institution.

Health

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Main article: Health in Albania
Life expectancy in Albania

Albania has a universal health care system. In 2000, Albania had the world's 55th best healthcare performance.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Albania ranks around the 40th in the world in terms of life expectancy.[71][72] Compared to other Western countries, Albania has a low rate of obesity.[73]

Period Life expectancy
in years 		Period Life expectancy
in years
1938[74] 38.0 1980–1985 70.7
1950–1955 55.3 1985–1990 71.9
1955–1960 59.3 1990–1995 71.7
1960–1965 64.9 1995–2000 73.0
1965–1970 66.2 2000–2005 74.8
1970–1975 67.7 2005–2010 75.7
1975–1980 69.7 2010–2015 77.7

Source: UN World Population Prospects[75]

Diaspora

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Main article: Albanian diaspora
Distribution of Albanians in Europe

Albanians have established communities in many regions throughout southern Europe. The modern Albanian diaspora was formed largely in the 15th century, when many Albanians emigrated to southern Italy, especially in Sicily and Calabria also to Greece, to escape either various socio-political difficulties and the Ottoman conquest. Other destinations include the US, Canada, Argentina, and Turkey.

Over the last twenty years, Albania has experienced major demographic changes, having the highest population growth in Europe before the collapse of communism in the country.[76] Albania has also shifted to population decline since the changes. However, during the final days of the transition from communism to capitalism in 1990, over a million Albanians moved to foreign countries. These include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Nordic countries, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. About 440,000 of them settled in Greece, where Albanians make up 60% of immigrants.[77] 350,000 Albanians have migrated to Italy over the 1990s to 2000s, however the number has increased substantially.[78] The situation in Kosovo is similar. More than a million Albanians have left Kosovo permanently since the late 1980s, not counting those fleeing the Kosovo War who have subsequently returned.[79] Important destinations for Albanians emigrating from Kosovo have been Switzerland and Germany.[80]

See also

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References

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