Editing Albania (section)

=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Albania}}
{{See also|Albanian paganism}}

{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = [[Religion in Albania]] as of the 2023 census:{{sfn|2023 Albanian census|2024|p=76}}
| label1 = [[Sunni Islam]]
| value1 = 45.86
| color1 = DarkGreen
| label2 = [[Roman Catholicism]]
| value2 = 8.38
| color2 = Gold
| label3 = [[Eastern Orthodoxy]]
| value3 = 7.22
| color3 = Red
| label4 = Evangelical Christians
| value4 = 0.4
| color4 = Skyblue
| label5 = [[Bektashi]]
| value5 = 4.81
| color5 = Yellowgreen
| label6 = Non-affiliated believers
| value6 = 13.82
| color6 = Grey
| label7 = [[Atheism]]
| value7 = 3.55
| color7 = Lightgrey
| label8 = Undeclared
| value8 = 15.76
| color8 = black
| label9 = Other
| value9 = 0.15
| color9 = Pink
}}

Albania is a [[secular state|secular]] and religiously diverse country with no [[official religion]]. [[Freedom of religion]], [[freedom of belief|belief]] and [[Freedom of conscience|conscience]] are guaranteed under the country's [[Constitution of Albania|constitution]].<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] (OSCE) |title=1998 Constitution of the Republic of Albania |url=https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/3/2/41888.pdf |access-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730220735/https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/3/2/41888.pdf |archive-date=30 July 2020}}</ref> As of the 2023 Census, there were 1,101,718 (45.86%) [[Sunni Islam|Sunni Muslims]], 201,530 (8.38%) [[Roman Catholicism|Catholics]], 173,645 (7.22%) [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox]], 115,644 (4.81%) [[Bektashi Order|Bektashi Muslims]], 9,658 (0.4%) [[Evangelicalism|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.{{sfn|2023 Albanian census|2024|p=76}} Albania is nevertheless ranked among the least religious countries in the world.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Gallup |title=Gallup Global Reports |url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/128210/Gallup-Global-Reports.aspx |access-date=25 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014034457/http://www.gallup.com/poll/128210/Gallup-Global-Reports.aspx |archive-date=14 October 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Religion constitute an important role in the lives of only 39% of the country's population.<ref>{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Oliver |publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |title=Mapped: The world's most (and least) religious countries |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/maps-and-graphics/most-religious-countries-in-the-world/ |access-date=1 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816211924/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/maps-and-graphics/most-religious-countries-in-the-world/ |archive-date=16 August 2021 |date=14 January 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In another report, 56% considered themselves religious, 30% considered themselves non-religious, while 9% defined themselves as convinced atheists. 80% believed in God.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Worldwide Independent Network/Gallup International Association |author1-link=WIN/GIA |title=Religion prevails in the world |url=http://www.wingia.com/web/files/news/370/file/370.pdf |website=wingia.com |page=4 & 7 |access-date=27 February 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114113506/http://www.wingia.com/web/files/news/370/file/370.pdf |archive-date=14 November 2017}}</ref>

The [[Islam in Albania|Muslim Albanians]] are spread throughout the country. [[Orthodoxy in Albania|Orthodox]] and [[Bektashi]]s are mostly found in the south, whereas [[Catholicism in Albania|Catholic]]s mainly live in the north.<ref name="International Religious Freedom Report 2007">{{cite web|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90160.htm |title=Albania: International Religious Freedom Report 2007 |publisher=U.S. State Department |date=14 September 2007 |access-date=27 August 2010}}</ref> In 2008, there were 694 [[Catholic]] churches and 425 [[Eastern Orthodox Church|orthodox]] churches, 568 mosques and 70 [[Bektashi Order|bektashi]] [[takya]]s in the country.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Korrieri online – Shqip |url=http://www.korrieri.com/index.php?k=1&i=15799 |date=23 May 2005 |access-date=17 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050523030433/http://www.korrieri.com/index.php?k=1&i=15799 |archive-date=23 May 2005}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Në Shqipëri P. ka 1119 kisha dhe 638 xhami |url=https://ateistet.org/lm1108237w |website=Ateistët |access-date=17 November 2015 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118155654/https://ateistet.org/lm1108237w |archive-date=18 November 2015}}</ref>

During [[Modern history|modern times]], the Albanian republican, monarchic and later communist regimes followed a systematic policy of separating religion from official functions and cultural life. The country has never had an [[official religion]] either as a republic or as a kingdom. In the 20th century, the clergy of all faiths was weakened under the monarchy and ultimately eradicated during the 1950s and 1960s, under the state policy of obliterating all organised religion from the territories of Albania. The [[Communism in Albania|communist regime]] persecuted and suppressed religious observance and institutions and entirely [[anti-religious|banned religion]]. The country was then officially declared to be the world's first [[atheist state]]. Religious freedom has returned, however, since the [[Fall of communism in Albania|end of communism]].

Islam survived communist era persecution and reemerged in the modern era as a practised religion in Albania.<ref name="Merdjanova673940">{{cite book|last=Merdjanova|first=Ina|title=Rediscovering the Umma: Muslims in the Balkans between nationalism and transnationalism|year=2013|location=Oxford|publisher=Oxford University Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6eYRDAAAQBAJ&q=Islam%20Albania%20Ottoman|isbn=9780190462505|pages=6–7, 39–40}}</ref> Some smaller Christian sects in Albania include [[Evangelicalism|Evangelicals]] and several [[Protestant]] communities including [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]], [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] and [[Jehovah's Witnesses]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ted-adventist.org/countries/europe/albania |title=Albania |publisher=TED Adventist |access-date=25 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224022017/http://www.ted-adventist.org/countries/europe/albania |archive-date=24 February 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/albania/famous-british-celebrity-visits-adra-albania|title=Famous British celebrity visits ADRA Albania – Albania|website=ReliefWeb|date=30 April 2001 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=LDS Newsroom-Country Profile-Albania |url=http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/contact-us/albania |publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825075459/http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/contact-us/albania |archive-date=25 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=2015 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses|publisher=Watch Tower Society|page=178}}</ref> The first recorded Protestant of Albania was Said Toptani, who travelled around Europe and returned to [[Tirana]] in 1853, where he preached [[Protestantism]]. The first [[evangelical Protestants]] appeared in the 19th century and the Evangelical Alliance was founded in 1892. Nowadays, it has 160 member congregations from different Protestant denominations. Following mass emigration to Israel after the fall of communism, there are only 200 Albanian [[Judaism in Albania|Jews]] left in the country.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3997848,00.html |title=1st chief rabbi inaugurated in Albania – Israel Jewish Scene, Ynetnews |work=Ynetnews |access-date=15 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Scheib |first=Ariel |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/albania.html |title=Albania Virtual Jewish Tour |encyclopedia=Jewish Virtual Library |access-date=15 February 2014}}</ref>
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