Editing Politics of Albania (section)

== Administrative divisions ==
{{Main|Counties of Albania|Municipalities of Albania|l1=Counties}}

With a total area of {{convert|28748|km2|0|abbr=off}}, Albania is divided into twelve [[Administrative divisions of Albania|administrative]] counties (''{{langx|sq|Qarqe}}''). The counties are further subdivided into 61 [[Municipalities of Albania|municipalities]] (''{{lang|sq|Bashkia}}''). In addition, the counties were further subdivided in 36 districts (''{{lang|sq|Rrethe}}''), which became defunct in 2000.<ref name="terref">[http://www.reformaterritoriale.al/en/roadmap/history A Brief History of the Administrative-territorial Organization in Albania] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524170836/http://www.reformaterritoriale.al/en/roadmap/history |date=24 May 2015 }}</ref>

The counties were created on 31 July 2000 to replace the thirty-six former [[Districts of Albania|district]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Brief History of the Administrative-territorial Organization in Albania|url=http://www.reformaterritoriale.al/en/reform/history|website=reformaterritoriale.al|language=en|access-date=2017-09-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609225417/http://www.reformaterritoriale.al/en/reform/history|archive-date=2017-06-09|url-status=dead}}</ref> The government introduced a new administrative division to be implemented in 2015, whereby municipalities were reduced to 61, while rural ones called (''{{lang|sq|Komuna}}'') are abolished. The defunct municipalities are known as Neighborhoods or Villages (''{{lang|sq|Lagje or Fshat}}'').<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.top-channel.tv/lajme/artikull.php?id=292404|title=Ndarja administrative, njësitë vendore në lagje dhe fshatra|access-date=2017-09-30|archive-date=2017-09-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925225940/http://top-channel.tv/lajme/artikull.php?id=292404|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shekulli.com.al/web/p.php?id=38109&kat=88|title=Ndarja e re, mbeten 28 bashki, shkrihen komunat – Shekulli Online|access-date=23 July 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140113102623/http://www.shekulli.com.al/web/p.php?id=38109&kat=88|archive-date=13 January 2014}}</ref> There are overall 2980 villages or communities in the entire country, formerly known as localities (''{{lang|sq|lokalitete}}''). The municipalities are the first level of local governance, responsible for local needs and [[Law enforcement in Albania|law enforcement]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moi.gov.al/english/images/pdf/qeverisja_vendore.pdf |title=On the Organization and Functioning of the Local Government, Republic of Albania, 2000 |access-date=27 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100215175046/http://www.moi.gov.al/english/images/pdf/qeverisja_vendore.pdf |archive-date=15 February 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref>
As part of the reform, major town centers in the country were physically redesigned and façades painted to reflect a more Mediterranean look.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shekulli.com.al/web/p.php?id=38109&kat=88 |title=Ndarja e re, mbeten 28 bashki, shkrihen komunat &#124; Shekulli Online |publisher=Shekulli.com.al |date=10 January 2014 |access-date=15 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140113102623/http://www.shekulli.com.al/web/p.php?id=38109&kat=88 |archive-date=13 January 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reformaterritoriale.al/ |title=Reforma Territoriale – KRYESORE |publisher=Reformaterritoriale.al |access-date=15 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170514063154/http://www.reformaterritoriale.al/ |archive-date=14 May 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{| align=center cellspacing="3px"
| 
| {{Albania Labelled Map|float=left}}
|
|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%;"
|- style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"
! colspan="2" | County !! Capital !! Population !! Area 
|-
|-
| 1 || [[Shkodër County]] <small>(''Qarku i Shkodrës'')</small> || [[Shkodër]] || 215,483 || 3,562 
|-
| 2 || [[Kukës County]] <small>(''Qarku i Kukësit'')</small> || [[Kukës]] || 84,035 || 2,374 
|-
| 3 || [[Lezhë County]] <small>(''Qarku i Lezhës'')</small> || [[Lezhë]] || 135,613 || 1,620 
|-
| 4 || [[Dibër County]] <small>(''Qarku i Dibrës'')</small> || [[Peshkopi]] || 134,153 || 2,586 
|-
| 5 || [[Durrës County]] <small>(''Qarku i Durrësit'')</small> || [[Durrës]] || 278,775 || 766 
|-
| 6 || [[Tirana County]] <small>(''Qarku i Tiranës'')</small> || [[Tirana]] || 811,649 || 1,652 
|-
| 7 || [[Elbasan County]] <small>(''Qarku i Elbasanit'')</small> || [[Elbasan]] || 298,913 || 3,199 
|-
| 8 || [[Fier County]] <small>(''Qarku i Fierit'')</small> || [[Fier]] || 312,448 || 1,890 
|-
| 9 || [[Berat County]] <small>(''Qarku i Beratit'')</small> || [[Berat]] || 139,815 || 1,798 
|-
| 10 || [[Gjirokastër County]] <small>(''Qarku i Gjirokastrës'')</small> || [[Gjirokastër]] || 70,331 || 2,884 
|-
| 11 || [[Vlorë County]] <small>(''Qarku i Vlorës'')</small> || [[Vlorë]] || 183,105 || 2,706 
|-
| 12 || [[Korçë County]] <small>(''Qarku i Korçës'')</small> || [[Korçë]]  || 221,706 || 3,711 
|}
|}{{Clear}}