Demographics of Albania
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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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The latest census in Albania was performed in September 2023.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
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 population pyramid shown in the infobox on this page does not reflect this population census with figures of the birth cohorts deflated, sometimes drastically, and the population pyramid deflated with no large outcrops at all, as the population numbers now are around half a million lower than the population pyramid shown. Page 16 in the latest Albanian population census shows the 2023 population pyramid overlaid on the population pyramid from the previous census. Click on the small number "1" after the population number in the infobox or at the end of the above first section for the Albanian 2023 census publication, which has the best depiction of the population pyramids, or look for the census population pyramids under External links, although the population pyramid under External links is chopped off at the top. (Written 19 April 2025). Also under external links click on population pyramids until 2100.
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. After the second World War, population increase policies pursued by the communist government and a large life expectancy fueled a 2.5% annual increase for the following 45 years. Albania consistently had the largest birth rate and the one of the smallest death rates in Europe at the time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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 with 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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%).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="Gloyer">Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref name="Ministers' Deputies">Template:Cite web</ref>
Population
[edit]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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The overall life expectancy in Albania at birth is 78 years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Albania: 2001 population census Template:Webarchive, official web site. Retrieved on 19 June 2009</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Some of the minorities, mainly the Greeks, boycotted the census.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> About 53.4% of Albania's population live in cities. The three largest counties account for half of the population.
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The area of the capital Tirana, is one of largest cities in the Balkan Peninsula and ranks 7th with a population about 800,000.<ref name=census15>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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Population censuses in 1923–2023
[edit]Date | Total population<ref name="European historical statistics">B.R. Mitchell. European historical statistics, 1750–1975.</ref><ref name="UN Demographic Yearbooks">Template:Cite web</ref> |
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]Qark/County | Population | Change (1989–2023) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1989 | 2023 | Number | % | |
Berat | 222,901 | 140,956 | −81,945 | −36% |
Dibër | 226,324 | 107,178 | −119,146 | −52% |
Durrës | 218,530 | 226,863 | +8,333 | +3% |
Elbasan | 357,497 | 232,580 | −124,917 | −35% |
Fier | 379,342 | 240,377 | −138,965 | −36% |
Gjirokastër | 155,998 | 60,013 | −95,985 | −61% |
Korçë | 311,448 | 173,091 | −138,357 | −44% |
Kukës | 146,081 | 61,998 | −84,083 | −57% |
Lezhë | 165,254 | 99,384 | −65,870 | −39% |
Shkodër | 285,258 | 154,479 | −130,779 | −45% |
Tiranë | 449,228 | 758,513 | +309,285 | +68% |
Vlorë | 264,556 | 146,681 | −117,875 | −44% |
Total fertility rate by counties
[edit]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]<ref name="European historical statistics" /><ref name="UN Demographic Yearbooks" /> | Average population |
Total numbers | Rates per 1000 | Total fertility rate | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Live births | Deaths | Natural change |
Crude birth rate |
Crude death rate |
Natural change | |||
1934 | 1,010,000 | 33,884 | 14,440 | 19,444 | 34.7 | 16.7 | 18.0 | 3.78 |
1935 | 1,012,000 | 32,640 | 13,373 | 19,267 | 33.1 | 17.0 | 16.1 | 3.98 |
1936 | 1,014,000 | 34,199 | 16,788 | 17,411 | 33.7 | 16.6 | 17.1 | 4.19 |
1937 | 1,030,000 | 34,829 | 20,036 | 14,793 | 33.8 | 19.5 | 14.3 | 4.40 |
1938 | 1,048,000 | 36,138 | 18,512 | 17,626 | 34.3 | 17.7 | 16.6 | 4.61 |
1939 | 1,070,000 | 29,597 | 16,013 | 13,584 | 27.9 | 15.0 | 12.9 | 3.75 |
1940 | 1,088,000 | 33,651 | 17,812 | 15,839 | 31.3 | 16.4 | 14.9 | 4.21 |
1941 | 1,100,000 | 30,627 | 18,234 | 12,393 | 28.0 | 16.6 | 11.4 | 3.77 |
1942 | 1,117,000 | 36,683 | 15,899 | 20,784 | 32.8 | 14.2 | 18.6 | 4.43 |
After WWII
[edit]<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Source: Institute of Statistics (INSTAT)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> | 2,873,458 | 30,869 | 22,232 | 8,637 | 10.7 | 7.7 | 3.0 | 1.48 | 692,680 |
2018<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> | 2,866,376 | 28,934 | 21,804 | 7,130 | 10.1 | 7.6 | 2.5 | 1.37 | 691,302 |
2019<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 2,854,191 | 28,561 | 21,937 | 6,624 | 10.0 | 7.7 | 2.3 | 1.36 | 683,995 |
2020<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 2,837,848 | 28,075 | 27,605 | 470 | 9.9 | 9.7 | 0.2 | 1.34 | 675,482 |
2021<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 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 |
2024 | 23,310 | 22,102 | 1,208 |
Current vital statistics
[edit]<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Period | Live births | Deaths | Natural increase |
---|---|---|---|
January–June 2023 | 10,616 | 10,507 | +109 |
January–June 2024 | 10,325 | 10,551 | −226 |
Difference | Template:Decrease −291 (−2.74%) | Template:IncreaseNegative +44 (+0.42%) | Template:Decrease −335 |
Structure of the population
[edit]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]Average population | Marriages | Divorces | Crude marriage rate (per 1000) | Crude divorce rate (per 1000) | Divorces per 1000 marriages | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1950 | 1,215,200 | 12,341 | 1,188 | 10.2 | 1.0 | 96.3 |
1951 | 1,242,000 | 12,364 | 1,154 | 10.0 | 0.9 | 93.3 |
1952 | 1,270,000 | 12,387 | 1,120 | 9.8 | 0.9 | 90.4 |
1953 | 1,302,000 | 12,410 | 1,087 | 9.5 | 0.8 | 87.6 |
1954 | 1,340,000 | 12,433 | 1,053 | 9.3 | 0.8 | 84.7 |
1955 | 1,379,000 | 12,456 | 1,019 | 9.0 | 0.7 | 81.8 |
1956 | 1,421,000 | 12,479 | 985 | 8.8 | 0.7 | 78.9 |
1957 | 1,462,000 | 12,502 | 951 | 8.6 | 0.7 | 76.1 |
1958 | 1,507,000 | 12,525 | 918 | 8.3 | 0.6 | 73.3 |
1959 | 1,556,000 | 12,548 | 884 | 8.1 | 0.6 | 70.4 |
1960 | 1,608,800 | 12,571 | 850 | 7.8 | 0.5 | 67.6 |
1961 | 1,659,800 | 18,723 | 1,314 | 11.3 | 0.8 | 70.2 |
1962 | 1,711,319 | 12,838 | 1,236 | 7.5 | 0.7 | 96.3 |
1963 | 1,762,621 | 13,182 | 1,046 | 7.5 | 0.6 | 79.4 |
1964 | 1,814,135 | 13,021 | 1,104 | 7.2 | 0.6 | 84.8 |
1965 | 1,864,791 | 13,921 | 1,028 | 7.5 | 0.6 | 73.8 |
1966 | 1,914,573 | 12,968 | 1,217 | 6.8 | 0.6 | 93.8 |
1967 | 1,965,598 | 16,853 | 1,415 | 8.6 | 0.7 | 84.0 |
1968 | 2,022,272 | 15,845 | 1,773 | 7.8 | 0.9 | 111.9 |
1969 | 2,081,695 | 15,322 | 1,608 | 7.4 | 0.8 | 104.9 |
1970 | 2,135,479 | 14,449 | 1,625 | 6.8 | 0.8 | 112.5 |
1971 | 2,187,853 | 15,300 | 1,758 | 7.0 | 0.8 | 114.9 |
1972 | 2,243,126 | 16,159 | 1,718 | 7.2 | 0.8 | 106.3 |
1973 | 2,296,752 | 18,481 | 1,791 | 8.0 | 0.8 | 96.9 |
1974 | 2,350,124 | 18,605 | 1,934 | 7.9 | 0.8 | 104.0 |
1975 | 2,404,831 | 18,729 | 1,853 | 7.8 | 0.8 | 98.9 |
1976 | 2,458,526 | 18,600 | 1,900 | 7.6 | 0.8 | 102.2 |
1977 | 2,513,546 | 19,934 | 2,003 | 7.9 | 0.8 | 100.5 |
1978 | 2,566,266 | 20,464 | 1,836 | 8.0 | 0.7 | 89.7 |
1979 | 2,617,832 | 21,355 | 1,849 | 8.2 | 0.7 | 86.6 |
1980 | 2,671,997 | 21,729 | 2,024 | 8.1 | 0.8 | 93.1 |
1981 | 2,726,056 | 23,301 | 2,222 | 8.5 | 0.8 | 95.4 |
1982 | 2,784,278 | 25,157 | 2,206 | 9.0 | 0.8 | 87.7 |
1983 | 2,843,960 | 25,607 | 2,371 | 9.0 | 0.8 | 92.6 |
1984 | 2,904,429 | 26,397 | 2,335 | 9.1 | 0.8 | 88.5 |
1985 | 2,964,762 | 25,271 | 2,451 | 8.5 | 0.8 | 97.0 |
1986 | 3,022,635 | 25,718 | 2,383 | 8.5 | 0.8 | 92.7 |
1987 | 3,083,605 | 27,370 | 2,537 | 8.9 | 0.8 | 92.7 |
1988 | 3,142,336 | 28,174 | 2,597 | 9.0 | 0.8 | 92.2 |
1989 | 3,211,964 | 27,655 | 2,628 | 8.6 | 0.8 | 95.0 |
1990 | 3,266,790 | 28,992 | 2,675 | 8.9 | 0.8 | 92.3 |
1991 | 3,247,039 | 24,853 | 2,236 | 7.7 | 0.7 | 90.0 |
1992 | 3,227,287 | 26,405 | 2,480 | 8.2 | 0.8 | 93.9 |
1993 | 3,207,536 | 25,963 | 2,251 | 8.1 | 0.7 | 86.7 |
1994 | 3,187,784 | 27,895 | 2,108 | 8.8 | 0.7 | 75.6 |
1995 | 3,168,033 | 26,989 | 2,331 | 8.5 | 0.7 | 86.4 |
1996 | 3,148,281 | 27,690 | 1,901 | 8.8 | 0.6 | 68.7 |
1997 | 3,128,530 | 24,122 | 1,430 | 7.7 | 0.5 | 59.3 |
1998 | 3,108,778 | 27,871 | 2,005 | 9.0 | 0.6 | 71.9 |
1999 | 3,089,027 | 27,254 | 2,114 | 8.8 | 0.7 | 77.6 |
2000 | 3,060,173 | 25,820 | 2,168 | 8.4 | 0.7 | 84.0 |
2001 | 3,060,169 | 25,717 | 2,462 | 8.4 | 0.8 | 95.7 |
2002 | 3,051,010 | 26,202 | 3,494 | 8.6 | 1.1 | 133.3 |
2003 | 3,039,616 | 27,342 | 3,634 | 9.0 | 1.2 | 132.9 |
2004 | 3,026,939 | 20,949 | 2,968 | 6.9 | 1.0 | 141.7 |
2005 | 3,011,487 | 21,795 | 3,929 | 7.2 | 1.3 | 180.3 |
2006 | 2,992,547 | 21,332 | 4,075 | 7.1 | 1.4 | 191.0 |
2007 | 2,970,017 | 22,371 | 3,305 | 7.5 | 1.1 | 147.7 |
2008 | 2,947,314 | 21,290 | 3,610 | 7.2 | 1.2 | 169.6 |
2009 | 2,927,519 | 26,174 | 3,606 | 8.9 | 1.2 | 137.8 |
2010 | 2,913,021 | 25,428 | 3,478 | 8.7 | 1.2 | 136.8 |
2011 | 2,905,195 | 25,556 | 3,642 | 8.8 | 1.3 | 142.5 |
2012 | 2,900,401 | 22,891 | 3,561 | 7.9 | 1.2 | 155.6 |
2013 | 2,895,092 | 23,820 | 3,747 | 8.2 | 1.3 | 157.3 |
2014 | 2,889,104 | 23,769 | 4,240 | 8.2 | 1.5 | 178.4 |
2015 | 2,880,703 | 24,997 | 3,761 | 8.7 | 1.3 | 150.5 |
2016 | 2,876,101 | 22,562 | 4,345 | 7.8 | 1.5 | 192.6 |
2017 | 2,873,457 | 22,641 | 4,508 | 7.9 | 1.6 | 199.1 |
2018 | 2,866,376 | 23,104 | 4,846 | 8.1 | 1.7 | 209.7 |
2019 | 2,854,191 | 22,415 | 7.9 | |||
2020 | 2,837,849 | 17,473 | 6.2 |
Migration
[edit]Year | Immigration | Emigration | Net migration |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | 36,397 | 55,162 | -18,765 |
2012 | 32,534 | 52,307 | -19,773 |
2013 | 28,624 | 49,425 | -20,801 |
2014 | 24,740 | 46,525 | -21,785 |
2015 | 20,843 | 41,443 | -20,600 |
2016 | 23,060 | 32,533 | -9,473 |
2017 | 25,003 | 39,905 | -14,902 |
2018 | 23,673 | 38,703 | -15,030 |
2019 | 20,753 | 43,835 | -23,082 |
2020 | 7,170 | 23,854 | -16,684 |
2021 | 9,195 | 42,048 | -32,853 |
2022 | 13,963 | 46,460 | -32,497 |
<ref name="INSTAT">Institute of Statistics of Albania (INSTAT). "Migration and Migrant Integration." https://www.instat.gov.al/en/themes/demography-and-social-indicators/migration-and-migrant-integration/</ref>
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).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Albania recognizes nine national minorities. These include Aromanians, Balkan Egyptians, Greeks, Bulgarians, Bosniaks, Macedonians, Montenegrins, Serbs, and Roma.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="Ministers' Deputies"/> The last census to include data on ethnic minorities was conducted in 1989.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and other foreign workers. In 2021 there were as many as 15,000 foreigners living in Albania (0.5% of the population).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Albania also houses 3,200 Afghan refugees and over 3,800 Ukrainian refugees.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
-
Traditional locations of linguistic and religious communities in Albania
-
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 group | Census 1945 | Census 1950 | Census 1955 | Census 1960 | Census 1979 | Census 1989<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Census 20111 | Census 2023<ref name="Census2023">Template:Cite web</ref> | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 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 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7,057 | 0.29 |
Bosniaks | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2,963 | 0.12 |
Aromanians | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 782<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | – | 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<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 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<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 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,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> whereas Montenegrins and Serbs live in the north.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
3 Includes 584 Serbs and 511 Montenegrins<ref name="Census2023"/>.
4 Includes 3,798 people declaring "Other ethnic identity", 770 people declaring "Mixed ethnic identity" and 1,142 people declaring "No ethnic identity"<ref name="Census2023"/>.
Template:Clear
Religion
[edit]Religion group | Census 1923 | Census 1927<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Census 1942<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Census 2011<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Census 2023<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
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.<ref name="State Dept">Template:Citation-attribution</ref>
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.<ref name="State Dept"/>
Language
[edit]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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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
[edit]Literacy in the country is 98.7 percent.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The school life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) of Albania is 16 years. The nation ranks 25th out of 167 countries in the world.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Albanian is the primary language of instruction in all public schools.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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'.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> These institutions can be public or private, and may offer one, two or three levels of higher education depending on the institution.
Health
[edit]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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Compared to other Western countries, Albania has a low rate of obesity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Period | Life expectancy in years |
Period | Life expectancy in years |
---|---|---|---|
1938<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> | 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<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Diaspora
[edit]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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 350,000 Albanians have migrated to Italy over the 1990s to 2000s, however the number has increased substantially.<ref>Istituto nazionale di statistica: La popolazione straniera residente in Italia Template:Webarchive</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Important destinations for Albanians emigrating from Kosovo have been Switzerland and Germany.<ref>150,000 Albanians resided in Switzerland as of 2000 (1.5–2.0% of the total population of Switzerland). Eidgenössiche Volkszählung 2000: Sprachenlandschaft in der Schweiz Template:Webarchive</ref>