People and Society of Albania

Albania has a population of approximately 2.8 million people, though this figure reflects significant demographic shifts resulting from decades of emigration. Since the fall of communism in the early 1990s, an estimated 1.4 to 1.7 million Albanians have left the country, making emigration one of the most defining demographic forces in the nation's modern history. Major destination countries include Italy, Greece, Germany, and the United States. The population is relatively young, with a median age of around 36 years, though the country is aging as birth rates decline and younger generations continue to seek opportunities abroad. The total fertility rate has dropped to approximately 1.6 children per woman, below the replacement level of 2.1, contributing to gradual natural population decline. Albanians constitute the vast majority of the population at roughly 82–83 percent. Greeks represent the largest recognized minority, concentrated primarily in the southern regions near the Greek border, and account for approximately 1 percent of the population. The Roma and Balkan Egyptians are also present, though their numbers are difficult to verify precisely due to historical undercounting. A small Macedonian minority exists in the southeast. The official language is Albanian, which belongs to its own distinct branch of the Indo-European language family. Two main dialects are spoken: Gheg in the north and Tosk in the south, with Standard Albanian based largely on the Tosk dialect. Greek is spoken in the southern minority communities. In terms of religious identity, Islam is the most widely practiced faith, followed by roughly 57 percent of the population, a legacy of Ottoman rule. Albanian Orthodox Christians account for about 10 percent, concentrated in the south, while Roman Catholics make up approximately 10 percent, primarily in the north. Albania has a strong secular tradition and is known historically for its interreligious tolerance. Urban migration within the country has accelerated, with Tirana, the capital, growing substantially to house over 800,000 residents in its metropolitan area. Coastal cities such as Durrës and Vlorë have also expanded, while rural and mountainous interior regions have experienced population decline.

Nationality

noun: Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian

Ethnic Groups

Albanian 82.6%, Greek 0.9%, other 1% (including Vlach, Romani, Macedonian, Montenegrin, and Egyptian), unspecified 15.5%

Population

2,793,592

Population (Male / Female)

male: 1,531,063 female: 1,576,037

Population Distribution

a fairly even distribution, with somewhat higher concentrations of people in the western and central parts of the country

Urban Population

urban population: 64.6% of total population rate of urbanization: 1.29% annual rate of change

Population in Major Urban Areas

520,000 TIRANA (capital)

Age Structure

0-14 years: 18% (male 292,296/female 267,052) 15-64 years: 66.9% (male 1,023,515/female 1,055,388) 65 years and over: 15.1% (male 215,252/female 253,597)

Median Age

total: 36.3 years male: 34.8 years female: 37.8 years

Sex Ratio at Birth

t birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female