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Gjirokastër County

Coordinates: 40°10′N 20°10′E / 40.167°N 20.167°E / 40.167; 20.167
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(Redirected from County of Gjirokastër)
Gjirokastër County
Qarku i Gjirokastrës (Albanian)
County
Thermal Baths near Përmet
Thermal Baths near Përmet
Official logo of Gjirokastër County
Emblem
Coordinates: 40°10′N 20°10′E / 40.167°N 20.167°E / 40.167; 20.167
Country Albania
SeatGjirokastër
Subdivisions7 municipalities, 268 towns and villages
Government
 • Council chairmanDino Selimi[1]
Area
 • Total
2,884 km2 (1,114 sq mi)
Population
 (2023[2])
 • Total
60,013
 • Density21/km2 (54/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
HDI (2022)0.789
high · 4th
NUTS CodeAL033

Gjirokastër County (Albanian: Qarku i Gjirokastrës) is one of the 12 counties of Albania. The total population in 2023 was 60,013, in an area of 2884 km2.[2] Its capital is the city Gjirokastër.

Administrative divisions

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Until 2000, Gjirokastër County was subdivided into three districts: Gjirokastër, Përmet, and Tepelenë. Since the 2015 local government reform, the county consists of the following 7 municipalities: Dropull, Gjirokastër, Këlcyrë, Libohovë, Memaliaj, Përmet and Tepelenë.[3] Before 2015, it consisted of the following 32 municipalities:

The municipalities consist of about 270 towns and villages in total. See Villages of Gjirokastër County for a structured list.

Demographics

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Further information: Demographic history of Gjirokastër County
Historical population
YearPop.±%
196096,805—    
1969115,414+19.2%
1979134,137+16.2%
1989155,998+16.3%
2001112,831−27.7%
201172,176−36.0%
202360,013−16.9%
Source: [4][5]

According to the last national census from 2023 this county has 60,013 inhabitants. Ethnic groups in the county include Albanians, Greeks, Aromanians, Romani, & Balkan Egyptians.[6] In the 2023 census Gjirokastër's was predominantly Albanian, accounting for 82.7% of the residents. The Greek community follows, making up 14.2% of the population. Smaller ethnic groups include Egyptians (0.3%), Romani (0.3%), and Bulgarians (0.1%). There are also minor groups such as Bosniaks (0.02%), Aromanians (0.3%), Macedonians (0.02%), Serbs (0.03%), and Montenegrins (0.02%). Additionally, 0.1% of the population identifies as mixed ethnicity. A small proportion, 0.01%, reported having no ethnicity, while 0.6% preferred not to answer, and 1.1% had unavailable or missing data.


Ethnicities in Gjirokastër County according to the 2023 census [7]
Ethnic and cultural affiliation Resident population Percentage of resident population
Albanians 49,603 82.7%
Greeks 8,552 14.2%
Egyptians 177 0.3%
Romani 192 0.3%
Bulgarians 43 0.1%
Bosniaks 9 0.02%
Aromanians 206 0.3%
Macedonians 10 0.02%
Serbs 21 0.03%
Montenegrins 12 0.02%
Others 69 0.1%
Mixed 83 0.1%
None 7 0.01%
Prefer not to answer 353 0.6%
Not available 676 1.1%


Religion

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In Gjirokastër, the religious affiliation is both diverse and secular, with various communities practicing different faiths alongside a significant portion identifying as non-religious. Between 2011 and 2023, the population decreased from 72,176 to 60,013, with notable shifts in religious affiliation. The Sunni Muslim population dropped dramatically from 38.54% to 14.40%, while the Bektashi community saw a rise from 8.48% to 21.04%. The Catholic population declined slightly from 2.07% to 1.19%, while the Orthodox Christian population increased from 17.44% to 25.32%. Evangelical Christians grew marginally from 0.08% to 0.26%. The non-religious group, including atheists and believers without denomination, rose from 14.68% to 21.64%, with atheists increasing from 6.30% to 7.28%, and believers without denomination rising from 8.38% to 14.36%.[8] [9]

Population of Gjirokastër according to religious group (2011–2023)
Religion group Census 2011 Census 2023 Difference (2023−2011)
Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage
Muslim 27,815 38.54% 8,643 14.40% -19,172 -24.14%
Bektashism 6,118 8.48% 12,627 21.04% +6,509 +12.56%
Muslim 33,933 47.02% 21,270 35.44% -12,663 -11.58%
Catholic Christian 1,493 2.07% 713 1.19% -780 -0.88%
Orthodox Christian 12,583 17.44% 15,195 25.32% +2,612 +7.88%
Evangelical 59 0.08% 154 0.26% +95 +0.18%
Christian 14,135 19.6% 16,062 26.77% +1,927 +7.17%
Atheists 4,550 6.30% 4,372 7.28% -178 +0.98%
Believers without denomination 6,050 8.38% 8,616 14.36% +2,566 +5.98%
Non-religious 10,600 14.68% 12,988 21.64% +2,388 +6.96%
Not stated / other 13,406 18.58% 9,573 15.95% -3,833 -2.63%
TOTAL 72,176 100% 60,013 100% -12,163 -

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "Konstituohet këshilli i ri i qarkut Gjirokastër, Dino Selimit i votëbesohet detyra e kryetarit". RTSH Gjirokastra (in Albanian). 2 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Main Results of the Population and Housing Census 2023" (PDF). INSTAT.
  3. ^ "Law nr. 115/2014" (PDF) (in Albanian). p. 6371. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Division of Albania".
  5. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Institute of Statistics Albania.
  6. ^ "2011 census results" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
  7. ^ "Ethnic composition of Albania 2023". pop-stat.mashke.org. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  8. ^ "Religious composition of Albania 2011". pop-stat.mashke.org. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  9. ^ "Religious composition of Albania 2023". pop-stat.mashke.org. Retrieved 2025-03-23.

Further reading

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  • Kallivretakis, Leonidas (1995). "Η ελληνική κοινότητα της Αλβανίας υπό το πρίσμα της ιστορικής γεωγραφίας και δημογραφίας [The Greek Community of Albania in terms of historical geography and demography]". In Veremis, Thanos (ed.). Ο Ελληνισμός της Αλβανίας [The Greeks of Albania]. University of Athens. pp. 25–58. ISBN 9600800545.
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