Fier County (Albanian pronunciation: [fieɽ]; Albanian: Qarku Fier), officially the County of Fier (Albanian: Qarku i Fierit), is a county in the Southern Region of the Republic of Albania. It is the eighth largest by area and the third most populous of the twelve counties, with about 240,000 people within an area of 1,890 km2 (730 sq mi). The county borders on the Adriatic Sea to the west, the counties of Tirana to the north, Elbasan to the northeast, Berat to the east, Gjirokastër to the southeast and Vlorë to the south. It is divided into six municipalities, Fier, Divjakë, Lushnjë, Mallakastër, Patos and Roskovec, all of whom incorporate 42 administrative units.
Fier County Qarku i Fierit (Albanian) | |
|---|---|
 Vjosa Valley | |
 Emblem | |
 Map of Albania with Fier County highlighted | |
| Coordinates: 40°45′N 19°35′E / 40.750°N 19.583°E | |
| Country |  Albania |
| Seat | Fier |
| Subdivisions | 6 municipalities:
|
| Government | |
| • Council chairman | Evis Sema (PS) |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,890 km2 (730 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 8th |
| Population (2023) | |
• Total | 240,377 |
| • Rank | 2nd |
| • Density | 130/km2 (330/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| HDI (2022) | 0.762 high · 10th |
| NUTS Code | AL032 |
| Website | Official Website |
Geography
Until 2000, Fier County was subdivided into three districts: Fier, Lushnjë, and Mallakastër. Before 2015, it consisted of 42 municipalities.
Economy
Fier County maintains a relatively strong economy within Albania with agriculture and heavy industry serving as a backbone of the area during the communist era. Wages in the county are above the Albanian average. More recently, a service-based economy has become more prominent locally as well as small-scale manufacturing by foreign companies.
Fier additionally has been the home of power-generation in Albania with the construction of the Fier Power Plant during the communist era. Although it was decommissioned in 2007, a joint Greek-Albanian venture was announced in 2023 to revitalize these thermal plants to diversify Albania’s electrical industry.
Demography
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 129,785 | — |
| 1960 | 177,598 | +36.8% |
| 1969 | 242,394 | +36.5% |
| 1979 | 304,476 | +25.6% |
| 1989 | 379,342 | +24.6% |
| 2001 | 382,544 | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 310,331 | −18.9% |
| 2023 | 240,377 | −22.5% |
| Source: | ||
According to the last national census from 2023, Fier County had 240,377 inhabitants. Ethnic groups in the county as of 2011 include:
- Albanians = 241,163 (77.71%)
- Greeks = 332 (0.11%)
- Macedonians = 18 (0.01%)
- Montenegrins = 5 (0.00%)
- Aromanians = 1,553 (0.50%)
- Romani = 1,640 (0,53%)
- Egyptians = 75 (0,02%)
- others = 171 (0.06%)
- no answer = 65,374 (21.07%)
Islam is the largest religion in the county, forming 48.52% of the total population (150,559 people). There are also some Bektashi Muslims with 1.01% (3,137 people), 7.15% percent consisting of believers without a denomination (22,186 people) and Christians forming 15.91% of the county's population (Orthodox (13.76%) (42,993 people), Evangelists (0.11% (331 people) (and Roman Catholics) (1.98%) (6,149 people).
See also
- Geography of Albania
- Politics of Albania
- Divisions of Albania
References
- "Konstituohet Këshilli i Qarkut Fier! Evis Sema rizgjidhet për një mandat të dytë si kryetare".
- "Main Results of the Population and Housing Census 2023" (PDF). INSTAT.
- "Law nr. 115/2014" (PDF) (in Albanian). p. 6370. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
- "Division of Albania".
- "Census of Population and Housing". Institute of Statistics Albania.
- "2011 census results" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
Fier County Albanian pronunciation fieɽ Albanian Qarku Fier officially the County of Fier Albanian Qarku i Fierit is a county in the Southern Region of the Republic of Albania It is the eighth largest by area and the third most populous of the twelve counties with about 240 000 people within an area of 1 890 km2 730 sq mi The county borders on the Adriatic Sea to the west the counties of Tirana to the north Elbasan to the northeast Berat to the east Gjirokaster to the southeast and Vlore to the south It is divided into six municipalities Fier Divjake Lushnje Mallakaster Patos and Roskovec all of whom incorporate 42 administrative units Fier County Qarku i Fierit Albanian CountyVjosa ValleyEmblemMap of Albania with Fier County highlightedCoordinates 40 45 N 19 35 E 40 750 N 19 583 E 40 750 19 583Country AlbaniaSeatFierSubdivisions6 municipalities Divjake Fier Lushnje Mallakaster Patos RoskovecGovernment Council chairmanEvis Sema PS Area Total1 890 km2 730 sq mi Rank8thPopulation 2023 Total240 377 Rank2nd Density130 km2 330 sq mi Time zoneUTC 1 CET Summer DST UTC 2 CEST HDI 2022 0 762 high 10thNUTS CodeAL032WebsiteOfficial WebsiteGeographyUntil 2000 Fier County was subdivided into three districts Fier Lushnje and Mallakaster Before 2015 it consisted of 42 municipalities EconomyFier County maintains a relatively strong economy within Albania with agriculture and heavy industry serving as a backbone of the area during the communist era Wages in the county are above the Albanian average More recently a service based economy has become more prominent locally as well as small scale manufacturing by foreign companies Fier additionally has been the home of power generation in Albania with the construction of the Fier Power Plant during the communist era Although it was decommissioned in 2007 a joint Greek Albanian venture was announced in 2023 to revitalize these thermal plants to diversify Albania s electrical industry DemographyHistorical populationYearPop 1950129 785 1960177 598 36 8 1969242 394 36 5 1979304 476 25 6 1989379 342 24 6 2001382 544 0 8 2011310 331 18 9 2023240 377 22 5 Source According to the last national census from 2023 Fier County had 240 377 inhabitants Ethnic groups in the county as of 2011 include Albanians 241 163 77 71 Greeks 332 0 11 Macedonians 18 0 01 Montenegrins 5 0 00 Aromanians 1 553 0 50 Romani 1 640 0 53 Egyptians 75 0 02 others 171 0 06 no answer 65 374 21 07 Islam is the largest religion in the county forming 48 52 of the total population 150 559 people There are also some Bektashi Muslims with 1 01 3 137 people 7 15 percent consisting of believers without a denomination 22 186 people and Christians forming 15 91 of the county s population Orthodox 13 76 42 993 people Evangelists 0 11 331 people and Roman Catholics 1 98 6 149 people See alsoWikimedia Commons has media related to Fier County Geography of Albania Politics of Albania Divisions of AlbaniaReferences Konstituohet Keshilli i Qarkut Fier Evis Sema rizgjidhet per nje mandat te dyte si kryetare Main Results of the Population and Housing Census 2023 PDF INSTAT Law nr 115 2014 PDF in Albanian p 6370 Retrieved 25 February 2022 Division of Albania Census of Population and Housing Institute of Statistics Albania 2011 census results PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2015 05 25
