
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. Its capital is the city Gjirokastër.
Gjirokastër County Qarku i Gjirokastrës (Albanian) | |
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![]() Thermal Baths near Përmet | |
![]() Emblem | |
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Coordinates: 40°10′N 20°10′E / 40.167°N 20.167°E | |
Country | |
Seat | Gjirokastër |
Subdivisions | 7 municipalities, 268 towns and villages |
Government | |
• Council chairman | Dino Selimi |
Area | |
• Total | 2,884 km2 (1,114 sq mi) |
Population (2023) | |
• Total | 60,013 |
• Density | 21/km2 (54/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
HDI (2022) | 0.789 high · 4th |
NUTS Code | AL033 |
Administrative divisions
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. Before 2015, it consisted of the following 32 municipalities:
- Antigonë
- Ballaban
- Buz
- Çarshovë
- Cepo
- Dishnicë
- Dropull i Poshtëm
- Dropull i Sipërm
- Frashër
- Fshat Memaliaj
- Gjirokastër
- Këlcyrë
- Kordhocë
- Krahës
- Kurvelesh
- Lazarat
- Libohovë
- Lopës
- Luftinjë
- Lunxhëri
- Memaliaj
- Odrie
- Përmet
- Petran
- Picar
- Pogon
- Qendër Libohovë
- Qendër Piskovë
- Qendër Tepelenë
- Qesarat
- Sukë
- Tepelenë
- Zagori
The municipalities consist of about 270 towns and villages in total. See Villages of Gjirokastër County for a structured list.
Demographics
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1960 | 96,805 | — |
1969 | 115,414 | +19.2% |
1979 | 134,137 | +16.2% |
1989 | 155,998 | +16.3% |
2001 | 112,831 | −27.7% |
2011 | 72,176 | −36.0% |
2023 | 60,013 | −16.9% |
Source: |
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.
According to the results of the 2011 census, 38.54% of the total population (27,815 people) declared themselves Muslim. There are also some Bektashi Muslims with 8.48% (6,118 people), 7.15% percent consisting of believers without a denomination (22,186 people) and Christians forming 19.65% of the county's population (Orthodox (17.43%) (15,295 people), Evangelists (0.08% (59 people) (and Roman Catholics) (2.07%) (1,493 people), while 10,094 (15,16%) did not answer at all.
According to a 2014 report by the Albanian government submitted to the Council of Europe, there were 9,520 Greeks in the Dropull district, and 13,118 Greeks in the entire county.
Ethnic and cultural affiliation | Resident population | Percentage of resident population |
---|---|---|
Albanians | 56,193 | 77.86% |
Prefer not to answer | 8,729 | 12.09% |
Greeks | 5,363 | 7.43% |
Not relevant/not stated | 1,033 | 1.43% |
Aromanians | 688 | 0.95% |
Roma | 91 | 0.13% |
Others | 56 | 0.08% |
Egyptians | 21 | 0.03% |
Macedonians | 1 | 0.00% |
Montenegrins | 1 | 0.00% |
The results of the 2011 census were affected by a boycott by minorities. The European Council's Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities stated that "the results of the census should be viewed with the utmost caution and calls on the authorities not to rely exclusively on the data on nationality collected during the census in determining its policy on the protection of national minorities".
Mother tongue | Resident population | Percentage of resident population |
---|---|---|
Albanian | 67,337 | 93.3% |
Greek | 4,051 | 5.61% |
Aromanian | 618 | 0.86% |
Not relevant/not stated | 72 | 0.10% |
Roma | 55 | 0.08% |
Others | 39 | 0.05% |
Italian | 4 | 0.01% |
Notable people
- Ali Pasha of Tepelenë
- Enver Hoxha
- Ismail Kadare
- Stath Melani
- Evangelos Zappas
- Agron Llakaj
References
- "Konstituohet këshilli i ri i qarkut Gjirokastër, Dino Selimit i votëbesohet detyra e kryetarit". RTSH Gjirokastra (in Albanian). 2 August 2023.
- "Main Results of the Population and Housing Census 2023" (PDF). INSTAT.
- "Law nr. 115/2014" (PDF) (in Albanian). p. 6371. 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.
- "Fourth Report submitted by Albania pursuant to Article 25, paragraph 2 of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Albania. p. 98. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
- Population and Housing Census Gjirokastër (PDF). Tirana: INSTAT. 2011. p. 39.
- "Third Opinion on Albania adopted on 23 November 2011". Advisory Committee on the Framework for the Protection of National Minorities. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- Population and Housing Census Gjirokastër (PDF). Tirana: INSTAT. 2011. p. 40.
Further reading
- 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.
External links
- Gjirokastra Region Travel Guide
Gjirokaster County Albanian Qarku i Gjirokastres is one of the 12 counties of Albania The total population in 2023 was 60 013 in an area of 2884 km2 Its capital is the city Gjirokaster Gjirokaster County Qarku i Gjirokastres Albanian CountyThermal Baths near PermetEmblemCoordinates 40 10 N 20 10 E 40 167 N 20 167 E 40 167 20 167Country AlbaniaSeatGjirokasterSubdivisions7 municipalities 268 towns and villagesGovernment Council chairmanDino SelimiArea Total2 884 km2 1 114 sq mi Population 2023 Total60 013 Density21 km2 54 sq mi Time zoneUTC 1 CET Summer DST UTC 2 CEST HDI 2022 0 789 high 4thNUTS CodeAL033Administrative divisionsUntil 2000 Gjirokaster County was subdivided into three districts Gjirokaster Permet and Tepelene Since the 2015 local government reform the county consists of the following 7 municipalities Dropull Gjirokaster Kelcyre Libohove Memaliaj Permet and Tepelene Before 2015 it consisted of the following 32 municipalities Antigone Ballaban Buz Carshove Cepo Dishnice Dropull i Poshtem Dropull i Siperm Frasher Fshat Memaliaj Gjirokaster Kelcyre Kordhoce Krahes Kurvelesh Lazarat Libohove Lopes Luftinje Lunxheri Memaliaj Odrie Permet Petran Picar Pogon Qender Libohove Qender Piskove Qender Tepelene Qesarat Suke Tepelene Zagori The municipalities consist of about 270 towns and villages in total See Villages of Gjirokaster County for a structured list DemographicsHistorical populationYearPop 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 According to the last national census from 2023 this county has 60 013 inhabitants Ethnic groups in the county include Albanians Greeks Aromanians Romani amp Balkan Egyptians According to the results of the 2011 census 38 54 of the total population 27 815 people declared themselves Muslim There are also some Bektashi Muslims with 8 48 6 118 people 7 15 percent consisting of believers without a denomination 22 186 people and Christians forming 19 65 of the county s population Orthodox 17 43 15 295 people Evangelists 0 08 59 people and Roman Catholics 2 07 1 493 people while 10 094 15 16 did not answer at all According to a 2014 report by the Albanian government submitted to the Council of Europe there were 9 520 Greeks in the Dropull district and 13 118 Greeks in the entire county Ethnicities in Gjirokaster County according to the 2011 census Ethnic and cultural affiliation Resident population Percentage of resident populationAlbanians 56 193 77 86 Prefer not to answer 8 729 12 09 Greeks 5 363 7 43 Not relevant not stated 1 033 1 43 Aromanians 688 0 95 Roma 91 0 13 Others 56 0 08 Egyptians 21 0 03 Macedonians 1 0 00 Montenegrins 1 0 00 The results of the 2011 census were affected by a boycott by minorities The European Council s Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities stated that the results of the census should be viewed with the utmost caution and calls on the authorities not to rely exclusively on the data on nationality collected during the census in determining its policy on the protection of national minorities Mother Tongues in Gjirokaster County according to the 2011 census Mother tongue Resident population Percentage of resident populationAlbanian 67 337 93 3 Greek 4 051 5 61 Aromanian 618 0 86 Not relevant not stated 72 0 10 Roma 55 0 08 Others 39 0 05 Italian 4 0 01 Notable peopleAli Pasha of Tepelene Enver Hoxha Ismail Kadare Stath Melani Evangelos Zappas Agron LlakajReferences Konstituohet keshilli i ri i qarkut Gjirokaster Dino Selimit i votebesohet detyra e kryetarit RTSH Gjirokastra in Albanian 2 August 2023 Main Results of the Population and Housing Census 2023 PDF INSTAT Law nr 115 2014 PDF in Albanian p 6371 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 Fourth Report submitted by Albania pursuant to Article 25 paragraph 2 of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Albania p 98 Retrieved 28 December 2018 Population and Housing Census Gjirokaster PDF Tirana INSTAT 2011 p 39 Third Opinion on Albania adopted on 23 November 2011 Advisory Committee on the Framework for the Protection of National Minorities Retrieved 29 June 2017 Population and Housing Census Gjirokaster PDF Tirana INSTAT 2011 p 40 Further readingKallivretakis Leonidas 1995 H ellhnikh koinothta ths Albanias ypo to prisma ths istorikhs gewgrafias kai dhmografias The Greek Community of Albania in terms of historical geography and demography In Veremis Thanos ed O Ellhnismos ths Albanias The Greeks of Albania University of Athens pp 25 58 ISBN 9600800545 External linksGjirokastra Region Travel Guide