Since the proclamation of Independence on November 28, 1912, Albania has organized 12 population censuses. The first official census was conducted on November 15, 1923 and was restricted to a mere population count. Because knowledge about the age of the citizens was missing at the time, only the main population characteristics were collected. However, the censuses of 1923 and later 1930 made up the basis for setting up a kind of vital population register by age and gender.[1] From 1945 to 1960, the censuses followed more or less the same methodology. The most important objective of the 1945 census was to lay the basis for the civil population registry, the so called Population Fundamentals Book. These early censuses were all conducted by using a “freezing day” approach, i.e. no one was allowed to leave their home until the enumerator had completed the interview. During the time period from 1969–1989, the censuses continued to be conducted on the prerequisite that everyone needed to be present during the interview. The 1923–1960 censuses all collected general information on population characteristics to build up and to consolidate the civil population registry, while censuses conducted during the 1969–1989 period had more elaborate questionnaires with questions related to the socio-economic characteristics of the population. At that time, differences between the civil registration data and the population census were minor due to the absence of migration. The recent Population and Housing Censuses of 2001–2023[2] were carried out in compliance with international recommendations from Eurostat and the UNECE statistical division.[3] For the census of 2023, data were collected digitally for the first time. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and problems with the acquisition of the tablets, the census was first postponed to 2022 and then to 2023.[4]

2017 population pyramid of Albania, from UN estimates.

National censuses

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No. Date Total
Population
%
change
By gender Density
per km2
Households Urban
pop. %
Males Females Total Ave. size
1st Census 15.11.1923 814,380 421,618 392,762 28.3 143,065 5.7 15.9%
2nd Census 25.05.1930 833,618 +26.1%   428,959 404,659 28.9 146,249 5.7
3rd Census 30.09.1945 1,122,044 +3.4%   570,361 551,683 39.0 196,850 5.7 21.3%
4th Census 03.09.1950 1,218,943 +8.2%   625,935 593,008 42.4 211,613 5.8 20.5%
5th Census 02.10.1955 1,391,499 +13.2%   713,316 678,183 48.4 251,756 5.5 27.5%
6th Census 02.10.1960 1,626,315 +15.5%   831,294 795,021 56.5 279,805 5.8 30.9%
7th Census 01.04.1969 2,068,155 +23.9%   1,062,931 1,005,224 71.9 346,588 6.0 31.5%
8th Census 07.01.1979 2,590,600 +22.4%   1,337,400 1,253,200 90.1 463,333 5.6 33.5%
9th Census 12.04.1989 3,182,417 +20.5%   1,638,074 1,544,343 110.7 675,456 4.7 35.5%
10th Census 01.04.2001 3,069,275 -3.6%   1,530,443 1,538,832 106.7 726,895 4.2 42.1%
11th Census 01.10.2011 2,821,977 -8.3%   1,403,059 1,397,079 98.1 722,600 3.9 53.1%
12th Census 18.09.2023 2,402,113 -14.9%   1,190,448 1,211,665 83.6 755,950 3.2


Notes

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- In the 2011 census, 21,839 respondents declined to participate.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Censusi i Shqipërisë së paraluftës". Scan TV. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  2. ^ Shahollari, Luan. "Reforma territoriale duhet të nisë nga …fshati!". DITA Newspaper. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  3. ^ Filipi, Gjergj (2014). "Albania Population Dynamics" (PDF).
  4. ^ "Albania Population And Housing Census 2023. Main Results" (PDF). INSTAT. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Censusi i Popullsisë dhe Banesave 2011" (PDF). INSTAT.