Census in Albania explained

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]

National censuses

No.Date Total
Population
%
change
By genderDensity
per km2
HouseholdsUrban
pop. %
MalesFemalesTotalAve. size
1st Census15.11.1923814,380421,618392,76228.3143,0655.715.9%
2nd Census25.05.1930833,618+26.1% 428,959404,65928.9146,2495.7
3rd Census30.09.19451,122,044+3.4% 570,361551,68339.0196,8505.721.3%
4th Census03.09.19501,218,943+8.2% 625,935593,00842.4211,6135.820.5%
5th Census02.10.19551,391,499+13.2% 713,316678,18348.4251,7565.527.5%
6th Census02.10.19601,626,315+15.5% 831,294795,021 56.5279,8055.830.9%
7th Census01.04.19692,068,155+23.9% 1,062,9311,005,22471.9346,5886.031.5%
8th Census07.01.19792,590,600+22.4% 1,337,4001,253,20090.1463,3335.633.5%
9th Census12.04.19893,182,417+20.5% 1,638,0741,544,343110.7675,4564.735.5%
10th Census01.04.20013,069,275align="right"-3.6% 1,530,4431,538,832106.7726,8954.242.1%
11th Census01.10.20112,821,977align="right"-8.3% 1,403,0591,397,07998.1722,6003.953.1%
12th Census18.09.20232,402,113align="right"-14.9% 1,190,4481,211,66583.6755,9503.2

Notes

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

See also

Notes and References

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