Elbasan County
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox Albanian settlement Elbasan County (Template:Langx) is one of the 12 counties of Albania. The population is 232,580 (as of 2023), in an area of 3199 km2.<ref name="pop23" /> Its capital is the city Elbasan.
Administrative divisionsEdit
Until 2000, Elbasan County was subdivided into four districts: Elbasan, Gramsh, Librazhd, and Peqin. Since the 2015 local government reform, the county consists of the following 7 municipalities: Belsh, Cërrik, Elbasan, Gramsh, Librazhd, Peqin and Prrenjas.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Before 2015, it consisted of the following 50 municipalities:
- Belsh
- Bradashesh
- Cërrik
- Elbasan
- Fierzë
- Funarë
- Gjergjan
- Gjinar
- Gjoçaj
- Gostimë
- Gracen
- Gramsh
- Grekan
- Hotolisht
- Kajan
- Karinë
- Klos
- Kodovjat
- Kukur
- Kushovë
- Labinot-Fushë
- Labinot-Mal
- Lenie
- Librazhd
- Lunik
- Mollas
- Orenjë
- Pajovë
- Papër
- Peqin
- Përparim
- Pishaj
- Polis
- Poroçan
- Prrenjas
- Qendër Librazhd
- Qukës
- Rrajcë
- Rrasë
- Shalës
- Shezë
- Shirgjan
- Shushicë
- Skënderbegas
- Steblevë
- Stravaj
- Sult
- Tregan
- Tunjë
- Zavalinë
The municipalities consist of about 385 towns and villages in total. See Villages of Elbasan County for a structured list.
DemographicsEdit
Template:Historical populationsElbasan County has 266,245 inhabitants as of January 2021.<ref name=pop21>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ethnic groups in the county include, as of the last national census from 2011:<ref name="census11">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Albanians = 253,170 (85.58%)
- Macedonians = 94 (0.03%)
- Montenegrins = 10 (0.00%)
- Aromanians = 747 (0.25%)
- Romani = 1,064 (0.36%)
- Egyptians = 433 (0.15%)
- Turkish = 300 (0.13%)
- others = 149 (0.05%)
- no answer = 39,980 (13.51%)
ReligionEdit
Between the 2011 and 2023 censuses in Elbasan, there were notable shifts in religious affiliation. The Muslim population decreased significantly from 64.4% to 52.9%, while Bektashism rose from 0.5% to 1.4%. The Catholic Christian population slightly declined from 1.0% to 0.7%, and Orthodox Christians remained stable at 5.2%. Evangelical Christians experienced a modest rise, from 0.1% to 0.3%.
There was a substantial increase in the irreligious population: atheists rose from 3.3% to 4.4%, and those identifying as believers without denomination grew significantly from 10.2% to 17.5%. Meanwhile, the "Not stated/other" category also saw an increase, rising from 15.3% to 17.5%.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
| Religion group | Census 2011 | Census 2023 (Revised Source) | Difference (2023−2011) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | |
| Muslim | 190,550 | 64.4% | 123,133 | 52.9% | -67,417 | -11.5% |
| Bektashi | 1,515 | 0.5% | 3,186 | 1.4% | +1,671 | +0.9% |
| Total Muslim | 192,065 | 64.9% | 126,319 | 54.3% | -65,746 | -10.6% |
| Catholic Christian | 3,054 | 1.0% | 1,617 | 0.7% | -1,437 | -0.3% |
| Orthodox Christian | 15,295 | 5.2% | 12,140 | 5.2% | -3,155 | +0.0% |
| Evangelical | 147 | 0.1% | 679 | 0.3% | +532 | +0.2% |
| Total Christian* | 18,591 | 6.3% | 14,624 | 6.3% | -3,967 | +0.0% |
| Atheists | 9,679 | 3.3% | 10,167 | 4.4% | +488 | +1.1% |
| Believers without denomination | 30,161 | 10.2% | 40,747 | 17.5% | +10,586 | +7.3% |
| Total Non-religious | 39,840 | 13.5% | 50,914 | 21.9% | +11,074 | +8.4% |
| Not stated / other** | 45,331 | 15.3% | 40,723 | 17.5% | -4,608 | +2.2% |
| TOTAL | 295,827 | 100% | 232,580 | 100% | -63,247 | – |