Counties ( or ), also sometimes known as prefectures ( or ), are the first-level administrative subdivisions of Albania, replacing the earlier districts. Since 2000, there have been 12 counties. Since 2015, they have been divided into 61 municipalities, 373 communes, and 2,972 villages.

History Since its Declaration of Independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, Albania has reorganized its domestic administrative divisions 21 times. The primary division until mid-2000 was into districts ( or ), whose number, size, and importance varied over time.A Brief History of the Administrative-territorial Organization in Albania , Ministry of State for Local Issues They were organized into groups comprising 12 counties beginning in 1991.

The current status of the counties is based on the 1998 constitution and was implemented on 31 July 2000. The former districts were abolished entirely and replaced with urban municipalities ( or ) and rural municipalities ( or ), which further oversaw villages ( or ) in the countryside. This was revised in 2014, so that the 2015 local elections divided the counties into municipalities ( or ) at the regional level and administrative units ( or ) for local government.

List

County Seat Municipalities NUTS-2 Area Population (2023) Population density(per km2 in 2023) Emblem Geographic coordinates Berat Berat Berat, Kuçovë, Poliçan, Skrapar, Ura Vajgurore Southern Region 140,956 78.4 Dibër Peshkopi Bulqizë, Dibër, Klos, Mat Northern Region 107,178 41.4 Durrës Durrës Durrës, Krujë, Shijak Northern Region 226,863 296.2 Elbasan Elbasan Belsh, Cërrik, Elbasan, Gramsh, Librazhd, Peqin, Prrenjas Central Region 232,580 72.7 Fier Fier Divjakë, Fier, Lushnjë, Mallakastër, Patos, Roskovec Southern Region 240,377 127.2 Gjirokastër Gjirokastër Dropull, Gjirokastër, Këlcyrë, Libohovë, Memaliaj, Përmet, Tepelenë Southern Region 60,013 20.8 Korçë Korçë Devoll, Kolonjë, Korçë, Maliq, Pogradec, Pustec Southern Region 173,091 46.6 Kukës Kukës Has, Kukës, Tropojë Northern Region 61,998 26.1 Lezhë Lezhë Kurbin, Lezhë, Mirditë Northern Region 99,384 61.3 Shkodër Shkodër Fushë-Arrëz, Malësi e Madhe, Pukë, Shkodër, Vau i Dejës Northern Region 154,479 43.4 Tirana Tiranë Kamëz, Kavajë, Rrogozhinë, Tirana, Vorë Central Region 758,513 459.1 Vlorë Vlorë Delvinë, Finiq, Himarë, Konispol, Sarandë, Selenicë, Vlorë Southern Region 146,681 54.2 References:

See also

List of counties of Albania by area List of counties of Albania by Gross Domestic Product List of counties of Albania by Human Development Index List of counties of Albania by population List of counties of Albania by population density

References