Albania

Summary

Official Name

Republic of Albania

International Conventions

CDE (1963), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2006), FCPNM (1999), ICCPR (1991), UNCRPD (2013), UNDRIP (2007)

Population

2,866,000

Principal Languages

Tosk Albanian

Literacy Rate

98% (2018 World Bank)

General References

Campbell and King 2011, Comrie 1987, Vidoeski 1983, Messing 1980, Newmark et al 1982

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for Albania is 10. All are living languages. Of these, 5 are indigenous and 5 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 6 are developing, and 1 is in trouble. Also listed is 1 unestablished language and 1 macrolanguage.

Languages

Albanian sqi: Users: Population total all languages: 5,927,830. Status:
Albanian Sign Language sqk: Scattered. Users: 3,000 (Hoyer 2007). 15,000 deaf in Albania, 24,100 worldwide (2014 IMB). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: AlbSL, Gjuha Shenjave e Shqip, Gjuha Shqiq e Shenjave, Gjuha e Shenjave Shqipe Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Albanian, Gheg aln: Widespread north of the Shkumbin river. Users: 1,200,000 in Albania (2012 UNSD). Ethnic population: 2,310,000 ethnic Albanians (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 3,906,020. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Geg, Gegnisht-Shqyp, Gheg, Guegue, Shopni, Shqip, Shqyp Autonym: Gegnisht Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Gheg
Albanian, Tosk als: Widespread south of the Shkumbin river. Users: 1,570,000 in Albania (2012 UNSD). Ethnic population: 2,310,000 ethnic Albanians (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 1,871,810. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1998, Constitution, Article 14(1)). Alternate Names: Arnaut, Shkip, Skchip, Tosk, Zhgabe Autonym: Shqip Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Tosk
Aromanian rup: Fier County: Mbrostar commune; Gjirokastër and Korçë counties: far southeast; Tiranë area. Users: 50,000 in Albania (2018 N. Balamaci). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Armani, Armina, Armini, Aromunian, Arumanian, Arumanisht, Arumenian, Arumun, Macedo Romanian, Macedo-Rumanian, Vlach Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
English eng: Users: 2,900 in Albania (2017 J. Leclerc). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Major cities. Users: 61,600 in Albania (Beck et al 2018), L2 users. Status: 4 (Educational). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Greek ell: Widespread south and larger cities. Users: 15,200 in Albania (2012 census). Ethnic population: 24,200 (2012 census). Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto provincial working language in Gjirokaster, Sarande, and Delvina provinces in south. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
Italian ita: Users: 7,870 in Albania (2017 J. Leclerc). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
Macedonian mkd: Korçë county: scattered. Users: 4,440 in Albania (2012 census). Ethnic population: 5,510 (2012 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Macedonian Slavic Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern
Romani, Vlax rmy: Berat, Durrës, Elbasan, Korçë, Lezhë, Shkodër, Tiranë, and Vlorë counties. Users: 4,000 in Albania (2012 census). Ethnic population: 8,300 (2012 census). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Rom Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Vlax
Serbian srp: Durrës, Elbasan, Fier, Korçë, Shkodër, and Tiranë counties. Users: 66 in Albania (2012 census). Ethnic population: 370 (2012 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Serbo-Croatian Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Albanian, Tosk

[als] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1998, Constitution, Article 14(1)). 1,570,000 in Albania (2012 UNSD). Ethnic population: 2,310,000 ethnic Albanians (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 1,871,810.

4 (Educational)

French

[fra] 4 (Educational). 61,600 in Albania (Beck et al 2018), L2 users.

5 (Dispersed)

Italian

[ita] 5* (Dispersed). 7,870 in Albania (2017 J. Leclerc).

Macedonian

[mkd] 5* (Dispersed). 4,440 in Albania (2012 census). Ethnic population: 5,510 (2012 census).

Serbian

[srp] 5* (Dispersed). 66 in Albania (2012 census). Ethnic population: 370 (2012 census).

5 (Developing)

Romani, Vlax

[rmy] 5* (Developing). 4,000 in Albania (2012 census). Ethnic population: 8,300 (2012 census).

Albanian Sign Language

[sqk] 5 (Developing). 3,000 (Hoyer 2007). 15,000 deaf in Albania, 24,100 worldwide (2014 IMB).

Albanian, Gheg

[aln] 5* (Developing). 1,200,000 in Albania (2012 UNSD). Ethnic population: 2,310,000 ethnic Albanians (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 3,906,020.

6b (Threatened)

Aromanian

[rup] 6b* (Threatened). 50,000 in Albania (2018 N. Balamaci).