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|image = |image =
|caption = |caption =
|pop = Approximately 8 million |pop = Approximately 17 million
|region1 = {{flagcountry|Albania}} |region1 = {{flagcountry|Albania}}
|pop1 = 3,500,000 |pop1 = 3,700,000
|ref1 = {{lower|<ref></ref>}} |ref1 = {{lower|<ref></ref>}}
|region2 = {{flagcountry|Serbia}} |region2 = {{flagcountry|Kosova}}
|pop2 = 2,000,000 (est.) |pop2 = 2,500,000 (est.)
|ref2 = {{lower|<ref>Kosovo Government estimates 2005 - </ref><ref>Serbian Government 2003 census - </ref><ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rb.html</ref>}} |ref2 = {{lower|<ref>Kosovo Government estimates 2005 - </ref><ref>Serbian Government 2003 census - </ref><ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rb.html</ref>}}
|region4 = {{flagicon|Republic of Macedonia}}&nbsp;] |region4 = {{flagicon|Republic of Macedonia}}&nbsp;]
|pop4 = 509,083 |pop4 = 809,083
|ref4 = {{lower|<ref>Republic of Macedonia 2002 census - </ref><ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mk.html</ref>}} |ref4 = {{lower|<ref>Republic of Macedonia 2002 census - </ref><ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mk.html</ref>}}
|region6 = {{flagcountry|Montenegro}} |region6 = {{flagcountry|Montenegro}}
|pop6 = 31,163 (2007) |pop6 = 71,163 (2007)
|ref6 = {{lower|<ref>Yugoslavian Federation 2003 census - </ref>}} |ref6 = {{lower|<ref>Yugoslavian Federation 2003 census - </ref>}}
|region11 = {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}} |region11 = {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
|pop11 = 200,000 |pop11 = 300,000
|ref11 = |ref11 =
|region7 = {{flagcountry|Italy}} |region7 = {{flagcountry|Italy}}
|pop7 = 238,000 |pop7 = 538,000
|ref7 = |ref7 =
|region8 = {{flagcountry|United States}} |region8 = {{flagcountry|United States}}
|pop8 = 114,000 |pop8 = 714,000
|ref8 = {{lower|<ref>United States 2000 census - </ref>}} |ref8 = {{lower|<ref>United States 2000 census - </ref>}}
|region9 = {{flagcountry|Canada}} |region9 = {{flagcountry|Canada}}
|pop9 = 16,135 |pop9 = 96,135
|ref9 = <ref></ref> |ref9 = <ref></ref>
|region10 = {{flagcountry|Sweden}} |region10 = {{flagcountry|Sweden}}
|pop10 = 35,000 |pop10 = 75,000
|ref10 = {{lower|<ref>http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/9808/27/telegram/inrikes48.html]</ref><ref></ref>}} |ref10 = {{lower|<ref>http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/9808/27/telegram/inrikes48.html]</ref><ref></ref>}}
|region27 = {{flagcountry|Denmark}} |region27 = {{flagcountry|Denmark}}
|pop27 = 8,000 |pop27 = 32,000
|ref27 = |ref27 =
|region12 = {{flagcountry|France}} |region12 = {{flagcountry|France}}
|pop12 = 20,000 |pop12 = 120,000
|ref12 = |ref12 =
|region13 = {{flagcountry|Switzerland}} |region13 = {{flagcountry|Switzerland}}
|pop13 = 40,000 |pop13 = 295,000
|ref13 = {{lower|<ref>speakers of Albanian as first language as of 2000: see ]</ref>}} |ref13 = {{lower|<ref>speakers of Albanian as first language as of 2000: see ]</ref>}}
|region14 = {{flagcountry|Germany}} |region14 = {{flagcountry|Germany}}
|pop14 = 100,000 |pop14 = 300,000
|ref14 = {{lower|<ref>Federal Republic of Germany - </ref>}} |ref14 = {{lower|<ref>Federal Republic of Germany - </ref>}}
|region15 = {{flagcountry|Netherlands}} |region15 = {{flagcountry|Netherlands}}
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|ref15 = |ref15 =
|region16 = {{flagcountry|Russia}} |region16 = {{flagcountry|Russia}}
|pop16 = 1,200 |pop16 = 74,200
|ref16 = |ref16 =
|region17 = {{flagcountry|Slovenia}} |region17 = {{flagcountry|Slovenia}}
|pop17 = 6,200 |pop17 = 26,200
|ref17 = {{lower|<ref>]</ref>}} |ref17 = {{lower|<ref>]</ref>}}
|region18 = {{flagcountry|Croatia}} |region18 = {{flagcountry|Croatia}}
|pop18 = 15,082 |pop18 =65,082
|ref18 = {{lower|<ref>] - 2001 census</ref>}} |ref18 = {{lower|<ref>] - 2001 census</ref>}}
|region19 = {{flagcountry|Romania}} |region19 = {{flagcountry|Romania}}
|pop19 = 10,000 |pop19 = 100,000
|ref19 = |ref19 =
|region20 = {{flagcountry|Norway}} |region20 = {{flagcountry|Norway}}
|pop20 = 7,000 |pop20 = 27,000
|ref20 = |ref20 =
|region21 = {{flagcountry|Belgium}} |region21 = {{flagcountry|Belgium}}
|pop21 = 5,000 |pop21 = 85,000
|ref21 = |ref21 =
|region22 = {{flagcountry|Australia}} |region22 = {{flagcountry|Australia}}
|pop22 = 20,000 |pop22 = 90,000
|ref22 = |ref22 =
|region23 = {{flagcountry|Austria}} |region23 = {{flagcountry|Austria}}
|pop23 = 20,000 |pop23 = 70,000
|ref23 = |ref23 =
|region24 = {{flagcountry|South Africa}} |region24 = {{flagcountry|South Africa}}
|pop24 = 2,000 |pop24 = 12,000
|ref24 = |ref24 =
|region25 = {{flagcountry|Egypt}} |region25 = {{flagcountry|Egypt}}
|pop25 = 5,000 |pop25 = 15,000
|ref25 = |ref25 =
|region26 = {{flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}&nbsp;] |region26 = {{flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}&nbsp;]
Line 86: Line 86:
|ref28 = |ref28 =
|region29 = {{flagcountry|Ukraine}} |region29 = {{flagcountry|Ukraine}}
|pop29 = 3,300 |pop29 = 23,300
|ref29 = |ref29 =
|region30 = {{flagcountry|Finland}} |region30 = {{flagcountry|Finland}}
|pop30 = 5,000 |pop30 = 15,000
|ref31 =
⚫ |ref30 = {{lower|<ref>http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=TRE</ref><ref>BBC News </ref>}}
|region31 = {{flagcountry|Turkey}}
|pop31 = 5,115,000
⚫ |ref31 = {{lower|<ref>http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=TRE</ref><ref>BBC News </ref>}}
|languages = ] |languages = ]
|religions = mostly ], but also large amounts of ], ], ], other. |religions = mostly atheists, also ], but also large amounts of ], ], ], protestants, jewish and other.
}} }}
{{albanians}} {{albanians}}


Albanians (]: ''Shqiptarët'') are defined as an ], in the sense of sharing a common Albanian culture, speaking the ] as a mother tongue and being of Albanian descent. Some scholars believe that the Albanians are descendants of the ] and that the Albanian language derives from the now-extinct ], others however dispute this asserting that it derived from a dialect of the now-extinct ].{{Fact|date=October 2007}} Albanians (]: ''Shqiptarët'') are defined as an ], in the sense of sharing a common Albanian culture, speaking the ] as a mother tongue and being of Albanian descent. Scholars believe that the Albanians are descendants of the ] and that the Albanian language derives from the now-extinct ].{{Fact|date=October 2007}}


About half of Albanians live in ], with the second largest group living in the ] ]n province of ] and the ]. There are also Albanian minorities and immigrant communities in a number of other countries. About half of Albanians live in ], with the second largest group living in the ] ]n province of ] and the ]. There are also Albanian minorities and immigrant communities in a number of other countries.
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===Europe=== ===Europe===
Approximately 7 million Albanians are to be found within the Balkan peninsula with only about half this number residing in ] and the other divided between ] (of which 1,9 million in the province of ]) ], the ], ] and to a much smaller extent ], ], ] and ]. Approximately half of the albanians, 7 million are to be found within the Balkan peninsula with only about half this number residing in ] and the other divided between ], ], the ], ] and to a much smaller extent ], ], ] and ].


Albanians in ], because of historical migration, are divided into different groupings. The first are the ], descendants of ethnic Albanian immigrants from the 11th to the 15th century that have intermingled and been largely assimilated into the dominant Greek population and generally do not self-identify as Albanians. A second one are ] who migrated during the ], mainly as illegal immigrants. According to the , there were 445,000 holders of Albanian citizenship in Greece. The ] raised this number to 600,000 in 2004 . Albanians in ], because of historical migration, are divided into different groupings. The first are the ], descendants of ethnic Albanian immigrants from the 11th to the 15th century. A second one are ] who migrated during the ], mainly as illegal immigrants. According to the , there were 445,000 holders of Albanian citizenship in Greece. The ] raised this number to 600,000 in 2004 . Adding the number of almost 1 million Arvanites which speak albanian but do not have albanian citizenship, Greece is today one of the countries with the largest albanian population after Albania, Kosova and Turkey.


Also an unknown number of Orthodox ] reside in the Greek region of ] (]: ''Çamëria''). There were thought to be a population of around 19,000 Muslim Chams before the end of ] who left Greece for Albania and in 1945. The exact reasons for their departure vary depending on source. (According to Greek sources, it was to avoid the impending military court sentences, a consequence of their collaboration with the Italian/German occupying forces. Albanian sources claim they were forcefully expelled by the ] troops of the Greek resistance for having collaborated with the Italian/German occupying forces.) Also an unknown number of Orthodox ] reside in the Greek region of ] (]: ''Çamëria''). There were thought to be a population of around 219,000 Muslim Chams before the end of ] who left Greece for Albania and Turkey in 1945. The exact reasons for their departure vary depending on source. (According to Greek sources, it was to avoid the impending military court sentences, a consequence of their collaboration with the Italian/German occupying forces. Albanian sources claim they were forcefully expelled by the ] troops of the Greek resistance, in an act which can be clearly categorized as a genocide against humanity.)


Whereas approximately 1 million are dispersed throughout the rest of Europe, most of these in the ], ], ], ], ] (the majority having arrived since 1991, but also older populations of ]), ] and ]. Whereas approximately 1 million are dispersed throughout the rest of Europe, most of these in the ], ], ], ], ] (the majority having arrived since 1991, but also older populations of ]), ] and ].


===Rest of the world=== ===Rest of the world===
]: In the ] the number reaches 114,000 according to the latest , while in ] approximately 15,000 as of the 2001 census. ]: In ] and ] 12,000 in total. ]: In ] there are 18,000 Albanians, mostly Tosk speakers. Many are descendants of the soldiers of ]. A large part of the former nobility of Egypt was Albanian in origin. A small community also resides in ]. ]: In the ] the number reaches 114,000 according to the latest , but there have been big waves of albanian immigrants in US and an updated number should be offered meanwhile the estimations talk about 700.000 albanians living mostly in Massachussets, NY and Michigan states. Old figures are offered also for ] approximately 15,000 as of the 2001 census. ]: In ] and ] 12,000 in total. ]: In ] there are 18,000 Albanians, mostly Tosk speakers. Many are descendants of the soldiers of ]. A large part of the former nobility of Egypt was Albanian in origin. A small community also resides in ].


==Kosovo & Republic of Macedonia== ==Kosovo & Republic of Macedonia==
Both the Province of ] and the western regions of the ] have in recent years seen armed movements (], ], ]) aiming either for independence, greater autonomy, or increased political rights. Further clashes were also reported in the ] during the period between 2000 to 2001 (in the lead-up to the Macedonian conflict). Both the ethnic albanian region of ] and the western regions of the ] have in recent years seen armed movements (], ], ]) aiming either for independence, greater autonomy, or increased political rights. Further clashes were also reported in the ] during the period between 2000 to 2001 (in the lead-up to the Macedonian conflict).


The fate of Kosovo remains uncertain owing to the reluctance of the Albanian majority in the province to accept the restoration of Serbian sovereignty and the reluctance of the ] and NATO to separate the territory from the ] in accordance with ] from 1999. The fate of Kosova remains uncertain owing to the reluctance of the Albanian majority in the province to accept the restoration of Serbian sovereignty and the reluctance of the ] and NATO to separate the territory from the ] in accordance with ] from 1999. After almost 100 years of serbian occupation, mass deportation of albanians from Kosova, genocide and attempted extermination, the 98% of the population of Kosova is its path to the independence from the occupying Serbia.


The conflict in the Republic of Macedonia seems to have calmed down. It was resolved by the Macedonian government giving the Albanian minority a greater role in the government and the right to use the ] in areas where the Albanians form a majority. The conflict in the Republic of Macedonia seems to have calmed down. It was resolved by the Macedonian government giving the Albanian minority a greater role in the government and the right to use the ] in areas where the Albanians form a majority.

It is worth mentioning here that rights to use the ] in education and government were given and guaranteed by the Constitution of ] and were widely utilized in Serbia, Macedonia, and in Montenegro long before ]. The only thing that changed in that matter is that before NATO intervention in 1999, there were information services and news ("Dnevnik") broadcasted in ] on the Serbian National Radio and Television, RTS.


==Religion== ==Religion==
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The original culture continued until the Roman and Byzantine Empires crowned ] as official religion of the regime, thus suffusing ], until both were later overshadowed by ], which kept the scepter of the major religion during the period of ] Turkish rule from the ] until year ]. ], ] and ] kept being practiced in a lower scale. During the 20th century the ] and later the ] followed a systematic ] of the nation and the national culture. This policy was mainly applied and felt within the borders of the present Albanian state, thus producing a ] majority in the population. All forms of ], ] and other religious practices were prohibited except for old non-institutional ] practices in the rural areas which were seen as identifying with the national culture. As a result of this the current Albanian state has also brought pagan festivals to life, like the lunar ] festival (]: ''Dita e Verës'') held yearly on ] in the city of ], which is a national holiday. The original culture continued until the Roman and Byzantine Empires crowned ] as official religion of the regime, thus suffusing ], until both were later overshadowed by ], which kept the scepter of the major religion during the period of ] Turkish rule from the ] until year ]. ], ] and ] kept being practiced in a lower scale. During the 20th century the ] and later the ] followed a systematic ] of the nation and the national culture. This policy was mainly applied and felt within the borders of the present Albanian state, thus producing a ] majority in the population. All forms of ], ] and other religious practices were prohibited except for old non-institutional ] practices in the rural areas which were seen as identifying with the national culture. As a result of this the current Albanian state has also brought pagan festivals to life, like the lunar ] festival (]: ''Dita e Verës'') held yearly on ] in the city of ], which is a national holiday.


Most Albanians are ]<ref>'']'' - </ref><ref>'']'' - </ref> (] and ]s). It is estimated that 70% of Albanians in the Republic of Albania are Muslim, 99% in the Province of Kosovo and 90% in the Republic of Macedonia are believed to be Muslim.(CIA Factbook 2007). Although there are also ] (predominantly in Southern Albania, bordering ]) and ] (predominantly in Northern Albania, bordering the ]). After ] an influx of foreign missionaries has brought more religious diversity with groupings such as ], ], ], ], ], a variety of ] denominations and many others. This rich blend of religions has rarely caused religious strife and fanaticism and people of different religions freely intermarry. For part of its history, Albania has also had a Jewish community. Some of the members of the Jewish community were saved by a group of Albanians during the Nazi occupation, they left for Israel circa 1990-1992. Most Albanians are ]<ref>'']'' - </ref><ref>'']'' - </ref> (] and ]s). It is estimated that 20% of Albanians in the Republic of Albania are Muslim, 32% in Kosova and 42% in the Republic of Macedonia are believed to be Muslim.(CIA Factbook 2007). Although there are also ] (predominantly in Southern Albania and ] (predominantly in Northern Albania. After ] an influx of foreign missionaries has brought more religious diversity with groupings such as ], ], ], ], ], a variety of ] denominations and many others. This rich blend of religions has rarely caused religious strife and fanaticism and people of different religions freely intermarry. For part of its history, Albania has also had a Jewish community. Albania has developed special ties with Israel, given contrary with what happens in the neighboring Serbia and Greece, albanians have strong feelings about jewish, and Albania is the only country in the Balkans where the jewish population after WWII was higher than before it.


==Other terms used== ==Other terms used==
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*], ], ]; the old native term denoting ancient and medieval Albanians and sharing the same root with the latter. At the time the country was called Arbër (]: Arbën) and Arbëria (]: Arbënia). This term is still used for the Albanians that migrated to Italy during the Middle Ages. *], ], ]; the old native term denoting ancient and medieval Albanians and sharing the same root with the latter. At the time the country was called Arbër (]: Arbën) and Arbëria (]: Arbënia). This term is still used for the Albanians that migrated to Italy during the Middle Ages.
*]; old term used mainly from Turks and by extension by European authors during the Ottoman Empire. A derivate of Arbër, Albanian. *]; old term used mainly from Turks and by extension by European authors during the Ottoman Empire. A derivate of Arbër, Albanian.
*]s; the historical rendering of the ethnonym Shqiptar, or Shqyptar by French, Austrian and German authors, mainly during the 18th-20th century. *]s; the historical rendering of the ethnonym Shqiptar, or Shqyptar by French, Austrian and German authors, mainly during the 18th-20th century.


===Misnaming=== ===Misnaming===
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*]; term used during the Middle Ages from Venetian and other European authors to denote Albanians of Catholic faith mainly in the Northern regions up to the 19th century. *]; term used during the Middle Ages from Venetian and other European authors to denote Albanians of Catholic faith mainly in the Northern regions up to the 19th century.
*]; old term used generically from Byzantine times up to the 20th century by other European authors to denote Albanians of Orthodox faith in the Southern regions, as also those migrating, during the Ottoman Occupation, from Epirus and Peloponnese to Italy. Toponyms reflecting this historical misnaming began being corrected in Italy during the 1930s. *]; old term used generically from Byzantine times up to the 20th century by other European authors to denote Albanians of Orthodox faith in the Southern regions, as also those migrating, during the Ottoman Occupation, from Epirus and Peloponnese to Italy. Toponyms reflecting this historical misnaming began being corrected in Italy during the 1930s.
*]; old term as above, used by authors to denote Albanians of Orthodox faith in the Northern regions up to the 19th century. *]; old term as above, used by authors to denote Albanians of Orthodox faith in the Northern regions up to the 19th century. Also it is widely believed that most of the so called "serbs" of the ethnic Albanian region of Kosova, are just albanians culturally assimilated by the influence of the byzantine orthodox church of the region which for some periods was under the rule of serbian kings.
*]; old term used by ecclesiastical writings and embraced by other European authors to denote Albanians of Muslim faith, and generally all Albanian legions of the Ottoman army. *]; old term used by ecclesiastical writings and embraced by other European authors to denote Albanians of Muslim faith, and generally all Albanian legions of the Ottoman army.


==Historical individuals== ==Historical individuals==
Prominent individuals from Albania have included the defender of Albania during the mid-15th century ], the writer ], the painter ], the composer ], the ] winner ], the Olympic athlete ], the ] missionary ] and ].Other well known individuals include the prime minister of the ] ] and ] the ] of ]. ] and his brother ] were of Albanian parents who immigrated in the USA after WWII. Also the American actress ] is born of an Albanian father and a half-Danish mother. Prominent individuals from Albania have included the defender of Albania during the mid-15th century ], the writer ], the painter ], the composer ], the ] winner ], the Olympic athlete ], the ] missionary ] and ]. Other well known individuals include the prime minister of the ] ] and ] the ] of ]. ] and his brother ] were of Albanian parents who immigrated in the USA after WWII. Also the American actress ] is born of an Albanian father and a half-Danish mother. American democrat senator and candidate for president John Kerry has also some albanian roots.


== Notes and references == == Notes and references ==

Revision as of 20:16, 25 October 2007

This article is about Albanians as an ethnic group. For demographic information, see Demographics of Albania.

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Ethnic group
Albanians
Shqiptarë
Total population
Approximately 17 million
Regions with significant populations
 Albania3,700,000
 Kosova2,500,000 (est.)
North Macedonia Rep. Macedonia809,083
 Montenegro71,163 (2007)
 Italy538,000
 United States714,000
 Canada96,135
 Sweden75,000
 United Kingdom300,000
 France120,000
  Switzerland295,000
 Germany300,000
 Netherlands105,706
 Russia74,200
 Slovenia26,200
 Croatia65,082
 Romania100,000
 Norway27,000
 Belgium85,000
 Australia90,000
 Austria70,000
 South Africa12,000
 Egypt15,000
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia/Herz.15,000
 Denmark32,000
 Luxembourg4,802
 Ukraine23,300
 Finland15,000
 Turkey5,115,000
Languages
Albanian
Religion
mostly atheists, also Sunni Muslims, but also large amounts of Bektashi Muslims, Orthodox Christians, Catholic Christians, protestants, jewish and other.
Part of a series on
Albanians
Geographical distribution
Albanian culture
Albanian language
Religion

Albanians (Albanian: Shqiptarët) are defined as an ethnic group, in the sense of sharing a common Albanian culture, speaking the Albanian language as a mother tongue and being of Albanian descent. Scholars believe that the Albanians are descendants of the Illyrians and that the Albanian language derives from the now-extinct Illyrian language.

About half of Albanians live in Albania, with the second largest group living in the UN administered Serbian province of Kosovo and the Republic of Macedonia. There are also Albanian minorities and immigrant communities in a number of other countries.

History of the term

Further information: Origin of the Albanians and Albania (toponym)

Albanians are often claimed as the direct descendants of the ancient Illyrians, or alternatively derived of Thracian or Dacian stock, or from a mixture of these. The name Albanian itself was first mentioned in the 2nd century BCE by Polybius (Arbanios, Arbanitai with their city Arbon), the 1st century CE by Pliny (Olbonensis), and the 2nd century CE by geographer and astronomer Ptolemy (Albanoi), as one of the important Illyrian tribes situated where is now Central Albania with Albanopolis as their main city.

Albani (Albanoi), tribe in ancient Illyria, from Alexander G. Findlay's Classical Atlas to Illustrate Ancient Geography, New York, 1849

The ethnonym applied to the people now known as Albanians is first attested from the 11th century (e.g. Anna Komnene, Alexiad 4.8.4), the first reference to a lingua albanesca dates to the later 13th century.

Due to the high rate of migration of various ethnic groups throughout the Balkans in the last two decades, exact figures are difficult to obtain. A tenuous breakdown of Albanians by location is as follows:

Europe

Approximately half of the albanians, 7 million are to be found within the Balkan peninsula with only about half this number residing in Albania and the other divided between Kosovaa, Montenegro, the Republic of Macedonia, Greece and to a much smaller extent Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia and Romania.

Albanians in Greece, because of historical migration, are divided into different groupings. The first are the Arvanites, descendants of ethnic Albanian immigrants from the 11th to the 15th century. A second one are Albanian nationals who migrated during the 1990s, mainly as illegal immigrants. According to the 2001 census, there were 445,000 holders of Albanian citizenship in Greece. The Watson Institute raised this number to 600,000 in 2004 . Adding the number of almost 1 million Arvanites which speak albanian but do not have albanian citizenship, Greece is today one of the countries with the largest albanian population after Albania, Kosova and Turkey.

Also an unknown number of Orthodox Cham Albanians reside in the Greek region of Epirus (Albanian: Çamëria). There were thought to be a population of around 219,000 Muslim Chams before the end of World War II who left Greece for Albania and Turkey in 1945. The exact reasons for their departure vary depending on source. (According to Greek sources, it was to avoid the impending military court sentences, a consequence of their collaboration with the Italian/German occupying forces. Albanian sources claim they were forcefully expelled by the EDES troops of the Greek resistance, in an act which can be clearly categorized as a genocide against humanity.)

Whereas approximately 1 million are dispersed throughout the rest of Europe, most of these in the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Italy (the majority having arrived since 1991, but also older populations of Arbëreshë), Austria and France.

Rest of the world

Americas: In the United States the number reaches 114,000 according to the latest 2000 US Census, but there have been big waves of albanian immigrants in US and an updated number should be offered meanwhile the estimations talk about 700.000 albanians living mostly in Massachussets, NY and Michigan states. Old figures are offered also for Canada approximately 15,000 as of the 2001 census. Oceania: In Australia and New Zealand 12,000 in total. Africa: In Egypt there are 18,000 Albanians, mostly Tosk speakers. Many are descendants of the soldiers of Mehmet Ali. A large part of the former nobility of Egypt was Albanian in origin. A small community also resides in South Africa.

Kosovo & Republic of Macedonia

Both the ethnic albanian region of Kosova and the western regions of the Republic of Macedonia have in recent years seen armed movements (Kosova Liberation Army, UCPMB, Macedonian NLA) aiming either for independence, greater autonomy, or increased political rights. Further clashes were also reported in the Presheva Valley during the period between 2000 to 2001 (in the lead-up to the Macedonian conflict).

The fate of Kosova remains uncertain owing to the reluctance of the Albanian majority in the province to accept the restoration of Serbian sovereignty and the reluctance of the United Nations and NATO to separate the territory from the Republic of Serbia in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244 from 1999. After almost 100 years of serbian occupation, mass deportation of albanians from Kosova, genocide and attempted extermination, the 98% of the population of Kosova is its path to the independence from the occupying Serbia.

The conflict in the Republic of Macedonia seems to have calmed down. It was resolved by the Macedonian government giving the Albanian minority a greater role in the government and the right to use the Albanian language in areas where the Albanians form a majority.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Albania

Ancient Illyrian Religion

The two main Illyrian cults were the Cult of the Sun and the Cult of the Snake. The main festivals were the seasonal summer and winter festivals during the solstices and the spring and autumn festivals during the equinoxes. An organic system of assigning human personifications to natural phenomena was culturally developed and remnants of these still appear in everyday Albanian folklore and tradition.

Development of Modern Albanian Religious Affiliation

The original culture continued until the Roman and Byzantine Empires crowned Christianity as official religion of the regime, thus suffusing Paganism, until both were later overshadowed by Islam, which kept the scepter of the major religion during the period of Ottoman Turkish rule from the 15th century until year 1912. Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Roman Catholicism and Paganism kept being practiced in a lower scale. During the 20th century the monarchy and later the totalitarian state followed a systematic dereligionization of the nation and the national culture. This policy was mainly applied and felt within the borders of the present Albanian state, thus producing a nonreligious majority in the population. All forms of Christianity, Islam and other religious practices were prohibited except for old non-institutional Pagan practices in the rural areas which were seen as identifying with the national culture. As a result of this the current Albanian state has also brought pagan festivals to life, like the lunar Spring festival (Albanian: Dita e Verës) held yearly on March 14th in the city of Elbasan, which is a national holiday.

Most Albanians are Atheists (Sunni Muslims and Bektashis). It is estimated that 20% of Albanians in the Republic of Albania are Muslim, 32% in Kosova and 42% in the Republic of Macedonia are believed to be Muslim.(CIA Factbook 2007). Although there are also Orthodox Christians (predominantly in Southern Albania and Roman Catholics (predominantly in Northern Albania. After 1992 an influx of foreign missionaries has brought more religious diversity with groupings such as Jehova Witnesses, Mormons, Hindus, Bahá'í, Scientologists, a variety of Christian denominations and many others. This rich blend of religions has rarely caused religious strife and fanaticism and people of different religions freely intermarry. For part of its history, Albania has also had a Jewish community. Albania has developed special ties with Israel, given contrary with what happens in the neighboring Serbia and Greece, albanians have strong feelings about jewish, and Albania is the only country in the Balkans where the jewish population after WWII was higher than before it.

Other terms used

The Albanians are and have been referred to by other terms as well. Some of them are:

  • Illyrians; old term used during antiquity up to the Byzantine Empire.
  • Macedonians; old term used by local and other European authors during the Middle Ages.
  • Epirotes; old term widely used during the Middle Ages by local and foreign authors.
  • Arbër, Arbën, Arbëreshë; the old native term denoting ancient and medieval Albanians and sharing the same root with the latter. At the time the country was called Arbër (Gheg: Arbën) and Arbëria (Gheg: Arbënia). This term is still used for the Albanians that migrated to Italy during the Middle Ages.
  • Arnauts; old term used mainly from Turks and by extension by European authors during the Ottoman Empire. A derivate of Arbër, Albanian.
  • Shqiptars; the historical rendering of the ethnonym Shqiptar, or Shqyptar by French, Austrian and German authors, mainly during the 18th-20th century.

Misnaming

Because of confounding nationality with religious affiliation many authors from Byzantine times have also called and registered Albanians with the following names:

  • Latins; term used during the Middle Ages from Venetian and other European authors to denote Albanians of Catholic faith mainly in the Northern regions up to the 19th century.
  • Greeks; old term used generically from Byzantine times up to the 20th century by other European authors to denote Albanians of Orthodox faith in the Southern regions, as also those migrating, during the Ottoman Occupation, from Epirus and Peloponnese to Italy. Toponyms reflecting this historical misnaming began being corrected in Italy during the 1930s.
  • Serbs; old term as above, used by authors to denote Albanians of Orthodox faith in the Northern regions up to the 19th century. Also it is widely believed that most of the so called "serbs" of the ethnic Albanian region of Kosova, are just albanians culturally assimilated by the influence of the byzantine orthodox church of the region which for some periods was under the rule of serbian kings.
  • Turks; old term used by ecclesiastical writings and embraced by other European authors to denote Albanians of Muslim faith, and generally all Albanian legions of the Ottoman army.

Historical individuals

Prominent individuals from Albania have included the defender of Albania during the mid-15th century Skenderbeg, the writer Ismail Kadare, the painter Ibrahim Kodra, the composer Simon Gjoni, the Nobel Prize winner Ferid Murad, the Olympic athlete Klodiana Shala, the Roman Catholic missionary Mother Teresa and Pope Clement XI. Other well known individuals include the prime minister of the Ottoman Empire Ferhat Pasha and Muhamed Ali the viceroy of Egypt. John Belushi and his brother Jim Belushi were of Albanian parents who immigrated in the USA after WWII. Also the American actress Eliza Dushku is born of an Albanian father and a half-Danish mother. American democrat senator and candidate for president John Kerry has also some albanian roots.

Notes and references

  2. Kosovo Government estimates 2005 -
  3. Serbian Government 2003 census -
  4. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rb.html
  5. Republic of Macedonia 2002 census -
  6. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mk.html
  7. Yugoslavian Federation 2003 census -
  8. United States 2000 census -
  9. statcan.ca
  10. http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/9808/27/telegram/inrikes48.html]
  12. speakers of Albanian as first language as of 2000: see Demographics of Switzerland
  13. Federal Republic of Germany -
  14. Slovenia
  15. Demographics of Croatia - 2001 census
  16. http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=TRE
  17. BBC News
  18. Aleksandar Stipčević - Iliri: povijest, život, kultura, Zagreb, Školska knjiga, 1989
  19. ^ Mark Tirta, "Mitologjia ndër shqiptarë", Akademia e Shkencave e Shqipërisë, Tirana, 2004
  20. The World Factbook - Albania
  21. BBC - Muslims in Europe: Country guide: Albania

Reading

Edith Durham, The Burden of the Balkans (1905)

Albanian diaspora
Europe
Americas
Asia
Africa
Oceania

See also

Column-generating template families

The templates listed here are not interchangeable. For example, using {{col-float}} with {{col-end}} instead of {{col-float-end}} would leave a <div>...</div> open, potentially harming any subsequent formatting.

Column templates
Type Family Handles wiki
table code? 		Responsive/
mobile suited 		Start template Column divider End template
Float "col-float" Yes Yes {{col-float}} {{col-float-break}} {{col-float-end}}
"columns-start" Yes Yes {{columns-start}} {{column}} {{columns-end}}
Columns "div col" Yes Yes {{div col}} – {{div col end}}
"columns-list" No Yes {{columns-list}} (wraps div col) – –
Flexbox "flex columns" No Yes {{flex columns}} – –
Table "col" Yes No {{col-begin}},
{{col-begin-fixed}} or
{{col-begin-small}} 		{{col-break}} or
{{col-2}} .. {{col-5}} 		{{col-end}}

Can template handle the basic wiki markup {| | || |- |} used to create tables? If not, special templates that produce these elements (such as {{(!}}, {{!}}, {{!!}}, {{!-}}, {{!)}})—or HTML tags (<table>...</table>, <tr>...</tr>, etc.)—need to be used instead.

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