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Elbasan County
Elbasan County
Elbasan County
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Elbasan County (Albanian: Qarku i Elbasanit) is one of the 12 counties of Albania. The population is 232,580 (as of 2023), in an area of 3199 km2.[2] Its capital is the city Elbasan.

Key Information

Administrative divisions

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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.[3] Before 2015, it consisted of the following 50 municipalities:

The municipalities consist of about 385 towns and villages in total. See Villages of Elbasan County for a structured list.

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
1950130,000—    
1960160,849+23.7%
1969206,842+28.6%
1979281,769+36.2%
1989357,497+26.9%
2001362,736+1.5%
2011295,827−18.4%
2023232,580−21.4%
Source: [4][5]

Elbasan County has 232,580 inhabitants as of 2023. The county is 89.9% Albanian, 1.86% Roma and Balkan Egyptian, 0.23% of a South Slavic ethnicity (mainly Bulgarian, but lesser numbers of Serbs, Macedonians, and Bosniaks), 0.06% Aromanians, 0.06% Greeks, and the rest unidentified or of mixed ethnicities.

Religion

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Between the 2011 and 2023 censuses in Elbasan, there were notable shifts in religious affiliation. The Sunni Muslim population decreased significantly from 64.4% to 52.9%, while Bektashi Muslims 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%.[6]

Population of Elbasan according to religious group (2011–2023)
Religion group Census 2011 Census 2023 (Revised Source) Difference (2023−2011)
Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage
Sunni Muslim 190,550 64.4% 123,133 52.9% -67,417 -11.5%
Bektashi Muslim 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 –

References

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Elbasan County

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Elbasan County (Albanian: Qarku i Elbasanit) is one of the twelve counties comprising the administrative divisions of Albania, positioned in the central region of the country. Its capital and largest city is Elbasan, situated along the Shkumbin River valley. The county covers an area of 3,199 square kilometers and, according to the 2023 national census, accounts for approximately 9.7% of Albania's total population, equating to around 233,000 residents. Geographically, Elbasan County features a diverse of rugged mountains, such as the Mali i Dajtit range to the west, interspersed with fertile plains and river corridors that facilitate agricultural production. The Shkumbin River, traversing the region, supports irrigation for crops and contributes to the area's . Agriculture remains a cornerstone of the local , with significant dedicated to grains, vegetables, and ; Elbasan ranks among Albania's top counties for agricultural acreage, encompassing over 72,000 hectares. Industrially, the county is notable for its metallurgical and sectors, particularly chrome extraction and production centered in and around city, which historically positioned the region as an economic hub during the communist era. The area's ancient heritage includes Illyrian settlements and Roman foundations, with originating as the colony of Scampis before evolving into a key Ottoman stronghold featuring the well-preserved Elbasan Castle. These elements underscore Elbasan County's blend of natural resources, productive , and industrial capacity within Albania's developing .

Geography

Location and Borders

Elbasan County lies in central , positioned in the southeastern Balkan Peninsula and forming a key transitional zone between the coastal lowlands and interior mountains. Centered at approximately 41°00′N 20°10′E, it extends across varied landscapes including the Myzeqe Plain to the west and the rugged Mountains to the north, with the Shkumbin River traversing its core. The county's capital, , is strategically located about 40 kilometers southeast of , 's capital, facilitating its role as a historical and economic hub in the region. The county is delimited by five neighboring Albanian administrative divisions, reflecting Albania's post-2015 regional structure. To the northwest, it adjoins ; northeast with ; southeast bordering ; south with ; and southwest interfacing . These internal boundaries largely align with natural geographic markers, such as river courses like the Shkumbin and Devoll, and ridgelines of the central Albanian highlands, without any direct international frontiers. This central inland placement underscores Elbasan County's integration within Albania's national geography, emphasizing connectivity via major passes like the Krrabë Pass linking it to eastern and southern routes.

Topography and Natural Features

Elbasan County features a diverse dominated by hilly and mountainous , particularly in its eastern regions, which transitions into fertile valleys and lowlands toward the west. The landscape includes significant elevations, with the Shpati Mountain range hosting the county's highest peak, Maja e Bukanikut, at 1,823 meters above sea level. This rugged eastern contrasts with the broader Shkumbin valley in the central area, facilitating agricultural productivity and settlement patterns. The county is traversed by major rivers, including the Shkumbin, with a of 2,511 km², flowing westward through municipalities such as , , and Peqin, and the Devoll, which crosses Gramsh. These waterways, along with tributaries like Gostima and Rrapuni, contribute to the formation of alluvial plains and support resources, including karstic springs such as Krasta and Mengel. vegetation zones reflect the altitudinal variation, encompassing shrublands at lower elevations, and forests on mid-slopes, and alpine pastures at higher altitudes. Prominent natural features include karstic lakes, with 82 documented in the Dumre area, and glacial lakes within protected zones like Shebenik-Jabllanicë , which spans parts of the county and preserves high-elevation cirques and hotspots. The Skanderbeg Mountains border the northern extent, influencing local microclimates and providing corridors for ecological connectivity across central .

Hydrology and Climate

The hydrology of Elbasan County is primarily defined by the Shkumbin River, a major waterway spanning 181 kilometers that originates in the eastern mountainous areas and flows westward through the county toward the , supporting local , , and potential hydroelectric generation. The region exhibits robust dynamics, with aquifers providing significant contributions to urban water needs, such as Elbasan city's supply of approximately 1,000 liters per second drawn from local hydrogeological formations. While as a whole possesses abundant surface and subsurface distributed across seven river basin districts, Elbasan County lacks major natural lakes, relying instead on the Shkumbin basin for its freshwater dynamics, though water quality in the river has been assessed as variable due to upstream influences and human activity. Elbasan County's aligns with a hot-summer Mediterranean (Köppen Csa), featuring hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters, with annual temperatures averaging around 15°C and extremes ranging from lows of about 0°C in to highs exceeding 33°C in and . totals approximately 982 mm annually, predominantly falling between and , with roughly 150 rainy days per year and minimal snowfall confined to higher elevations. Topographic variations across the county, from lowland plains near to eastern highlands, introduce microclimatic differences, including cooler temperatures and enhanced orographic rainfall in mountainous zones, though overall patterns reflect central Albania's transitional inland Mediterranean regime with less coastal moderation.

History

Antiquity and Early Settlements

The region encompassing modern Elbasan County exhibits evidence of human habitation dating to prehistoric periods, though systematic archaeological data remains limited. settlements, potentially after 5000 BC, have been identified in broader Albanian contexts, with suggesting early agricultural communities in river valleys like that of the Shkumbin, which bisects the county. However, specific attestation for Elbasan County ties more firmly to the , where fragmented pottery and flint tools indicate proto-urban clusters influenced by . Illyrian tribes, part of the southern Illyrian ethnic groups, represent the earliest documented inhabitants of the area, establishing permanent settlements by the . These groups, likely affiliated with tribes such as the or Bylliones active in central , constructed initial dwellings amid the fertile plains and strategic passes, exploiting the region's position along natural trade corridors. In August 2010, excavations near the walls of Castle uncovered two Illyrian graves containing burial goods consistent with 2nd–1st century BC practices, confirming pre-Roman occupation and ritual continuity. By the AD, Roman expansion integrated the area into the province of Illyricum, with a formal settlement founded on the Shkumbin River banks as a mansio (road station) named Mansio Scampa or Skampis, deriving from Illyrian roots possibly meaning "place of residence." Positioned along the —a key Roman military and commercial artery linking Dyrrhachium () to —Skampis served as a fortified , evidenced by coin hoards, amphorae, and infrastructure remnants indicating a population of several hundred. Nearby sites, such as Ad Quintum in Bradashesh (6 km east), preserved road markers and traces of the ancient town of Ganusium, underscoring the county's role in early imperial logistics and cultural between Illyrian and Roman elements. Archaeological surveys reveal no major urban centers predating this era, but rural villas and necropoleis suggest a dispersed agrarian economy supporting legionary movements.

Medieval and Ottoman Eras

During the medieval period, after the permanent division of the in 395 AD, the Elbasan region came under the control of the , with the ancient settlement of Scampis retaining importance as a fortified station along the road. Byzantine authorities expanded the existing Roman defenses, transforming it into a key defensive and transit point amid regional instability from Slavic migrations and invasions. Evidence from archaeological excavations, including remnants of early Christian basilicas, points to a Christian-majority population that persisted through the , underscoring Elbasan's role in Byzantine ecclesiastical networks despite broader territorial shifts involving Bulgarian and later Serbian overlords in the 13th and 14th centuries. The onset of Ottoman dominance began in the mid-15th century, as Sultan ordered the construction of the Fortress in 1466 on the ruins of Scampis, establishing it as a strategic military outpost to support campaigns against Albanian resistance led by Gjergj Kastrioti, known as . mounted offensives against the nascent fortress, including raids that inflicted heavy losses on Ottoman forces in 1467, but failed to seize it, allowing the Ottomans to consolidate control over central . Throughout the Ottoman era, from the late 15th to early 20th centuries, evolved into a prominent center for administration, trade, and artisanal production, leveraging its position at the crossroads of Balkan routes to facilitate commerce in goods like textiles and metals. The fortress, initially a bulwark against rebellion, later housed mosques, baths, and bazaars, reflecting Islamic architectural influences amid gradual Islamization of the populace. By the , had become a hub of Albanian cultural and nationalist stirrings, with local intellectuals contributing to early independence movements against Ottoman rule, though the fortress walls were partially dismantled in following regional uprisings.

19th-20th Century Developments

During the , Elbasan operated as the center of the Ottoman of Elbasan, an administrative that was reorganized into the Monastir Vilayet in 1864 as part of reforms aimed at centralizing control and improving provincial governance. The city's fortress, originally constructed in the for military purposes, was largely dismantled in 1832 by Reshid Mehmed Pasha to adapt Ottoman defenses to modern and reduce maintenance costs, though remnants persisted as symbols of imperial presence. Economically, Elbasan thrived as a nexus for trade and artisanal production, including textiles, metals, and , facilitated by its position on caravan routes connecting the Adriatic coast to inland . Religiously, the at the century's end featured a Muslim majority alongside Christian Orthodox and Catholic minorities, with Ottoman policies enforcing coexistence but favoring Islamic institutions. As Albanian nationalist stirrings intensified under Ottoman rule, hosted key cultural assemblies, such as the 1909 Congress organized by local patriots to promote Albanian-language education and standardize , countering imperial restrictions on native schooling that prioritized Turkish and . This event underscored the region's role in the Rilindja Kombëtare, where intellectuals advocated linguistic unification to preserve ethnic identity amid Ottoman assimilation efforts. During the (–1913), Serbian troops captured on November 13, , as part of advances into Albanian-inhabited territories, prompting local resistance and contributing to the broader on November 28, , in , though effective control remained contested. World War I brought repeated foreign occupations to Elbasan, beginning with Serbian forces in 1912, followed by Austro-Hungarian and Bulgarian incursions in January 1916, which divided the region into occupation zones and exploited local resources for the ' logistics. Under Austro-Hungarian administration, Albanian elites in Elbasan formed provisional bodies, including a Council of Elders in eastern areas, to manage affairs and assert limited , with figures like Ahmet Zogu influencing pro-Central alignments before shifting allegiances. In the interwar era (–), Elbasan benefited from King Zog I's centralizing reforms after Albania's 1928 monarchical declaration, seeing investments in roads, schools, and administrative infrastructure that boosted population growth from approximately 13,000 in 1923 to over 15,000 by 1930, though economic progress lagged due to rural agrarian dominance and limited industrialization. By the late , Italian economic penetration via loans and concessions increasingly shaped the county's trajectory, setting the stage for wartime disruptions.

Communist Period and Post-1991 Reforms

During Albania's communist era (1944–1991), Elbasan County experienced aggressive industrialization as part of the regime's drive for economic self-sufficiency, transforming Elbasan city into the nation's leading center. The flagship Metallurgical Complex (Kombinat Metalurgjik) began construction in 1965 with Chinese aid after Albania's split from the Soviet bloc, expanding in the 1970s to include pig-iron furnaces, mills, , nickel-cobalt processing, coke ovens, and production across roughly 460 km². This facility, employing up to 12,000 workers by the 1980s, produced metals for national infrastructure, including bunkers, and reduced import reliance on products like round rods. Complementary sectors, such as the Cërrik , plants, factories (with 1,617 employees in ), hydroelectric facilities, and armaments works, drove regional output, contributing over 40% to national industrial income by 1985 and fueling mineral exports that accounted for about 75% of Albania's total. Industrial expansion spurred and migration, boosting Elbasan's from 29,800 in 1960 to 83,300 by 1990, with production volumes surging—such as a 3.9-fold increase overall from 1960 to 1975, including 21-fold growth in processing. However, operations prioritized output over safety or , with unfiltered chimneys up to 220 meters tall emitting , , and heavy metals like and , contaminating soil to depths of 32 cm and rendering central areas unsuitable for . This legacy included elevated respiratory diseases (87 deaths in 2002, including 21 infants) and tumors (200 deaths that year), disproportionately affecting locals compared to national averages. Post-1991 reforms dismantled the command economy through and market liberalization, but Elbasan County's faced rapid amid technological obsolescence and funding shortages. The August 1991 Privatization Law enabled asset transfers, with the Metallurgical Complex partially acquired by a Turkish firm and the by Lebanese investors in the early , though many units like the ferrochrome plant and Cërrik shuttered outright. Workforce levels plummeted from 10,000–12,000 to around 1,000 by the 2020s, exacerbated by the 1997 crisis that triggered nationwide anarchy, including looting and destruction of Elbasan's armaments . Agricultural reforms via July 1991's Law 7501 redistributed collectivized land to pre-1945 owners, fostering smallholder farming in rural county areas but yielding fragmented plots and import dependency. lagged, leaving 1.5–2 million tonnes of untreated ; soil, water, and air exceed EU metal limits by threefold or more, correlating with persistent cancers, birth defects, and livestock mutations, despite assessments by the World Bank and UN agencies. Government responses have been minimal, with self-monitored emissions and stalled as of 2025.

Administration and Governance

Administrative Divisions

Elbasan County is administratively divided into seven municipalities, a structure established by 's 2015 territorial and administrative reform, which consolidated smaller communes into larger units to enhance efficiency and service delivery. These municipalities are Belsh, Cërrik, , Gramsh, , Peqin, and Prrenjas. The reform reduced the total number of first-level local governments across from 373 to 61 municipalities, with Elbasan County's configuration reflecting this nationwide consolidation. Each municipality encompasses multiple administrative units (njësi administrative) and villages, totaling 43 administrative units and 386 villages county-wide. The Elbasan municipality, serving as the , covers 872.03 km² and had a of 205,892 as of recent local records. This subdivision facilitates local decision-making, with municipalities handling responsibilities such as , public services, and under oversight from the county council.
MunicipalityKey Notes
BelshIncludes former rural communes; focuses on agricultural administration.
CërrikCentral lowland area with mixed urban-rural units.
ElbasanCounty capital; largest by area and population.
GramshEastern mountainous region with dispersed villages.
Includes mining-influenced administrative units.
PeqinLowland municipality with historical settlements.
PrrenjasFeatures industrial and rural divisions.

Local Government Structure

The local government structure of Elbasan County operates within 's decentralized framework established by the 2015 territorial reform under Law No. 115/2014 "On , Local Borrowings and Administrative-Territorial Organization in ," which consolidated smaller units into larger municipalities while preserving counties as intermediate coordinating entities. At the county level, authority is divided between and the regional council, with the former emphasizing state oversight and the latter focusing on inter-municipal coordination. This setup limits county powers to non-executive functions like and legality checks, as municipalities hold primary service delivery responsibilities. The (prefekti), appointed by the on the Prime Minister's proposal for a five-year term, serves as the central government's representative, monitoring compliance with national legislation, coordinating public order, and mediating disputes between local units and state agencies. The position is non-partisan and focuses on administrative enforcement rather than policy-making, with the current as of 2023 coordinating efforts in areas like civil emergencies and regional infrastructure alignment. report to the Ministry of Interior and lack direct fiscal authority, relying on central allocations for oversight activities. The Regional Council (Këshilli i Qarkut) comprises delegates selected by the municipal councils of Elbasan's seven municipalities—Belsh, Cërrik, Elbasan, Gramsh, , Peqin, and Prrenjas—typically proportional to each municipality's population and council representation, ensuring balanced input without direct public elections at the county level. The council, chaired by a president elected from its members, approves the county's development strategy, allocates regional grants, and promotes cross-municipal projects such as and environmental initiatives, convening periodically to address shared challenges like rural depopulation. Supporting this are specialized sectors for and human resources, land protection, , , and , which handle technical implementation under council directives. This delegated model, reformed in to enhance efficiency, has faced critiques for insufficient , with councils often deferring to municipal priorities amid fiscal constraints from central transfers.

Political and Economic Governance Challenges

Elbasan County faces persistent challenges in political governance, including low in local officials stemming from perceptions of entrenched and inadequate enforcement of transparency laws. Surveys indicate widespread distrust, exacerbated by limited citizen participation in processes and weak of right-to-information mechanisms. Local authorities have responded with initiatives like plans and digital platforms for , but monitoring remains insufficient to rebuild confidence. Decentralization reforms have introduced administrative , with unclear divisions of competence between central and local entities, as seen in delays transferring public assets like utilities to Elbasan Municipality. Political influences have hindered transparent asset management, leading to fiscal strains from inherited debts and reduced central subsidies between 2009 and 2015. These issues limit local leaders' capacity to handle expanded responsibilities, perpetuating inefficiencies in service delivery such as water and sewerage. On the security front, Elbasan has grappled with political extremism, having been a key recruitment hotspot for individuals joining the in and , often targeting unemployed . The established a Local Public Safety Council in , involving police, religious leaders, and to counter hate and polarization, aligned with national strategies. However, building trust in these bodies remains difficult due to the sensitive nature of discussions and underlying socioeconomic vulnerabilities. Economic governance is undermined by systemic , notably in , where €140 million allocated for an Elbasan incinerator in 2017 disappeared through no-bid contracts and shell companies, leaving the facility unbuilt. This has resulted in recurrent toxic fires, causing respiratory health crises among residents and highlighting local authorities' resource shortages and at higher levels. Post-administrative mergers, financial transparency lags, with gaps in detailed public spending reporting despite online budget publications. The legacy of the metallurgical complex, a communist-era industrial hub, poses ongoing economic challenges through unremedied pollution from hundreds of thousands of tonnes of , burdening local with cleanup costs and deterring investment. These failures reflect broader Albanian trends of judicial and ineffective institutions, constraining sustainable in the . Efforts to address them include 2025-2027 commitments for enhanced monitoring and citizen oversight, though implementation risks persist amid political consolidation.

Demographics

Population Dynamics

The population of Elbasan County has experienced a sustained decline since the early , driven primarily by net out-migration and negative natural growth. According to the 2023 Population and Housing Census conducted by the Albanian Institute of Statistics (), the county's resident population stood at 232,580 as of September 18, 2023, reflecting a decrease of 63,247 individuals—or approximately 21.4%—from the 295,827 recorded in the 2011 census. This equates to an average annual population change of -2.0% between the two censuses, exceeding the national average decline of about 1.5% over the same period. Key drivers include a persistent negative balance of births and deaths, compounded by emigration. In 2022, Elbasan County registered 2,185 births against 2,405 deaths, yielding a crude birth rate of 8.5 per 1,000 inhabitants and a crude death rate of 9.4 per 1,000, resulting in a natural growth rate of -0.9 per 1,000. Net internal migration further exacerbated the downturn, with a rate of -5.0 per 1,000 in 2022, as residents moved to urban centers like Tirana for employment opportunities amid limited local prospects in agriculture and industry. International emigration, particularly of working-age individuals, has also contributed, with Elbasan noted for one of the highest depopulation rates in Albania due to poverty and unemployment. Urbanization within the county has partially offset rural depopulation but remains modest. Rural-to-urban migration has concentrated in city, which grew from around 79,000 in 2011 to 115,101 in 2023 despite overall county shrinkage, reflecting internal shifts toward perceived economic hubs. However, the county's decreased to 72.7 inhabitants per km² by 2023, down from higher levels in 2011, underscoring broader rural abandonment linked to agricultural decline and industrial stagnation. These dynamics have accelerated aging, with projections indicating a rising as youth out-migration outpaces retention efforts.
YearPopulationAnnual Change Rate (approx.)Source
2011295,827- Census
2019268,160- Yearbook
2023 (Jan est.)252,719-0.9% (natural) + -5.0% (migration, 2022) Yearbook
2023 (Sep census)232,580-2.0% (2011-2023 avg.) Census

Ethnic and Linguistic Composition

Elbasan County exhibits a high degree of ethnic homogeneity, with comprising the overwhelming majority of the population. According to 's 2011 and conducted by the Institute of Statistics (), the county's resident population totaled 295,827, of which 253,170 individuals (85.6%) self-identified as ethnic . This figure accounts for a notable non-response rate, with approximately 12.1% (35,810 persons) declining to specify their ethnicity and 1.4% (4,170) marking it as not relevant, potentially understating the Albanian share due to sensitivities around minority declarations in post-communist . Minorities remain marginal, reflecting the county's central geographic position away from border areas with larger ethnic clusters. The primary ethnic minorities include Roma (1,064 persons, 0.36%), (747, 0.25%), (433, 0.15%), Macedonians (94, 0.03%), and smaller groups such as (180, 0.06%) and (10). These proportions align with broader patterns in central , where historical migrations and assimilation have limited minority concentrations compared to southern (Greek) or eastern (Slavic) regions. Independent analyses of census data highlight potential undercounting of Roma and due to stigma and mobility, though no adjusted estimates exceed 2-3% combined for all non-Albanians.
Ethnic GroupNumberPercentage
253,17085.6%
Roma1,0640.36%
7470.25%
4330.15%
1800.06%
Macedonians940.03%
Other1490.05%
Non-response/Not stated40,000 (approx.)13.5% (approx.)
Linguistically, the county is overwhelmingly Albanian-speaking, mirroring ethnic patterns. The 2011 reported Albanian as the mother tongue for 294,333 residents (99.5% of the population), with minorities accounting for the remainder: Aromanian (512, 0.17%), Roma (517, 0.17%), Greek (59, 0.02%), Macedonian (57, 0.02%), and Turkish (80, 0.03%). Elbasan lies in the transitional zone between Gheg (northern) and Tosk (southern) dialects, and the county's central varieties influenced the standardization of modern Albanian in 1972, promoting linguistic unity. Non-Albanian languages are confined to small communities and show declining usage amid assimilation pressures and urban migration. No significant bilingualism beyond Albanian predominates, with Italian and English as secondary foreign languages in educated urban cohorts rather than native ones.

Religious Affiliations

According to the 2023 Albanian conducted by the Institute of Statistics (), the of Elbasan County totals 232,580 residents, with religious affiliations self-declared as follows: comprise the largest group at 123,133 individuals (approximately 52.9%), followed by Eastern Orthodox Christians at 12,140 (5.2%), believers without specific denomination at 40,747 (17.5%), those preferring not to answer at 23,862 (10.3%), atheists at 10,167 (4.4%), Bektashi Muslims at 3,186 (1.4%), Roman Catholics at 1,617 (0.7%), Evangelicals at 679 (0.3%), and other faiths at 188 (0.08%), with 16,861 (7.2%) not available or unspecified. These figures reflect a pattern of influenced by the 1967-1991 under communist rule, which suppressed religious practice and led to widespread disaffiliation, though Albania's guarantees since 1991.
Religious CategoryNumberPercentage
Muslim123,13352.9%
Eastern Orthodox12,1405.2%
Believers without denomination40,74717.5%
Prefer not to answer23,86210.3%
Atheist10,1674.4%
Bektashi3,1861.4%
Roman Catholic1,6170.7%
Evangelical6790.3%
Other religions1880.08%
Not available16,8617.2%
In comparison, the 2011 census reported a higher proportion of declared at around 64.4% (190,550 individuals out of 295,827 total population), with Orthodox at 5.2% (15,295), Catholics at 1.0% (3,054), Bektashi at 0.5% (1,515), atheists at 3.3% (9,679), and a notable 13.3% (39,313) preferring not to answer, alongside 10.2% believers without denomination. The decline in explicit Muslim identification between censuses aligns with national trends, where the 2023 data show at 51% overall versus 56.7% in 2011, attributed partly to increased secular responses and methodology allowing more nuanced options like "believers without denomination." Orthodox communities, historically rooted in areas like city with sites such as (a 15th-century ), remain a visible minority, while Catholic presence is minimal, concentrated in rural pockets. Bektashi, a Sufi order with syncretic elements blending and local traditions, holds limited but culturally significant adherence in the region. Religious diversity in Elbasan County is generally harmonious, reflecting Albania's tradition of coexistence despite Ottoman-era conversions that established Islam's dominance. However, the high rates of non-affiliation or refusal to declare—exceeding 30% combined in 2023—underscore ongoing effects of enforced , which destroyed many religious institutions and fostered generational skepticism toward organized faith. INSTAT data indicate no significant ethnic-religious tensions, with Albanian Muslims forming the core, alongside smaller Orthodox Albanian and Greek minorities in eastern municipalities like Gramsh.

Economy

Industrial Base and Heavy Industry

Elbasan County's industrial base originated in the communist era, with the establishment of the Metallurgical Complex (Kombinati Metalurgjik) in 1965 as a cornerstone of 's push, aided by Chinese technical assistance starting in 1966. This facility, spanning approximately 747,143 square meters, focused on iron and production, metal , and ferroalloys, employing up to 12,000 workers at its peak and supplying raw materials across 's economy. A complementary factory, operational by the late , bolstered the sector by producing the highest output in during that period, supporting construction for further industrialization. Post-1991, the collapse of led to sharp declines in output, with much of the Metallurgical Complex abandoned and repurposed piecemeal, leaving behind severe environmental contamination from hundreds of thousands of tonnes of , including and , making it one of the ' most polluted sites. Kurum International's steel plant, operational since 1998 as Albania's sole active iron complex, utilized furnaces for rebar production but suspended output in August 2024 due to financial strains from falling international prices and high costs. Despite these setbacks, remnant operations within the broader complex, including metal processing, generate an estimated annual turnover of 1 billion euros as of 2025. Recent government initiatives aim to revitalize the area, with proposing in March 2025 to convert portions of the former Metallurgical Complex into a museum of industrial heritage and an innovation hub, while pledging modernization of the site by 2030 to attract and mitigate . These efforts reflect ongoing challenges in transitioning from legacy heavy industry—marked by inefficiency and —to sustainable economic models, though persistent financial and infrastructural hurdles limit short-term recovery.

Agriculture and Rural Economy

Agriculture forms the backbone of Elbasan County's rural economy, accounting for 38.98% of the prefecture's in 2021, compared to the national average of 21.11%. The sector employs a significant portion of the rural across 10,262 registered farms, emphasizing smallholder operations on fragmented plots. Field cultivation dominates, with 47.9 thousand hectares sown in 2022, representing 11.5% of Albania's total sown area for such . Cereals lead production at 95.4 thousand tonnes, including 35.5 thousand tonnes of (yield: 46.5 quintals per ) and 54.2 thousand tonnes of (yield: 62.4 quintals per ). Potatoes output reached 30.2 thousand tonnes, while totaled 109.9 thousand tonnes from 2.6 thousand , reflecting a 29.9% growth from 2017 to 2022. Permanent contribute further, with olives yielding 27.5 thousand tonnes from 6.8 thousand and grapes 31.2 thousand tonnes from 1.5 thousand ; fruit trees added 41.6 thousand tonnes overall.
Crop CategoryProduction (thousand tonnes, 2022)Sown Area (thousand ha)
Cereals (total)95.4N/A
35.5N/A
54.2N/A
Potatoes30.2N/A
109.92.6
Olives27.56.8
Grapes31.21.5
Fruit Trees41.6N/A
Livestock rearing complements arable farming, sustaining rural livelihoods through , , and wool. In 2022, Elbasan hosted 26 thousand (including 22 thousand cows), 102 thousand sheep (78 thousand sheep), 65 thousand (53 thousand goats), 5 thousand pigs, and 866 thousand heads, alongside 34 thousand beehives. The prefecture held 10.38% of national in 2019, underscoring its prominence despite national declines in numbers.
Livestock TypeHeads (2022)Milk-Producing Heads
Cattle26,00022,000
Sheep102,00078,000
65,00053,000
Pigs5,000N/A
866,000N/A
The rural economy grapples with structural hurdles, including land fragmentation—average farm size around 1.2 hectares nationally, mirrored locally—and limited , hindering and market integration. These factors drive rural-urban migration and income disparities, with satisfying only partial domestic demand amid a national deficit. Efforts focus on diversification and EU-aligned reforms to bolster .

Tourism and Emerging Sectors

Tourism in Elbasan County primarily revolves around cultural heritage sites and natural features, with the Castle of Elbasan serving as a central attraction due to its historical significance and vistas over the Shkumbin Valley. Built originally as a Roman fortification in the 4th century and later fortified by the Ottomans, the castle hosts remnants of medieval architecture and provides access to the old town's cobblestone streets. Complementary sites include the King Mosque, constructed in the 15th century as one of Albania's earliest Ottoman mosques, and the Ethnographic Museum, which displays artifacts illustrating traditional Ottoman-period domestic life in the region. Natural draws encompass areas like Shebenik Mountain National Park, featuring diverse beech forests and hiking opportunities. Recent developments indicate expanding , bolstered by heritage conservation efforts, sustainable practices, and improved local hospitality services, attracting increasing visitor numbers to . Guided excursions often integrate these assets with nearby regional highlights, emphasizing historical narratives and eco-friendly experiences. Emerging economic sectors in Elbasan County include innovation in raw materials and green technologies, exemplified by the April 2024 launch of a Regional Innovation Centre in Elbasan, partnered with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology to promote education, research, and startup formation in resource extraction and processing. The Elbasan Economic Zone currently supports 11 enterprises employing around 200 individuals, with projections for doubling business occupancy through infrastructure enhancements. Sustainability-focused initiatives, such as the GreenElb project initiated in 2024, target energy efficiency in public buildings via technological upgrades and community involvement, aiming to reduce consumption and emissions. Parallel government plans outline modernization of the Elbasan industrial complex by 2030, incorporating upgraded utilities and expanded facilities to draw diverse investments beyond legacy heavy manufacturing.

Culture and Heritage

Historical Sites and Monuments

Elbasan Castle, originally constructed as a Roman military fortress in the AD on the site of ancient Scampis to secure the trade route, served as a key defensive structure housing legions amid Illyrian-Roman conflicts. The fortress was rebuilt by Byzantine Emperor in the 5th century following destruction, incorporating fortified walls that withstood subsequent invasions, before Ottoman Sultan refortified it in 1466 as a base for campaigns against Albanian resistance led by . Today, the castle's elliptical walls, 2.5 kilometers in circumference with 26 towers, enclose Ottoman-era mosques and a 15th-century , preserving layered archaeological evidence from Roman mosaics to medieval armory remnants. The King Mosque (Xhami i Sultanit), erected in 1481 within the by Ottoman authorities, exemplifies early in the region with its single-dome structure and , functioning as a central until the 20th century. Adjacent, , dating to the 15th century and featuring frescoes attributed to Orthodox traditions, represents Christian continuity amid Ottoman rule, though it endured partial destruction during anti-religious campaigns in the communist era (1944–1991). The (Xhamia e Sahatit), built in the with an integrated from 1757, combines religious and civic functions, its Ottoman-style portal and interior arabesques highlighting architectural adaptation in a multi-ethnic setting. Beyond the castle, the Paleochristian of Elbasan, excavated near the southern entrance and dating to the 5th–6th centuries AD, reveals early Christian floors and structures indicative of Byzantine influence post-Justinian reconstructions. In the county's periphery, Peqin Castle ruins, originating as a medieval stronghold fortified by Ottomans in the , overlook strategic plains and include remnants of defensive walls tied to regional lordships before independence in 1912. The Bezistan , a 6th-century early Christian site with basilical layout and baptismal fonts, underscores the area's role in transitioning from pagan Roman to Christian , as evidenced by ceramic and epigraphic finds. These monuments collectively attest to Elbasan County's position as a crossroads of Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman imperial histories, with preservation efforts since the focusing on amid post-communist heritage recovery.

Cultural Traditions and Festivals

Elbasan County preserves a vibrant array of Albanian folk traditions, including distinctive regional costumes featuring embroidered silk vests, woolen trousers with cord trim, and belts for men, alongside layered dresses and headscarves for women, reflecting central Albanian styles influenced by Ottoman and local agrarian life. Folk music in the region emphasizes urban polyphonic singing and instrumental pieces with lutes and clarinets, characteristic of mid-Albania's melodic dialect sung in the Elbasan vernacular. The most prominent festival is (Summer Day), held annually on March 14, which originated as a pagan celebration of the sun's strengthening and nature's renewal, with Elbasan as a primary center featuring bonfires, traditional dances, and communal feasts of ballokume cookies baked from cornmeal, butter, and sugar. In 2025, festivities in Elbasan included widespread public gatherings emphasizing spring's arrival through music and fire rituals. Another key event is the National Festival of Urban Folk Songs, conducted in each March, showcasing polyphonic choral traditions and urban-style ballads that highlight the area's musical heritage blending rural and city influences. The Elbasan Carnival features parades with elaborate costumes, local brass bands, and satirical performances, drawing on historical community rituals to celebrate regional identity. Throughout August, the county hosts ongoing cultural programs with folk dances, concerts, and exhibitions to promote heritage, attracting participants from across .

Education and Intellectual Contributions

Elbasan County maintains a longstanding as a center for teacher training in , originating with the establishment of the Normal School on December 1, 1909, following the Congress of Elbasan, which aimed to foster in the amid Ottoman rule. This institution, the first national pedagogical school, trained educators under initial director and produced generations of teachers who advanced Albanian literacy and national consciousness during the early . By the (1920-1939), Elbasan hosted multiple primary and secondary schools, with reforms emphasizing intellectual development and improved , though enrollment remained modest due to economic constraints— for instance, in the late , the had around 19 elementary schools serving approximately 466 students. The Aleksandër Xhuvani University, tracing its roots to the 1909 , evolved into a higher pedagogical institute in 1971 and gained full university status in 1991, named after the prominent Albanian educator and writer Aleksandër Xhuvani. As one of Albania's key public universities, it prioritizes , offering programs in , natural sciences, and , and ranks 12th nationally in output. Pre-university in the county faces demographic pressures, with numbers dropping to 17,354 in the 2024-2025 school year from higher figures previously, driven by low birth rates and , leading to closures of 59 secondary schools over five years ending in 2021. Intellectually, Elbasan has contributed significantly to Albanian scholarship, producing figures like historian Aleks Buda (1910-1993), who advanced studies on Albanian medieval history and after training in and . Linguist Mahir Domi, a native of Elbasan, enriched Albanian dialectology and through extensive fieldwork and publications, embodying the region's tradition of producing national intellectuals. The county's academic legacy, including 19th-century cultural societies and modern research at the university, underscores its role in fostering empirical historical and linguistic analysis, though contemporary outputs remain limited by resource constraints compared to larger Albanian centers.

Infrastructure

Transportation Networks

Elbasan County's transportation infrastructure centers on road networks connecting it to central and beyond, with the SH3 serving as the primary link from to via the Krraba Pass, an 800-meter-high mountain route. This road facilitates essential connectivity for the county's industrial and agricultural hubs, though its mountainous terrain poses challenges for heavy traffic. Ongoing developments under Corridor VIII include the Elbasan-Librazhd segment, advancing asphalt works to enhance east-west links, and the Elbasan-Rrogozhinë , where construction began in January 2025 to establish a high-standard axis. The Elbasan-Lekaj , part of the same corridor, spans 40.7 km with a 26-meter width including two lanes and an emergency lane, designed for 40,000 vehicles daily; its first 20 km neared completion by April 2025. Rail connections integrate Elbasan into 's network via the -Elbasan line, with passenger services operating one per day on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. EU-funded upgrades to the -Rrogozhinë route, completed by September 2025, improve access to Elbasan by bridging western and eastern . Public bus services dominate local and intercity transport, with Elbasan's bus terminal handling routes to (hourly from TEG terminal) and other major cities like and . Intra-city buses cover key areas on regular schedules, supplemented by private operators like Skenderbeu shpk for regional departures. No commercial operates within the county; serves regional air travel needs.

Energy Production and Utilities

The primary source of energy production in Elbasan County is , leveraging the Devoll River basin. The Banja Hydropower Plant, situated across the municipalities of Cërrik, Elbasan, and Gramsh, features an installed capacity of 72 MW and commenced operations in 2016, generating approximately 255 GWh annually under ownership by . The adjacent Moglicë Hydropower Plant, near the village of Moglicë, contributes 197 MW to the Devoll Hydropower Project, enhancing regional output through run-of-river and reservoir operations. Complementing , Elbasan hosts Albania's inaugural facility, operational since June 2017 with a 2.85 MW capacity, processing to generate and mitigate dependency. Geothermal resources, including the Llixha hot springs, offer untapped potential for direct utilization, with historical balneological applications dating back centuries and modern assessments indicating viability for heating or additional power. A 50 MW solar photovoltaic project in Belsh remains in planning stages as of 2024, reflecting emerging diversification efforts amid Albania's dominance. Electricity utilities in the county integrate with Albania's national grid, managed partly by state entity KESH for production and supply obligations. Key includes the Elbasan 2 substation (400/220 kV) and the under-construction Elbasan 3 extension, facilitating connections to domestic lines toward , Zemblak, and , as well as a new 400 kV to , , initiated in December 2023 to bolster export capacity and reliability. Water utilities, primarily handled by local operators, support industrial and residential needs but face challenges from basin dependencies shared with energy .

Urban Development

Urban development in Elbasan County has been shaped by rapid post-communist , driven primarily by rural-to-urban migration that swelled the population of city, the county's administrative center, to approximately 100,000 inhabitants by the early 2000s amid high growth rates. This influx strained , leading to informal settlements and the expansion of Soviet-era residential blocks, which now dominate the urban fabric and necessitate ongoing requalification efforts to modernize public spaces and utilities within these neighborhoods. A pivotal framework is the Strategic Plan for Elbasan developed by landscape architects Felixx, which integrates urban expansion with river-based water management by reorienting development toward the Shkumbin River through floodable parks, a new bypass road, and delta park systems to mitigate flooding while fostering recreational green spaces. Complementing this, the GreenElb pilot initiative, launched in under the EU's NetZeroCities program, targets retrofitting energy-inefficient public and residential buildings to near-zero-emission standards using advanced technologies, data-driven energy audits, and community involvement to reduce consumption and emissions in dense urban blocks. Sustainability efforts extend to mobility and greening, with the Elbasan Climate-Neutral Innovation in Mobility (eCIM) project developing a sectoral plan for expanded and pedestrian networks, initially tested along Aqif Pasha Boulevard to promote low-carbon transport amid growing . These initiatives address legacy challenges from industrial-era sprawl while aligning with Albania's accession goals, though implementation faces hurdles like funding constraints and uneven enforcement of zoning amid persistent informal construction.

Environmental Issues

Industrial Pollution and Health Impacts

The Elbasan Metallurgical Complex, established during Albania's communist period, remains a principal source of industrial in Elbasan County, discharging , particulate matter, and chemical waste into the air, , and Shkumbini River. The site accumulates hundreds of thousands of tonnes of , rendering it among the most contaminated industrial zones in the as of 2025. analyses from Elbasan's industrial districts reveal elevated concentrations, including lead, , and , alongside bacterial contaminants, indicating pervasive chemical from metallurgical operations. Air emissions from the complex and associated industries contribute to high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and (NO2), with monitoring data showing exceedances of national and European standards in urban areas of . These pollutants, including bioavailable , deposit into the local microenvironment, contaminating agricultural soils and , as evidenced by accumulation in animal hair samples from the region. Riverine pollution from plant effluents has degraded the Shkumbini, introducing toxins that bioaccumulate in the and amplify exposure risks. Health impacts on residents include elevated risks of respiratory disorders, cardiovascular conditions, and chronic symptoms such as headaches and muscle cramps, attributed to chronic and dermal exposure near industrial zones. from these sources exhibit toxicological effects, including mutagenicity, teratogenicity, and carcinogenicity, with even low-dose exposures linked to impaired organ function and reduced fertility in affected populations. Local environmental assessments describe as Albania's most pollution-impacted city, with heavy metal residues correlating to serious, long-term threats, though comprehensive epidemiological studies remain limited.

Waste Management Controversies

In July 2025, the landfill experienced repeated fires that released thick plumes of toxic smoke, exposing residents to harmful pollutants including dioxins, furans, and , which are linked to respiratory issues such as and , as well as elevated cancer risks in the lungs, liver, and breast. These incidents marked the third consecutive year of such blazes at the site, which handles urban waste from seven municipalities in the county, exacerbating air quality degradation in the industrial hub of city. Public outrage led to protests on July 4, 2025, where citizens and activists in demanded prosecutorial investigations into the fires, accusing local authorities of negligence and in waste handling, with chants highlighting the link between governance failures and environmental poisoning. On July 15, 2025, a local resident filed a against the Municipality and the waste management company, citing direct health harms from the caused by these uncontrolled burns. Critics attribute the persistent issues to systemic deficiencies in Albania's waste infrastructure, including overloaded landfills and the fallout from the national incinerator scandal, where the facility—intended to process —was mired in 2022 prosecutions involving senior officials and overpayments to private contractors. The controversies underscore broader challenges in Elbasan County, where inadequate regulation has allowed illegal dumping and organized crime infiltration in waste collection, contributing to unmanaged sites that pose ongoing environmental and public health threats despite government pledges for reform. In response to national scrutiny, Albanian authorities proposed a new waste law in September 2025 to establish a state agency with fining powers, though implementation remains uncertain amid persistent local enforcement gaps.

River Degradation and Conservation Efforts

The Shkumbin River, the primary waterway traversing County, has experienced significant degradation due to industrial effluents, untreated urban , and solid waste accumulation, leading to elevated levels of and organic pollutants. A 2023 study documented how demographic growth and intensified industrial operations in the Elbasan basin have compromised water quality, with parameters such as (BOD) and (COD) exceeding permissible limits at multiple sampling sites along the river. Similarly, evaluations from 2022 highlighted untreated discharges and industrial sediment deposition as key contributors to and toxicity, rendering sections of the river unsuitable for aquatic life or contact. Legacy pollution from the shuttered Elbasan metallurgical complex exacerbates this, with over 1.5 million tonnes of leaching contaminants into the river, including and lead, as reported in 2025 assessments linking these to soil and groundwater infiltration. Plastic waste proliferation has further intensified degradation, transforming the Shkumbin into a conduit for that threaten and downstream ecosystems in the Adriatic basin. Conservation initiatives have focused on monitoring, cleanup, and restoration, though implementation remains fragmented amid limited . In 2025, the Institute for Nature Conservation in (INCA) conducted volunteer-led cleanups and monitoring along the Shkumbin using the OSPAR beach protocol, identifying hotspots for plastic accumulation and advocating for source reduction. The BeMed+ project, launched in to curb , incorporated riverine efforts in through hotspot mapping by local operators, aiming to quantify inputs and inform policy. Complementary actions include the Critical Partnership Fund's support for integrated water management, engaging local associations to enhance biodiversity-friendly practices like riparian planting and upstream. proposals, such as the 2020s Strategic Plan for , envision reengineering river embankments into flood-resilient parks to mitigate erosion while promoting recreational access, though progress has been slowed by funding constraints. Community-driven petitions, including youth-led campaigns in 2025, have pressured authorities for infrastructure upgrades to prevent ongoing degradation from roadworks and waste dumping. Despite these, experts note persistent risks to from bioaccumulative toxins, underscoring the need for rigorous industrial remediation.

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