page_title: Languages of Albania
section_title: Minority languages
hierarchical_section_title: Languages of Albania / Minority languages
caption_attribution_description: English: This map, using a wide variety of sources (available in a chart for where they apply), charts the traditional locations of notable linguistic and religious communities in Albania, around the early 20th century. Note that hatched areas imply the presence of multiple groups, but they do not imply parity-- in fact usually there is not parity. Thus this map underrepresents the demographic weight of local majorities -- such as Sunnis in Elbasan who are in a hatched area with Orthodox who they vastly outnumber. Thus in different areas, Sunni Albanians, Bektashi Albanians, Orthodox Albanians, Catholic Albanians, and Orthodox Greeks are likely underrepresented, while smaller groups (Vlachs, Sephardim, Roma) may be overrepresented where they occur. The citation chart for this map is can be found here (currently under construction still). If you do choose to edit this file, please edit this page as well so I know which sources you used. You may also use this page to request edits to the file, by presenting a source and saying where it pertains to, below the chart.
context_page_description: Albania is an ethnically homogeneous country, where the overwhelming majority of the population speaks Albanian, which is also the official language. It has two distinct dialects: Tosk, spoken in the south, and Gheg, spoken in the north. However many Albanians speak Italian, Greek, French, German, English amongst other languages too, due to the high numbers of Albanian diaspora and Albanian communities throughout the Balkans.
  Albania is one of the most polyglot nations in Europe. Many Albanians at home, in the region and around the world speak more than two languages. Italian is widely spoken throughout Albania. Greek, the language of the Greek national minority is focused in southern Albania, however many Albanian nationals command the Greek language due to immigration. Nowadays, knowledge of English is growing very rapidly, especially among the youth. Various languages are spoken by ethnic minorities: Greek, Aromanian, Macedonian, etc.
caption: Location of communities in Albania classified by language and religion
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