Historically, Tirana has been populated sincePaleolithic times dating back 10,000 to 30,000 years ago. As argued by various archaeologists, the populated places are filled withAncient Illyriantoponyms, as its precincts are some of the earliest regions in Albania to be inhabited. Nevertheless, the city of Tirana was established as a city centuries later in 1614 during theOttoman occupation of Albania.
The capital of the county isTirana, which is also the largest city by area and population in Albania. Agamma-world-city, it is the most influential economic and political center of the country.[3]
The region, which presently corresponds to the territory of the county of Tirana, has been continuously inhabited since thePaleolithic some 10,000 to 30,000 years ago, as suggested by evidence from toolsexcavated nearMount Dajt's quarry and within theCave of Pëllumbas. As argued by various archaeologists, Tirana and its suburbs are filled withIllyrian toponyms, as its precincts are some of the earliest inhabited regions in Albania.[4]
The oldest discovery in downtown Tirana was a Roman house, later transformed into anaisleless church with a mosaic-floor, dating to the 3rd century A.D., with other remains found near a medieval temple at Shengjin Fountain in the eastern suburbs. A castle possibly calledTirkan orTheranda, whose remnants are found along Murat Toptani Street, was built by EmperorJustinian in 520 A.D. and restored by Ahmed Pasha Toptani in the 18th century.[4] The area had no special importance inIllyrian andclassical times. In 1510,Marin Barleti, an Albanian Catholic priest and scholar, in the biography of the Albanian national heroSkanderbeg referred to this area as a small village.[5]
The Adriatic Sea and Skanderbeg Mountains have a particular influence to the climate of Tirana County, though it has aMediterranean climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are generally warm and dry, while winters are relatively cool and mild, and rarely very cold.[8] The highest temperature of 41.5 °C (106.7 °F) was recorded in the city ofTirana, whereas the lowest temperature of −34.7 °C (−30.5 °F) was recorded in the village of Bizë.[8]
Tirana County has experienced a generally high rate of population increase since the late twentieth century in part due to thefall of communism.[7]Internal migration has been a significant factor in its population growth, especially fromBerat,Dibër andKukës.[7] Nonetheless, the most densely populated areas are positioned in the flat western half, and the region around the relatively small corridor of the city of Tirana, thus the lowest densities are located in the mountainous eastern half.
The 2023 census documented Tirana County as 93.87% Albanian, 0.70% Romani and Balkan Egyptian, 0.19% Greek, 0.06% Aromanian, 0.28% belonging to a South Slavic ethnicity (Bulgarian, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Serbian, or Bosniak), and the remainder belonging to another ethnic group, mixed heritage, or no answer provided.
According to the 2023 census, Tirana County was home to largest religious group, the Muslims, followed by various Christian groups, alongside a large non-religious population. Overall, 63.9% of residents identified with a religion. Between the 2011 and 2023 censuses in Tirana County, there were notable shifts in religious affiliation. TheSunni Muslim population decreased significantly from 62.3% to 48.7%, whileBektashi Muslims rose from 2.7% to 4.9%. TheCatholic Christian population slightly declined from 5.3% to 4.7%, andOrthodox Christians remained relatively stable, increasing marginally from 5.1% to 5.0%.Evangelical Christians experienced a modest rise, from 0.2% to 0.6%.
There was a substantial increase in theirreligious population:atheists rose from 2.7% to 3.7%, and those identifying asbelievers without religion/denomination grew from 3.9% to 12.9%. Meanwhile, the "Not stated/other" category saw a slight decrease, dropping from 19.4% to 18.3%.[13]
Population of Tiranë according to religious group (2011–2023)
Tirana County is overwhelminglyurban, with more than 70% of its population concentrated in cities, towns, and suburbs.[7] There are five incorporatedmunicipalities (bashkia) and 29administrative units (njësi administrative) in the county.[14] The majority of its population lives in the capital city ofTirana. As of the2011 Census, the population of the unit stands at 418,495 with the adjacent municipality of Tirana having a population of 557,422 simultaneously constituting the largestmetropolitan area in Albania.[15] Other units with a population over 10,000 includeKamëz,Kashar,Paskuqan,Farkë,Kavajë,Dajt andVorë.[15]
The county is connected by a well developed system of expressways and motorways. The main west–east corridor isRruga Shtetërore 2 (SH2), which connects the country's capital Tirana with the country's second largest cityDurrës inDurrës County. The north-south corridor is Rruga Shtetërore 3 (SH3), which is currently being transformed into theAutostrada 3 (A3), covering the distance between Tirana and the country's fourth largest cityElbasan inElbasan County. Rruga Shtetërore 4 (SH4) passes throughKavajë in the west from north to south linking Durrës withGreece. However, after its completion, theArbër Highway will connect the county withDibër County andNorth Macedonia.
^To know more about the history of Tirana, please consultTirana ne shekuj: Terona, Theranda, Tirkan, Tirannea, Tirana : monografi, disa artikuj e materiale arkivore kushtuar historisë së Tiranës by Skënder Jasa. (Victoria, 1997)
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