Macedonians in Albania

rdf:langString Macedonians in Albania

rdf:langString Macedonians in Albania

rdf:langString Makedonci vo Albanija

rdf:langString Maqedonasit në Shqipëri

rdf:langString Македонци во Албанија

rdf:langString Macedonian and Albanian

rdf:langString Macedonians in Albania

rdf:langString Makedonci vo Albanija

rdf:langString Maqedonasit në Shqipëri

rdf:langString Македонци во Албанија

rdf:langString Municipalities: Kukës, Dibër, Bulqizë, Librazhd, Pogradec, Pustec, Devoll, Korçë

rdf:langString *5,512 *10,000–20,000 *120,000–350,000

rdf:langString Macedonian Orthodoxy and Islam

rdf:langString The Macedonians in Albania (Macedonian: Македонци во Албанија, romanized: Makedonci vo Albanija; Albanian: Maqedonasit në Shqipëri) are an officially recognized ethnic minority. According to the 2011 census, 5,512 ethnic Macedonians live in Albania. In the 1989 census, 4,697 people had declared themselves Macedonian. In some circumstances ethnic identity can be fluid among Albania's Slavophonic population, who may identify as Macedonian or Bulgarian, depending on the circumstances. According to Edmond Temelko, former mayor of the Pustec Municipality, "[...] Bulgaria uses heavy economic situation of Macedonians in Albania to offer them Bulgarian citizenship, passports and employment opportunity". The condition of the Macedonian population living in the Prespa area is described in positive terms and particular praise is given since all the villages of the area are allowed schooling in their mother tongue. Macedonian organizations allege that the government undercounts their number and that they are politically under-represented, arguing there are no Macedonians in the Albanian parliament, until was elected in 2019 representing the Macedonian Party. Past Helsinki reports stated, "Albania recognizes [...] a Macedonian minority, but only in the Southern regions. Those who identify as Macedonians [...] outside these minority regions are denied the minority rights granted in the south, including minority classes at state schools."