List of Albania Counties and Capitals

Albania is divided into 12 counties, or qarks, each named after their capital city. Here is a list of the 12 counties in alphabetical order:

Albania is a small country in Southeast Europe on the Balkan Peninsula, bordered by Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Greece, with coastlines along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. The country is divided into 12 counties, and those counties are further divided into municipalities. Tirana is both the national capital and the largest city, and it serves as the main economic and cultural center of the country.

Even though Albania is relatively compact in size, the landscape changes quickly from coastal beaches to rugged mountains and river valleys. Northern Albania is known for alpine terrain, while the western side has fertile plains and busy coastal cities.

Key Facts

National capital: Tirana | Total population: 2,402,113 (Census 2023) | Total area: 28,748 km² (11,100 sq miles) | Currency: Albanian Lek (L, ALL) | Bordering countries: Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Greece | Total Counties: 12 | Total Municipalities: 61

List of Counties and Capitals of Albania

Total counties shown: 12 | Combined population: 2,402,113 | Combined area: 28,748 km²

Largest Counties by Area

• Korçë — 1,433 sq mi (3,711 km²)
• Shkodër — 1,375 sq mi (3,562 km²)
• Elbasan — 1,235 sq mi (3,199 km²)
• Gjirokastër — 1,113 sq mi (2,884 km²)
• Vlorë — 1,045 sq mi (2,706 km²)
• Dibër — 999 sq mi (2,586 km²)
• Kukës — 917 sq mi (2,374 km²)
• Fier — 737 sq mi (1,910 km²)

Most Populous Counties

• Tirana — Population: 758,513 (Census 2023)
• Durrës — Population: 292,029 (Census 2023)
• Fier — Population: 251,440 (Census 2023)
• Elbasan — Population: 232,580 (Census 2023)
• Shkodër — Population: 175,267 (Census 2023)
• Korçë — Population: 173,091 (Census 2023)
• Lezhë — Population: 117,033 (Census 2023)
• Berat — Population: 103,467 (Census 2023)

Smallest Counties by Area

• Durrës — 296 sq mi (766 km²)
• Lezhë — 625 sq mi (1,619 km²)
• Tirana — 638 sq mi (1,652 km²)
• Berat — 694 sq mi (1,798 km²)
• Fier — 737 sq mi (1,910 km²)
• Kukës — 917 sq mi (2,374 km²)

Counties by Regional Grouping

• North: Shkodër, Lezhë
• Northeast: Dibër, Kukës
• Central: Tirana, Elbasan
• West: Durrës
• South Central: Berat
• Southwest: Fier, Vlorë
• South: Gjirokastër
• Southeast: Korçë

Landlocked Counties

• Berat
• Dibër
• Elbasan
• Gjirokastër
• Korçë
• Kukës
• Tirana

Counties with Coastline

• Durrës
• Fier
• Lezhë
• Shkodër
• Vlorë

Counties Sharing Borders with Other Countries

• Montenegro: Shkodër
• Kosovo: Kukës
• North Macedonia: Dibër, Korçë, Elbasan
• Greece: Gjirokastër, Korçë, Vlorë

Sources

• INSTAT - Institute of Statistics Albania
• World Bank - Albania Data
• CIA World Factbook - Albania
• Encyclopaedia Britannica - Albania
• Eurostat